The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-10-24

Some iIlend ~ Cnliitcotne ms sent us
ths fTst annual report Of the Mafietip and
cinci6nati Railroad Company, better known
10 our readers under its former name, the
Dslpre and Cincinnati Company. We fnd
ihe report 50 interesting, from its almost
immsdiste bearing upon the prosperity Of
our own road, town and section Of com
try generally, that we are induced 10 lay
the greater portion Of il before our read
era who, we trust, will give il an attentive
perusal.
Under the head Of "Routes," we find the
following:
instrumental examinations have been made
east Of the Sciolo, TO the Ohio river Be-
tween Chillicothe and Athens, several. lines
have been run, for the purpose of obtaining
the best possible passage over the highground
intervening between those points. Being
fully sensible of the necessity Of enlisting,
to the fullest extent, the entire corporate
and individual pecuniary aid Of all parties
upon the route, epery sfort has been made to
sseurs central line through the county Of
Vfnton. This object has been partially OBJ
tanned, in the selection Of o .oute, in other
respects entirely favorable, passing about
one mile south Of Londonderry, Ross coun-
ty;-thence, by Middle Fork Of Salt Creek,
and Pigeon Creek, TO the waters Of Rhccoon,
some two or three miles south Of Macarthur.
This Ioute cannot fail 10 secure complete
end thorough development of the imme nse
mineral wealth known to abound in that re-
gion,
A line has been run between Athens and
Marietta, by which il was ascertained that
o very direct and practicable route can be
had-entering the ravine Of the Ohio river
near the latter place. The question of ap-
proach 10 the Ohio river, and the selection
Of route, in that direction, best suited TO
eastern railroad connexions. was presented,
in the offer of subscriptions, To- the amount
Of S350,000, from the county of Washing
ton and towns Of Marietta and Harmar,
made payable on condition of the adoption
Of the above route, and the placing of fifty
miles west of Marietta under contract, be-
fore the issue Of the county and town
bonds.
The acceptance Of these subscriptions, was
prompted by thorough conviction of the
necessity Of concentrating, upon this great
and costly enterprise, the united energies OF
portion Of Ohio hitherto neglected, in the
distribution Of Government favors, too weak
10 succeed without cordial cooperation Of
oil its parts-and whose future prosperity
seems TO depend mainly upon successful
ISSUE Of the present effort The most GER
tain reliance, for direct and speedy con-
rexion with the Atlantic cities, appears at
present. TO be through the city OF Wheel
ing, to which point the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad is now approaching rapid com
pletion, and from which the construction Of
the Hemp6eld road promises connection
with Philadelphia and New York more di-
rect, by many miles, in lineal distance, than
the one through Baltimore, and avoiding
the extra height Of the mountain range and
extremely steep grades encountered upon
that route.
In case the interests of Baltimore should
induce the construction of the North West
ern road, through Virginia, ample opportu.
niry is afforded for connexiou, under the
franchises of this Company. whenever par.
ties interested shall furnish the requisite
funds.
1t has been the policy Of the Directors, in
oil decisions relating to routes, to select
the one which will command the public con.
fidence, as the great thoroughfare from West
to East, and it is ma tier of congratulatlon
hat, without losing sight of this object they
have been able to combine, TO so full an ex-
tent, the cordial cooperation Of the entire
district Of country through which the road
will pass.
BY the acceptance Of the subscriptions
from Washington county and the towns Of
Marietta and Harmar, the name Of the
Company becomes changed to that of the
Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad Company,
as provided in the law authorizing the sa me.
The examinations and surveys complet ted
within the past year, have required the EN-.
ployment OF large engineering force, and
have occasioned heavy drafts upon the funds
of the Company. A perfect knowledge,
howeyea, OF the topography Of the country
was necessary TO correct decisions in the Sc
lection of routes. This has been obtained
under the efiicien. management of the En-
gineer department, with as much econumy
as prompt execution Of the work would
permit.
CoNsTRucTIoN.-Notices were issued pre-
vious to 22d Of March, inviting proposals
for the grading, masonry and bridging from
apoint eleven miles east of ChilIicOihe to
Greenfield. In full competition for the
work, the entire line was awarded to Messrs.
Cushing, Wood & Co., and contracts enter
ed into for its completion by the 3lst Of Ju.
ly, 1852.
The grading and masonry are now pro.
crossing rapidly in their hands. A steam
excavator is being applied TO the heavy Sec
tions Of excavation. The ample force at
their disposal, together with the energy and
ability with which they are pressing Il for
ward, gives every assurance that the road
bed will be ready for the Iron BY The time
contemplated in theiI contract.
In considering the lines Of railways and
other Improvements with which the road
will be connected. the report proceeds:
While the original policy of the compa-
ny has been steadily adhered to, OF uniting
Cincinnati and st. Louis with the Eastern
Sea-board, by the nearest and best route.
other connexions bave been projected, by
parties interested, which promise results OF
the greatest importance. A charter has
been granted for the construction oil road
from Dayton 10 inteTect our line near the
crossing OF Rattlesnake creek, in Highland
county, The ease with which the grading
oil this projected route can be effected, as