| From the Richmond Examiner |
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| August 2, 1861 |
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| It is to be earnestly hoped
that there will be no delay in consummating at once close
connection between the various roads of similar guage throughout the
State. If, eight weeks ago, this obvious measure had been executed, we
should have not only had thirty thousand more troops in Virginia, but
would have had, now that we so sorely need it, an unlimited command of
transportation, or at least amply sufficient to have moved daily 10,000
troops to the seat of war. The simple connection of the Fredericksburg
and Potomac and Petersburg roads in this city, with a similar connection
in Petersburg with the Weldon road, the whole operation not involving an
additional construction of over a mile and a half of new road, we could
have, in an emergency like the present, the use of the entire motive
power and rolling stock of at least three thousand miles of railroad at
the South. We refrain from speaking of the condition of railroad
transportation as it is. |
| We are informed they do all
that lay in their power, but that this capacity might be immeasurably
increased by a close connection of the roads and a vigorous
concentration of rolling stock at points where specially required. The
railroad authorities aver that they have done all that was possible,
with their means; and that the required connections properly comes under
the cognizance and jurisdiction of the Government. This may or may not
be so. One thing is certain, the Government has, in an exigency like the
present, high military authority in cases of this sort, and should not
have hesitated to use it. |
| Since the above was written we
hear the necessary railroad connections have been ordered to be made. We
only regret that the order was not given and executed six weeks ago.
Time, ordinarily, in money. With us it at present involves more --
freedom and our firesides. |
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