Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-02-19
From the Daily sontherner.
THE LOUISA AND OHIO RAILROAD.

Mr.. EDIToR-ln my last, attempted 10 show
the absurdity of the idea entertained by sBuck-
ingham," OF the Wing, that the Louisa road
should stop short in its present direction, and be
twisted to the Northwest via Powellis or some
other Gap, and Harrisonburg, to Palkelsburg.-
| have exposed the astonishing ignorance of the
writer, OF the physical difficulties, or rather
dorm right ampossibilities i'll constructing rail-
road in that direction and for the purpose of be-
ing distinctly understood, will again enumerate
those difficulties i'll shape of mountains First
the Blue Ridge, pronounced impacticabe any
where but Rockfish Gap, by repeated surveys :
then North mountain, Shenandoah mountain
Shaws Ridge Bull Pasture, Jacks .lIevner's.
Allegheny, Showers Cheat, Rich, Middle, and
Hughes mountains: the two last inconsiderable
compared with some of the Others yet tornida-
bic III tie construction OF Il railroad Here
then, Won would have twelve successive forlrli-
dable mountains SO situated relative to each
other with narrow vallies between, that no one
of sane mind would think OF such a project
But it may be asked, can u road via Rockfish
Gap be constructed with any more ease? | an
swer yes, unhesitatiuglv and appeal to Col
Crozet, Shaw, Scales, Dewitt or any one of the
skilliul and eminent engineers who have so Of
ten surveyed the routes via Staunton and either
Jennings OR Buffalo Gaps down the waters Of
the two Calf Pastures, to Covington. BY a very
late survey made from Covinoton to a point on
the free road leading by Buffalo Gap for a
common turnpike road, a grade as low as two
degrees was obtained, and hen little pains was
used in the location, as is the case in locating
roads of that character. 1t must strike the OBJ
seryaton OF any observant individual at all ac-
quainted with the topography of,the country via
Staunton, Covington and the White Sulphur to
Guyandotte that this is the shortest and most
facite route for railroad between the Atlantic
and the valley of the Mississippi, any where, and
which is most emlnently adapted by nature for
such an Improvement, whether you look at the
distance, the character of the ground and tdciH-
| ty and cheapness of construction. the large a.
mount of territory to be accommodated BY it, the
inestimable, incalculable fertility in agricultural
products of every kind, and unheard-of wealth
in iron, salt, COAL bituminous, anthracite and
camel, land what is to all here an unknown
fact, large masses of coal, anthracite, within
one hundred and forty miles of Richmond, and
contiguous to the line of this road in the Valley
of Virginia and the county of Augusta, marble,
| lime, lead, magnesla-ln Short every thing
found in the bowels of the EARTH passing inme-
diately between and among the mineral health
restoring waters OF our mountains than which
/ all the world beside cannot show as many and
Of such yariety-viv: Alum, Warm, Hot. " hite.
Red. Gray, Blue Sweet and Salt Sulphur
| springs Dts.cSS lhlunefapie cIaiYDeates and
with accommodations the most extended, where
nilliona Of dollars have been expended yet are
they accessible to but few, and by approaches
dangerous and uncomfortable. And lastly, and
certainly the strongest and most irresistible az
gunent this road will connect with the grana-
ry elltrepot, emporium, magazine of the Mis-
sissippi Valley, Cincinnati, and her important
adjuncts, Louisville and St. Louis. Where is
there route that can boast of such advantages
as this last9 Echo answers where. St. Louis
and Cincinnati are now embarkina in the noble
project Of uniting themselves by railroad, and
they are going 10 do 1t. They will not content
themselves as ace do in Epoor Old Virginia :
with specializing and thinking about it. and
then folding our hands and sitting down very
complaeently: We say It's oil fudge and gam
mon, this thing of railroads and canals. Lee
the Yankees build them if they choose. Here il
1fonnt Tesnoa, there is Monticello and Montpe
her. Ant we great people? Has not Viz
GINA been the Mother of States and heroes anC
Statesmen! Alas for us! if we do not do some
thing soon there will be just cause fer the snee
sometimes noar INDUCED in-.'we are like tht
potatoe, The better part Of us umder he ground.
But, Mr. Editor, do not desire to trespast
upon your time and patience Too far. ''We'l
meet again.
| NTF"TROp9I ITAN