| From the Richmond Examiner |
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| November 26, 1861 |
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| The extension of the
{Richmond &} Danville Railroad
{the Piedmont RR} from its present Western
terminus at Danville to Greensborough, North Carolina, there to form a
junction with the great Central Railroad {North
Carolina RR} of that State, has become a measure of national
importance. The distance from Danville to Greensborough is something
less than forty miles. The route is very favourable, presenting a ridge
of level surface almost the whole way. There are no streams of size to
cross, and no expensive cuts, embankments or bridges occurring to
magnify the cost or occupy a long period in construction. With proper
energy, the whole work could be completed from the beginning in less
than six months. |
| With the exception of this
short link of forty miles we have now a continuous line of inland
railroad from Richmond to Columbia S. C., Augusta and Atlanta, Ga., and
Montgomery and Mobile, Ala. This line is through the middle of the
territory of the Confederate States, alike unexposed from the hostile
frontier of Kentucky and from naval incursions on our seaboard. The
country along the whole line is very productive; that through Virginia,
North Carolina and South Carolina especially so. It is one of the finest
wheat and grain countries of the continent, and produces, of course, in
consequence, vast supplies of meat. It is probably, in no part of it, a
first rate grazing country like that in Southwestern Virginia, and East
Tennessee and Kentucky, lying contiguous to the Virginia and Tennessee
line of railroads; nor has it been in the habit heretofore of raising
many swine beyond the demand for home consumption. But the effect of
protracted war would develop in it vast capabilities in this regard. Any
grain country will soon become, under the influence of high prices for
provisions, largely productive of bacon and beef. The capabilities of
the country for wool, too, are very great, it short grass being more
fitting for sheep than cattle-grazing. The country has heretofore
devoted much labour to the production of tobacco, simply because that
staple always found ready sale at cash prices, affording large profits.
The enhancement in the prices of grain, meats and wool, superinduced by
the war, will at once divert the industry of this country away from
tobacco to these articles of prime necessity, and produce a marked
improvement in its system of agriculture. Few strangers who have not
penetrated this long stretch of Piedmont country, lying just East of the
Blue Ridge, in a breadth of a hundred to a hundred and fifty miles, and
stretching from the James to the waters of the Savannah, are aware of
its admirable combination of advantages in climate, soil and topography.
As to the race of people inhabiting it, we do not believe their superior
in moral worth and sterling principle, public and social, can be found
anywhere under heaven. |
| The military value of this
line cannot be over-estimated. Aside from the military supplies it will
bring from the admirable country penetrated, it lies midway in our
territory, and for all purposes of Government transit and transportation
exactly fullfils the condition of the maxim, in medio tutissimus
ibis. We are very glad that the President has given to the
completion of this line the importance of a special recommendation to
Congress. No time should be lost in carrying the suggestion into
execution. With proper energy the arrival of the spring would be the
completion of the absent link of the road. |
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