Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-10-10

But in seeking a grade practicabl
for railroad there is no doubt tina
the distance would be much increase
and perhaps rendered greater tha
the route down the Kanawha valley
The country through which raj
road would pass down the Kama
wha valley is already graded by tn
hand of nature; there are no valley
to fill up, or hills to cut down; it
a country unsurpassed BY any il
Virginia for the salubrity Of its eli
mate, the fertility Of its soil, or IL,
extent and value Of its minerals
The country from Charleston to Guy
andotte is succession of large hin:
and small vaileys-comparitively IN.
productive, and offering no single
facility for the construction of rail.
road, either from the course of its
streams or the range and direction Of
its hills.
There can be no doubt that a rail-
road can be constructed from Charles
ton down the Kanawha river, at an
expense very far short OF that neces-
sary for the construction Of such a
road TO Guyandotte, and 10 the cost
Of the road must be added the cost
Of bridge across tile Kanawha at
Charleston.
In view Of the immense amount
Of business that must be done bv
the railroad and the steamboats, on
the Ohio river, it becomes an object
of paramount Importance to termi-
nate the road at some point on the
river that will afford to boats at all
Of the year, and all stages
OF water, a convenient and safe land
ing,and a deep and safe harbor. The
Ohio landing at Point Pleasant from
its depth, and freedom from snags
and other distractions, is notorious
" one Of the best on that river,
while the great depth OF the Kama
wha at its mouth, renders it the sa-
lest and best harbor from Pittsburgh
10 Cincinnati.
Guyandolte possesses none OF these
advantages for the terminus ofa rail-
road. lthas no harbor in which boats
could safely lie in the summer, or be
protected from ice in the winter, the
anding in low water is difficult, and
'ften impracticable by reason Of
IuyandoIte bar, which extends some
hree miles below the town, and in
Iced from the town to Twelve Pole
'ar, distance Of nine miles, there is
lot single safe or convenient land
ng for steamboats, in low water.
Supposing the railroad to terni-
ate at the Ohio, and that the river
lone should be relied upon as the
onduit of Southern and Western
-avel and trade, in that event the
ngle fact that by the river, Guyan-
otte is forty miles nearer Cincin-
ali is all that could be Justly said in
$ favor, for in all time past when !
pats could get to Guyandotte, they I
ave with the same freight got to c
oint Pleasant. b
During last summer and this fall,
ore steamboats, have been aground ?
I'd fast at lour mile bar, only nine e
lies above Cincinnati, than upon d
~ other bar or shallow from Pitts o
lrgh to Cincinnati. e
Coming from Cincinnati up the p
hio river there is four mile bar, v
iarleston bar, Brush creek island,
reenup shadows, and Twelve Pole
r, all nearly as shallow, and some,
om the difference in the character ,
the bed of the stream, more diff
1t than Guyandotte bar. From
lyandOtte to Point Pleasant there
no obstruction in the river so diff
1t as those just mentioned below
at place. ol
But it can never be that a great IN
ntral railroad through Virginia re
II terminate on the Ohio river, il So
ist and will seek a more safe, uni gi
m and reliable connection with si
lcinnati, the great centre of the ce
esteFn commerce and travel, than sh
] be found by the river. tn
In the State Of Ohio there is now dii
process Of construction, a railroad OF
m Cincinnati through HILLSIDE yo
Ugh to Chlllicoihe, this route inter- fai
is the Cincinnati and Sandusky jeC
road and is already completed to est
lsborough. an
Ii the last session Of the Chic ] a
sislature a company was incorpo- pr,
I'd to build railroad from CALI the
IS, four miles below Point Pleas ma
through Jackson to Chillicothe, US
stance Of sixty-one miles. The ma
te has been surveyed aud found the
e practicable and easy, and only or
Its the decision Of the terminus ter
he Virginia road; should that de- poi
N be in favor Of Point Pleasant, tic
road TO ChiIlicothe will be built gag
passu with the road from gen
and a direct connection ents