Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-05-01
For tn. GsIIipoli. Journal.
vIrKIata Railrsaa.

Nh. EDrroR: Knowing that yourself
as well as your readers are always hap
py to receive any information that is
likely to strengthen their hopes in rsla-
ton to The Great Central Railroad oI
the United States that is some day to
connect the Atlantic with the Pacific
oceans, any fact or circumstance that in
any way give US hope in its completion
Is more or less gratifying. We are all
aware that Virginia has it in her power
to have this great thorough!are opened;
of her ability we have no doubt, then
the only thing is if she toill, all is safe;
of that we will not despair; her present
movements tend strongly that way. May
she continue until she shall connect her
Capital by railroad with the Ohio river;
the West will do the rest, of this none
can doubt, for at this time there is in
progress of construction a very large
proportion of the way on this great
route through St. Louis, No., to Fort
Independence, on the Great River of
what was the far West.
Having received information that a
detachment Of Engineers OF Virginia
were making a survey down the Kama
wha river. concluded to 90 up the riv-
er and meet them. Accordingly on the
Gath instant, | went up on the steam
boat Resort, landed above the mouth of
the Kanawha Ten Mile creek. walked
up the river a short distances, where |
met the party at their work. Not being
acquainted with any of the party nor
they with me, without much ceremony
approached the one that seemed to be
the seignor of the party, saluted him,
and gave myself as good an introduc-
ton as knew how. This gentleman
proved to be Col. Mexican, the chief of
the company. He received me very
kindly, gave me his name and gave me
an introduction TO Capt. Fulsom, Mr..
Watson and others that were with him.
This party were the surveying party in
advance of the leveling party, the chief
of which was Major Harrison, assisted
Nv WI hlCuuIuSOls L COlllllluCQ Win
the first named company down the river,
across the Ten Mile creek until late in
the evening, near Mr.. Cooper's, where
| left the party for the night. Next
morning returned, came up with Major
Harrison near Mr.. VIM. Stephenson's,
continued with them and took dinner;
left them and soon after overlook Col.
Mexican and his party at the five mile
creek; continued with them 10 Point
Pleasant. found those gentlemen all
very courteous, kind and intelligent.
They appeared TO take a pleasure in
giving me all the information that de-
sired. Col. Mexican is a man of much
experience in his profession, and, as far
as | could Judge, is a man Of unques-
tionable science. Major Harrison ap-
pears to be perfectly at home in his bu-
siness, as also Capt. Fulsom, whose bu-
siness it seems is TO attend more par
ticularly to topography. His sketchings
as well as those of the other gentle
men. are very fine. Mr.. Watson is
the surveyor of the party; he is quite a
young man. is very ready and appears
well acquainted with his business; in
fac; every one knows what to do with
themselves as we'll as how to treat
others. From what saw Of them and
their work | feel confident that their re-
port, when made, will be all that can be
desired to give The Legislature of Vir-
ginia full knowledge Of the line, grade
and topography of the valley of the
Kanawha river TO its junction with the
Ohio, and with its resources so as to act
understandingly upon the subject of the
contemplated Railroad 10 the West. II
we had complete survey of our route
TO the Scioto river at Chillicothe. to
show how it woul1 connect with their
route, there can be but little doubt but
it would be of some importance to them
as well as to ourselves. The company
have completed their survey 10 the Ohio
river from where they commenced on
New river, it being something less than
two miles above the mouth of Gauley
river.
This survey is on the upper or
Northern side OF the river, the whole
distance being about ninety-four
miles; the decent on the water sur
face is one hundred and twenty-nine
feet-which shows a very gentle
grade. They will survey up the
Kanawha river on the other side to
opposite their first station and then
survey New river from the mouth OF
the Greenbrier river to where they
began their first survey; they will
then have surveyed a continuous line
from Covington at the foot OF the
Allegheny mountains to the Ohio
river. When all OF the routes are
completed and presented to the Leg
islature of Virginia, as it is expected
they will be at its next session, then
will be the time for them to act and
that understandingly on this subject.
What route il any will be adopted is
not certain, Col. Mexican nor any
Of his party having surveyed but one
line 10 the Ohio river could not give
an opinion Of any preferrble route;
all that they could say was that the
line they run was very good one,
nora thon that xyas Mt ,-LoI H..