| From the Richmond Dispatch |
| |
| December 23, 1861 |
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| A permanent railroad connection through Richmond |
| On this subject a correspondent refers to
the failure of the present connection between the Fredericksburg
{Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac} and
{the Richmond &} Petersburg Railroads
in this city, and the design of building a new and permanent one, a
bill to charter which is before the Legislature. The writer, a civil
engineer, makes the following suggestions: |
| "I wish to suggest a new route, one
which I believe has not been contemplated. I propose to start from the
depot of the Virginia Central Railroad, and pass down Bacon's Quarter
Branch to the vacant lot adjoining the canal; thence curve into the
depot of the Richmond & Danville Railroad, crossing the canal in
their yard, over a bridge that is already built; thence over the
Danville Railroad bridge (laying a third rail
for the difference in gauge) to the other side of the river; thence,
either rising the river bank to the grade of the Petersburg road, or
straight back through Manchester to another connection farther back,
either of which routes are practicable, and not expensive. The
Richmond
&
York River
road could easily be brought up to connect with this route, along the
bank of the canal. The
Richmond
, Fredericksburg & Potomac road connects with the Virginia
Central, 22 miles out of the city, and all its through freight could
be hauled over the latter road, and thus a connection could be made
between all the roads running into the city, except with the
Danville
road and they could transfer freight in their own depot. |
| This route would have no right of way to
buy, as it only runs through the property of the city, except at the
crossing of Grace street, (where a house would have to be torn down,)
and at the bank of the canal, where a sharp curve carries it through a
vacant lot. The road-way down the "Branch," could be made of
trestle work; of floor-beams, let into the walls; or of bridging,
resting on piers, formed of arches across the stream. A good iron Fink
bridge could be built at small cost, and would last, while a timber
structure would be liable to catch fire from sparks in such a narrow
place. |
| This route would satisfy all parties, while
the other one proposed, viz: by the penitentiary, would only benefit
two companies, and would be the most expensive, having, besides heavy
grades and very sharp curves, an awkward skew bridge to build over the
canal, and a long piece of high trestle work from the Armory to the
Petersburg
depot. |
|