Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-10

Railroad to the Chesapeake Bay.

Railroad to the Chesapeake Bay.
Great hopes were raised by the Rich
mond and Chesapeake railroad project,
but after doing a good deal Of work on
their tunnel under Eighth street and
some grading down the country the COM
pany seem 10 have ceased active operations.
This line would have crossed Henrico,
Hanover, King William, King and Queen.
and Essex counties. and passing over the
Rappahannock river upon n bridge some
where near Tappahannock, would have run
through the Northern Neck TO the Potomac.
Ii would have reached country which IL
without railroad transportation and which
sends most of its produce by boat TO Balti-
more. 1t is rich in fish. oysters, and game,
and has agricultural lands of great value.
The people are intensely Nirginian, and
with anything like equal facilities and IN
duccments before them would always pre-
fer TO give their patronage to their capital,
rather than to any city north of the Poto-
mae. We shall not willingly relinquish all
idea Of this road. for IL offers mutual adj
yantages TO Richmond and the country.
We could visit amongst and trade with
each other with great satisfaction, and
from the northern terminus traffic arrange
ments over the Potomac could easily be
made with important lines of railway on
the Maryland shore.
While the projectors of this railway are
allowing time to slip by the good people of
the section of Virginia between the York
and Rappahannock rivers are earnestly
moving for a railroad. Already a meeting
has been held in Gloucester, and on July
Esd another and a greater one will take
place at Saluda.
Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, King
and Queen. and Essex want railway con-
nection with the world. They have beau
tiful country. which is bounded and in
dented by bays. rivers. and creeks, and
many vessels, sail and steam. come and 60,
hut in this rushing age they desire some
thing better. They want a rail line to come
down between the rivers and take up pas
sengers and produce. and land them at
Richmond.
Whether the aim will be for a railroad TO
West Point or TO Hanover Courthouse does
not yet appear, but in either event Rich
mond will be the chef beneficiary, and
therefore should be one of the most earnest
promoters Of the enterprise.
We hope to see the Chamber of Com
merce represented at Saiuda on the 29d,
and if. as we Judge, the scheme promises
well for Us Richmond should start the SUBJ
scriptiOn-lists.
The value of our through connections to
distant points in the North, West, and
South can hardly be overestimated, but
we would have little use for them if we
had no local roads TO bring freights here
for handling and reshipment. The road
from GAINESVILLE to Durham and that from
Bermuda Hundred to Farmville are re-
cent examples of what has been done TO
reach new territory near home.
While the Peninsula division of the
Chesapeake and Ohio road is a valuable
line TO the bay and Hampton Roads it does
not drain the country on the Gloucester
side of the York river. Gloucester,
Mathews. and Middlesex. and several other
contiguous counties now do but little
business with Richmond. whereas they
ought to be our regular customers, and our
people of means should line the western
shore of the Chesapeake bay with their
summer cottages and hotels.
If our businessmen have one half the
enterprise we give them credit for they
will at once join this movement of the
Gloucester people, and in another year
have trains running down to the bay.