The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-11-11
The Water Line to the Ohio.


| characterized by tho same accuracy which
was displayed in the estimates Of the com.
parative advantages of the Greenbrier and
Monroe roGtes, for the Covinston and Ohio
Railroad, and give evidence of the same spi-
| rit which endeavored to convince the Legis-
| lature that the joint location of the Canal
and Railroad from CovIngton, would increase
the cost Of the latter $1,000 900.
Recent surveys have demonstrated that
the joint location can be effected without ia.
creasing the cost of either the Railroad or
+! the Canal one dollar.
We do notpropose entering upon the quss-
ton of the comparative advantages of Rail
roads and Canals at present We are fully
persuaded that the interests of the State re-
quire the construction of both, and We have
no doubt Of the feasibility Of the continuous
water line
We intend at this time merely to notice
| some of the statements and calculations of
the writer in the Era, with view to their
correction.
l. It is stated that the "Gresnbrier River,
| at the point where it has beea proposed to
arrest its water for the supply. has been
known to afford bat dribble scarcely sufi-
! cient for saw MILL
The result of a careful examination of An
| thongs Creek, one Of the tributaries of tho
| Greenbrier River. above the point indicated,
has been given in the published report of Mr..
Lorraine. He states the annual discharge of
| this creek as a1o, ,52s, 055 cubio yards of wa
ter. There are other tributary streams,
| whose united volume is stated by Mr. Lor-
| raine as about onethird of Anthony's Creek.
There are then available for the supply of
the summit level, without resorting to the
| "rains from heaven" go, 100000 of cubic
| yards of water. The Era can perhaps de-
termine how many @saw millS" this would
supply.
.. THE tolls will be oppressive. because
of the great amount of Iockage, there being
| $500 feet between the termini of the Canal,
| to be overcome; and the number of lock
keepers to be employed being very great"
&c.
Supposing the elevation to be as stated,
there would be about $50 locks on each side
of the summit level. This will give, on the
| largest estimate, 700 leck-keepers, who, at
| $50 each, would cost the sum of slo5, 700.
Should the tolls on this Canal ever approx
| mate those at present received on the Erie
| Canal, say e3,ooo.ooo, it is fair to assume
that a charge of s1o5,ooo for pay Of lock
keepers, would not render the tolls oppres-
sive. This amount would be about one-thir-
tieth of the tolls received; and if the tolls on
tonnage be only half cent per ton per mile
on the Erie Canal, the charge for tending the
locks could only add about onesixtieth part
| of cent per ton, which would scarcely be
considered oppressive by the advocates OF
| Railroad transportation.
3. "a freight train on Railroad. if need
require, can be dispatched every ten minutes.
or $40 per day, each containing 400 tons
Imagine 24o freight trains, each carrying
400 tons, or $4,000 in the aggregate, passing
! over the Central Railroad in one day-more
than was transported during the whole oi
the past year. Then conceive, if you have
| a fancy for the horrible, what would be the
| consequence of the detention of the front
| train for more than 10 minutes. There would
| indeed be realized 'the wreck of matter and
| the crush of worlds"
4. s'About six minutes is necessary to pass
a boat through lock. Thus 240 boats, with,
| perhaps, 100 tons each. would be the capacity
| of the Canal
We admit that 24o boats, with, perhaps, 100
tons each, would be the capacity of the Ca
nal for "a hours. This would give for each
day $4,000 tons, which, multiplied by 365,
| would give s,76o, 900 tons. Quite sufficient
| for all purposes.
One million of tons transported through
| the line at half cent. per ton per miie ior
| about 500 miles would give s2,5oo,ooo' or an
amount sufficient to pay twelve per cent. on
sooooo,0oo, the entire cost OF the WAFER iihe
| when completed. and all charges for the
maintenance of the same.
& a,rhis claim for right of way, which
can never be exercised, may interfere with
the chance for fair decision on the question
of route for the Railroad"
It has been ascertained that the fright OF
way for the canal win not interfere with the
location of the Ccvington and Ohio Railroad.
The surveys now in progress will furnish red
able data by which the Legislature can de-
termine fasrly the best route for a Railroad
from Coyington to the Ohio. We doubt not
that the report of the accomplished Engi-
neer, now engaged in these surveys, will set
at rest the question of route for the Railroad
and divest the subject of extraneous consi-
derations which have been blended with it,
We have no desire but to promote the best
interests of the Commonwealth, and we shall
fearlessly advocate that policy which will, in
our opinion, most certainly accomplish that
end.
The intimation Of the writer Of the article
in the Era that the advocacy of continu-
GUS water line to the Ohio Is . new thing with