The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-11-04
soioto and Hooking valley RAILROAD

uouDt ~.
Soioto and Hooking Valley Railroad.
The Engineers of this road, have cornplet.
ed the survey on the route as far as Jackson
c. ii. We learn that through Scioto coun.
ty, and to the south line of jackson, the
road is surveyed and located, and will be
let befoie the LIST of January next. Through
Jackson county thus far, it is also surveyed,
and will be located and let, during the win
ter. ai
The distance from Jackson to Portsmouth
by this route, is, 43a miles, but will be
shortened in curving to 43, The whole
route is represented as being an excellent
one for a railroad; much better than was an
ticipated. Through Scioto county, parts of
it are rough and billy, but presenting no OBJ
stacles, that cannot be easily overcome no
tunneling to be done. Through Jackson
county. the route is far better; the grade
generally low. and in no place will it exceed
40 feet TO the mile, and this grade occurring
at no more than two points.
The question is now solved, that railroad
can be made through Jackson county, and at
much lower grade than many roads now in
operation in the United States, without be-
ing suspended from hilltop to hill. top, to be
reached only by the winged Inhabitants of
the upper regions, as was intimated by some
of our neighbors, inhabiting the IolD regions
Of 8orroU about Piketon, on the Scioto val.
ley. 1t not only can be made, but we have
every reason to believe, that it will be made.
Scioto and Jackson counties, and the Cor
poration of Portsmouth, have each subscrib-
ed 100000, ard the citizens of Portsmouth,
$40, 1000, making $370,0O0, already subscrib-
ed, or authorized TO be subscribed as soon as
the necessary arrangements can be made /;
there are also individual subscriptions, not
included in the above, which viii probably
make the amount near $780, 900, during the
winter. The citizens of the two counties,
will now make all possible exertions to push
it forward. We understand that one Of the
Directors Of the road, has gone east to nego-
tiate the necessary loans.
Situated as the people of Jackson county
are, (40 miles from every place. and com
munication between the distant points bar
red during the greater part of the winter, by
deep mud and high waters, il is not necessa-
ry that we should point out the particular
benefits that would accrue to us by means
of this road, affording ar outlet through the
entire year, to the Ohio river on the south,
and to the whole southern market, and by
extending il north, we open up a communi.
cation with the northern lakes, and through
them to any point we may wish to reach.
jackson county needs nothing but the facil-
tiles Of transportation to the north, south
and west, TO make her equal TO most coun.
ties in Ohio. Possessing as she does, Min
eral resources. Iron Ore, Coal, Limestone
and Marble, Of good quality, in greater abun-
dance than any other county in the State, it
only requires their development by means Of
the manufacture OF Iron, in all its branches,
besides, the transportation of vast amount
of Coal, OF a superior quality, Of Limestone,
Marble, Agricultural products, and thous-
and other things, too tedious TO mention, to
be exported over the line of this and other
roads it will intersect, and which will bring
to the farmer, merchant, manufacturer and
all others entitled to portion of it by their
industry and enterprise, such returus in ac-
tual wealth, as win astouish every person,
not intimately acquainted with the vast re-
suits accomplished BY Improvements, and
operations Of this kind. II is true that we
cannot compete with the Scioto valley, in
raising corn, and short horned Durhams,
neither can Massachusetts,, Rhode Island, nor
any other manufacturing community within
our knowledge, yet they are not the less
wealthy, and we can turn what we have
into more money, withless labor and at high
er and surer profits thaa they can.
Our duty is plain. Let us 60 to work like
men, and assist in building this road. We
have authorized our Commissioners to ap-
propriate large amount of money to the
road. This should not be all that we do.
Our wealthy farmers should take stock in
the road, aud thus interest themselves in its
construction, as soon as possible; much de-
pends upon the citizens Of this county at this
time. No man has right, nor ought he to
throw any obstacle in the way. The pro-
ject is good one; the investment safe
and profitable one, and why not push it
ahead, and open up for ourselves means Of
transportation which viii be our only saliva
ton, and the want Of which has been pres-
sing us down with mountain weight all our
lives. Let us develop those resources that
God has placed In our hands, and all will be
well. II we do not do II now, for now il
the time. we will not discharge our duty, to
ourselves, TO our children or 10 our common
,so,,ntev ~ Ia rLhon Gfn,,det.d iNfi ~ ffi fI'