| From the Richmond Whig |
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| January 30, 1865 |
| |
| Roanoke Valley Railroad |
| Every day that passes we become more and more convinced
of the absolute necessity of the Roanoke Valley Railroad to the
successful maintenance of our military position before Richmond and
Petersburg. The feasibility of the prompt construction of the road is
also becoming more and more apparent. In an interview lately held with a
general officer of the army of Northern Virginia, whose opinions are
entitled to great weight, facts were developed and arguments suggested
fully demonstrative of both these propositions. |
| It is considered on all hands that the mere work of
construction is easy, and the only difficulty presented from any quarter
is that of procuring the iron to lay the track. This difficulty can be
readily obviated if the people have patriotism, and the State and
Confederate Governments have will and energy. |
| The railroad from Petersburg to Weldon is at present
utterly useless to the country, being no longer used to transport
supplies. What proposition, therefore, is plainer than that President
Sanford should at once, under some proper arrangement, pull up the iron
on his road, and transfer it, together with his engines and cars, to the
Roanoke Valley Railroad? The iron on this road, and all the equipments
of every sort, would thus be removed from the reach of the enemy.
Instead of being liable to destruction by constant hostile raids, it
would be safe, and instead of being idle and useless, as at present,
would become useful and valuable beyond estimation. |
| When it had served the temporary purpose of relief to
the army and the country, it might all be transferred back to the old
line between Weldon and Petersburg. |
| We do not know whether this suggestion will meet
approval in any quarter; the paramount importance of the subject,
however authorizes a resort to extraordinary expedients, and we
therefore venture the suggestion for what it may be worth. |
| Clarksville (Va.) Tobacco Plant |
| {See my comments on this
proposal at NP, RD 2-21-65} |
|