544 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



dericksburg railroad, including a branch lour miles 

 long to the Deep Run coal mines, and including 

 also a full supply of locomolive?, cars, &c., has 

 been, between Riciimond and Fredericksburg, 

 1,100,000 dollars. An addiiional expenditure ot 

 270,000 dollars is estimated as requisite to com- 

 plete the railioad to the Potomac. 



Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. This rail- 

 road, 23 miles long, connects the towns ol" Rich- 

 mond and Petersburg, lis curves and grades are 

 both highly (avorable; a large portion of tiie line 

 being straight, and the maxnimm graduation be- 

 ing thirty leet per mile. The railroad bridge 

 across the James liver, at Richmond, on this road, 

 is one of the most striking works in America ; be- 

 ing about 3,000 feet long, between (jO and 70 feet 

 above the river, and having spans of 150 feet and 

 upwards. The cost of this viaduct was but 125,- 

 000 dollars ; and the whole cost of the railroad, in- 

 cluding depots, locomotive engines, cars, &c., 

 about 750,000 dollars. 



A branch often miles in lengih has been propos- 

 ed I'rom this railroad to Bermuda Hundred, which 

 is said to be of extremely easy execution, and which 

 would probably add so much to the profits of the 

 railroad, and to the commercial facilities of Rich- 

 mond, that it is a matter of surprise it has not yet 

 been executed. By means of it, produce would 

 be delivered on board European vessels in two 

 hours after leaving the warehouse, instead of be- 

 ing, as at present, delayed a day or two-on a cir- 

 cuitous navigation in lighters ; and merchants 

 would be able to communicate quickly and con- 

 stantly with their ships. This slight improve- 

 ment, and the removal of the Harrison bar, v.'ould 

 do nmch to make Richmond an important seaport, 



Petersburg and Roanoke Railroad. — This work, 

 59 miles long, extends from Petersburg through 

 the counties of Dinwiddio, Sussex and Greens- 

 ville, to the Roanoke river, opposite Weldon. 

 Near its termination it connects with the Wil- 

 mington and Raleigh railroad in North Caro- 

 Ima; and it is connected by means of the Greens- 

 ville railroad with tfie Raleigh and Gaston rail- 

 road at Gaston. This railroad has on it no 

 curve, ofier leaving Petersburg, of less radius than 

 lialf a mile ; and no grade, except at that point, 

 exceeding 30 feet per mile. Like the Richmond 

 and Fredericksburg, and Richmond and Peters- 

 burg railroad, its roadway, formation, bridges, &c., 

 are executed in a highly substantial and perma- 

 nent m.anner; but it has only a plate rail super- 

 structure, which, with the increasing business of 

 the road, it will probably be advisable to substitute 

 by a substantial and lieavy iron rail. The whole 

 cost of this railroad, including depots, locomotive 

 engines, cars, &c., has been only 800,000 dollars. 

 By this railroad a large portion of the produce of 

 the Roanoke valley is coveyed to Petersburg. 



Besides the above railroads on the great north- 

 ern and southern line of travel ttirough Virginia, 

 there are the following: 



The Greensville Railroad. — This railroad, as 

 above observed, connects the Petersburg and Roan- 

 oke with the Ualeigh and Gaston railroad. It 

 leaves the Ibrmer railroad a lew miles south of 

 Hicksford, in Greensville county, Va., and termi- 

 nates at Gaston in North Carolina, where the Ra- 

 leigh and Gaston railroad commences. It is 18 

 miles long, and cost about 250,000. Its construc- 

 tion is similar to that of the Petersburg and Roa- 

 noke railroad. 



City Point Railroad. — This railroad extends 

 from Petersbuig along or near the Appomatox to 

 City Point, below the junction ol' that stream with 

 the James river, it is twelve miles long, and has 

 cost about 200,000 dollars. By means of it an im- 

 portant facility is aliorded to the shipping interests 

 of Petersburg, which have hitherto been depend- 

 ent on lighters on the Appomattox. 



Chesterfield Railroad. — This railroad connects 

 the bituminous coal basin of Chesterfield county 

 with the tide water of James river at Manchester, 

 opposite Richmond. Length 13,50 miles, with 

 branches from the main line to the principal coal 



pits. The line descends into the valley of 



Falling creek by a self actin<f plane, and is con- 

 ducted over that of Sally's Run by an embank- 

 ment 800 feet long and 40 fijet liigh. Cost but 

 S.OOO dollars per mile. Radius of the curves 

 1,442 leet. Single track, with the usual turn-outs, 

 &c. ; commenced January, 1830, completed July, 



Louisa Railroad. — This railroad leaves the 

 Richmond and Fredericksburir railroad about 24 

 miles 1mm Richmond and 37 from Fredericks- 

 burg, and extends thence westward to Gordons- 

 ville in Oran<ie county, passing by Louisa court- 

 house and Newark. Whole distance from the 

 point of junction with the Richmond and Frede- 

 ricksburg railroad to Gordonsvilie, 49 miles. Cost 

 about $400,000. 



The Louisa railroad furnishes an outlet to the 

 productions of a lertile tract of country in Virginia 

 at the loot of the Southwest mountain, and forms 

 the most convenient and agreeable route to tra- 

 vellers to the Virginia springs, and the western 

 part of Virginia. It is proposed to extend a branch 

 of the road from Newark about 12 miles east of 

 Gordonsvilie to Charlottesville, and an extension 

 of the road to Harrisburg, in Rockingham county, 

 is spoken of. 



Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad. — This rail- 

 road commences at Portfmouth, opposite Norfolk, 

 and proceeds in a W. S,VV, direction through Nor- 

 folk, Northampton and Southampton couniiee, 

 crosses the North Carolina boundary near Me- 

 herrin river, and joins the Roanoke near Weldon. 

 Length 80 miles. Cost about 1.000,000 dollars, 



Winchester and Potomac railroad extends 

 southwest from Harper's Ferry on the Potomac, 

 in Jefferson county, Va,, where it connects with 

 the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, to Winchester 

 in Frederick county. Leng'h 32 miles. Cost 

 500,000 dollars. From Winchester a macada- 

 mized road is now under construction lo Staunton; 

 but it is probable that this will ere long be super- 

 seded by a railroad, which would be so well justi- 

 fied along the fertile valley of Virginia, remarka- 

 ble for both its mineral and agricultural wealth. 

 A company lor the construction of this railroad 

 was incorporated by the legislature of Virginia a 

 few years since, and a survey made, and very fa- 

 vorable location procured Ii3r the work; but tlie 

 capital stock was not made up within the time 

 limited in the charter for the organization of the 

 company. 



The above comprises all the railroads yet ex- 

 ecuted in Virginia. Other highly important works 

 of this description have been projected in that state, 

 which will probably be undertaken as soon as the 

 present monetary diflicullies pass off. One of the 

 most essential seems to be a railroad betweea 



