Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-01-21

+. Durg ana LOup creek sHOdis peihS eoSh
bout 81 miles from the mouth of the gre
Kanawha, the railroads terminating at tho
points will enjoy equal advantages liz Il
water communication. But if the travell.
, on the Baltimore route wishes to visit Wasl
ington. the distance from Parkersburg b
the Relay will be 42S miles. being % mile
more than by the Central Virginia rout
from Loup creek shoals So, likewise, fror
Guyandotte to Washington, the distance O.
the Central route viii be less than b
Parkersburg and Relay BY about 1O5 miles
and less to Baltimore by about 43. A fai
competition will, therefore exist upon thef
Ines for the Northern travel TO and from al
places below the mouth Of the Great Kama
wha.
If Virginia will enter upon the execution
of the Improvements just mentioned with
proper energy. Kentucky will doubtless
meet them by continuation of the railroad
from Louisville by Frankfort to the State
line. Louisville is about 139 miles below
Cincinnati, and yet it is believed that q
railroad from thence to Guyandotte would
hardly exceed 250 miles, making the whole
distance to the city of Washington about
700 miles, and forming line not much in.
ferior to that projected from Baltimore, by
Parkersburg and Cincinnati, to St, Louis.
The importance of this road cannot be over
looked by Kentucky; and passing near
Portsmouth, the terminus of the Ohio State
canal from Lake Erie 81 miles below Guy.
andotte, connection with that as well as
other important points will be made. In
truth, this will form base line for an entire
system of railroads and other improvements
in Kentucky. The rich products of that
State, as well as the vast trade tributary 10
the navigation of the Upper Mississippi and
Ohio, seeking an Eastern market, will find
an entire water line with the exception Of
15O miles IN tho mountains) to the Chesa-
peake bay, in addition to succession of
railroads from the Great Falls of the Ohio.
There will be opened to the millions of en-
terprising and intelligent beings spread over
the great Valley of the West, double line
of communication to the Chesapeake, suited
both to light and heavy transportation, and
in climate entirely agreeable to the great
ssof travellers. If, therefore, immediate
success shall not follow the completion Of
these works, ut will be for want of sufficient
capital or enterprise IN our cities to COM
mand the business; and should such causes
exist, the works here as elsewhere will soon
remedy it.
Upon the subject ofa remunerating reve-
nue. from the Improvements proposed to be
constructed as above recommended, and the
capacity of this railroad across the noun
tains for performing the services necessary
to command the heavy transportation. we
may with great confidence refer to the re-
suits of the operations upon the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad during the last fiscal year.
These results have been reduced to the fol-
lowing simple terms, to wit:
The whole number of miles run was ,9s5,osS
The whole amount of revenue re-.
'cvived was Sl,3lo.c92 rs
The whole expenses, repairs, &C.,
were 695,9l9 90
Leaving for nett pIoht, s65s. .3O3-66
The cost on each mile run was, therefore,
S54 Is cents. The tonnage carried was e.
quail to A, 1866, ,399 tons moved one mile
The revenue received for this service was
S942, ,427, being equal to charge of two
cents per ton per mile. The passengers
carried were equal to 10,540,52S persons
one mile. The sum received
for the service, was SS55, SCI 40, being q.
bout three and one third cents each per
mile. The compensation for mail service
was about $51 ,235. The company divided
seven per cent. on capital of 81 ,531 ,200,
which being applied to the extension OF the
work, was payable in certificates of stock.
With results like these upon main stem
of l79 miles ending in the gorges of the Al
leghany, and few tributaries below the
mountains, what may We not expect from
the ample Improvements proposed1 If we
regard the fact that this enterprising com.
pany has recently reduced the freight on
coal 10 So per ton from the mountains to
tide-water, distance of near 200 miles, and
the general results of their orerations,ss al.
fording data upon which we can safely rely
in making estimates for our own improve
ments, We may feel satisfied that railroad
from Clifton Forge to the Ohio river will
answer the purpose for which it is desiga.
ed, and that by completing the connections
most ample revenue may be de-
rived to the State. A detailed statements
from the voluminous reports upon the raiit.
roads and canals of New YORK, Pennsylya-.
mia and Ohio would but confirm in SUBJ
stance what has been already presented.
The Virginia and Tennessee railroad is
work deem of the first importance, both as
a local improvement and in its national
bearing; and ! earnestly recommend that
means be provided for its completion in the
shortest time compatible with the public in
terest. The importance of reaching the
Tennessee line at an early day cannot be-
too highly estimated. The determination
Of improvements in the Southern States to
this line may depend upon the promptness
and energy with which We shall execute
our portion. If we trace the line upon
which this great work has been projected 10
Knoxville, and thence to Chattan ooea. We
shall find Improvements converging to it
from the East, the West. and the South.
to the value of the common
stem. Several millions of people have
turned their minds with anxiety toward.
Virginia, her hospitable towns and ample
harbors, for disposition of their product,
and supply of merchandise. But, if we
say to them; "Ye shall not come" they will
abandon US and turn the streams of their
rich commerce into other channels. Situa.
ted as that country is, with shallow and sin.
1ous MYERS flowing into the Mississippi, the
Gull OF MexIcoand the Atlantic ocean a wide
range of selection for artificial lines of trans,
portatlonIs offered to the iahabitant or hay.