Year: 1868

ern and European markets will pass di-
rectly on to Norfolk. Thus not only will
the roads leading into the cities be greatly
benefited, but the cities themselves will be
built up and prospered by the great de-
mand which will be made on their water
power for multiplication of their flour
mills and for the erection of new furnaces
and factories for the conversion of the me-
tails into articles Of comfort and convenience
to man.


And here, Mr.. Editor, allow me to advert
to that mistaken policy which leads the
people of Richmond to desire or in any way
to contribute to the consolidation of the
Richmond and Danville with the York
River railroad, or to favor the union of
any other lines of road passing from south
to north through her limits. It seems to
me that any measure which would hurry to
northern market the produce which is
brought to this city az if there were cho-
lera, yellow fever, or smallpox in every
sack of wheat or bag or hogshead of to-
bacco, must be destructive to the interests
of your city. Such o policy may, and
doubtless will, contribute to the prosperity
of the roads thus brought under one man
agement, but it must certainly injure the
business and lessen the prosperity of the
city itself. i...


Not go, however, with road which will
detach its cars and empty their rich con-
tents into the lap Of a Virginia city and
convert it into great emporium of trade
which will rival not only Baltimore but
the great Gotham itself.


Did any one ever hear of the growth of
New York injuring Albany, or that of Phil
adelphia being opposed to the prosperity of
Pittsburg? Why, then, should any citizen
Of Richmond or of Petersburg suppose for
IL moment that the building up of Norfolk
can in any way injure his city3 The truth
is, they would grow with the growth and
strengthen with the strength of the sea-
board city, and all would prosper together
The true policy, therefore, for all is to unite
in the construction of this road and push it
to q speedy completion; work which is
not only Of vital importance to Norfolk and
to the country through which it will imme-
diately pass, but which will greatly benefit
other railroads and the cities of the Com
naonDealth, whilst it will prove of great no.
tional importance, inasmuch as it will unite
the extremes of our widely-extended coun-
try by direct and speedy communication,
and thus contribute in an eminent degree to
her security against the assaults of all for
eign and domestic foes by furnishing, with
its important connections, speedy, easy and
cheap transportation for her armies, their
equipments, and their means of subsistence
Surely such q work as this, which pro-
misses so much for the State and for the
Union, deserves and should receive prompt
and liberal subscriptions not only from in
lividuals, counties, and corporations, but
from the State and the National Govern
nents themselves.


Look into the matter, Mr.. Editor; ac-
quaint yourself thoroughly with the i'm
portance of this great improvement to your
city, to the State, and to the country at
large, and when you shall have been con-
vinced of the correctness of the views above
expressed, as have no doubt you will be,
| shall expect to see you exert yourself with
your accustomed zeal and efficiency in ad-
vocating its claims upon the public conf
dence and support. TuSsTALL.