Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-01-13


with all the railroads and markets o
Pennsylvania. r.h.
J 1t is not possible TO foresee entirely
the course of trade through SO many
open channels. The present tendency
of Western trade appears TO be North.
ward-but when we consider the superi.
or inducements afforded by the fine eli,
mate Of Virginia for commercial inter.
course-the unrivalled advantage pos
sessed by this state in the facility fol
passing the great Allegheny-and the
closer proximity to the deep tidewater
of the Atlantic-that enterprise must be
dull indeed, which hesitates on the cham
ces of diverting Western commerce from
the emporiums Of the North.
The contemplated railroad from
Richmond TO York river will give TO
Richmond, within less than 40 miles,
the best harbor in the Union, SECURE
from tempast and accessible by ships
Of the largest class. and within thres
hours sail OF the ocean.
From GallipoIis. through Rich
mond, TO this point on York river
will be 476 miles, four miles nearer
than from the same point by way OF
The Hillsborough railroad TO Balti-
more; and that point is lao miles
nearer than Baltimore to the Capes
of Virginia, which every vessel
bound 10 and from Baltimore must
pass. ' s' h.'' '5
The terminus OF the York River
railroad must soon become formida-
BILE competitor with New York for
the imports and exports ol the West:
with the advance ol population and
internal improvement, its local adj
vantages, OF which nothing can de-
Prive it, will ensure it a large share
OF European commerce. Z, te.s--.
During severe winters, such as
the last, when I3 locomotives were
frozen up on the Erie railroad, and
the travelling can only be secured by
an almost daily removal Of snow and
ice from the track, the whole ten
dency OF travel. and trade must be
South-the Gallipolis, Jackson and
Chillicothe railroad will become a
portion OF the great arterial trunk
for the Western tra6c: through it
and the Virginia Central route all
the cities Of the North wa then be
most easily, safely and certainly ap-
preached. E2 ~
Even in summer the CI.So connec~
tii tioii ;::us. a:s.s. share in the profits 10 be
derived from the yet undeveloped
resources of Virginia--from the tide
OF pilgrimage which must set so
strongly in the direction Of those
temples Of Hygeia--the mineral
springs. ' ''aa
Ohio is without rival as the
producer Of provisions. At present
the Atlantic markets of Virginia are
only accessible for her through BaIti-
more. The proposed extention of
the Central railroad TO the Ohio al
Point Pleasant, will open the pro-
vision market TO Ohio in almost
every important town in Virginia
Their several distances from Gallipo.
lis will then be, by way of the
Virginia Central railroad, t-rE ua
to Charleston, Kanawha, 55 miles.
10 Lewisburg, rs 200
TO Staunton, tr.. 3O4 &c
Gov, & o. r, & Canal, .-.. -...1
TO Lynchburg, 327
Va. Cen. and Orange & Alex.
railroad, a'1 ..H
to Fredericksburg, sH' 420
10 Alexandria, Jdi .r 45l q"
10 Washington, oniwa ass So.
Val. turnpike, to Winchester, 425 )"
Cen. railroad, to Richmond, 440 "ilI
r. & P. railroad, to Peters,
burg. s'-i to I-. 8di 462 "
Norfolk and P. railroad, to e'as'
z Norfolk, lna' e.fa2 % 54l
1t requires but ordinary presclence
to discover that Gallipolis at no
distant day must play an imPor-
tant part as the entrepot of Western
and Atlantic commerce. It is need
less to insist on the advantages ol
her position. The object of your
company is not petty local trafc,
but the attainment Of a more solid
good in the conversion Of your town
into fourishing city. To aceoms
plish this purpose, it will be necessa-
ry TO construct first class passenger
railway on route No. 1, with curves
and gradients Of the gentlest characT
ter-and for. the accommodation OF
the mineral region on route No. 2.
a branch road with second class
gradients and curves. A better line
could be run nearly over the same
route, and a more economical ar
rangement made Of the grades. As
per the profiles now exhibited, that
branch would cost from twenty to
twenty-five thousand dollars per
mile. ! feel certain, however, that
within The limits Of grade / have be
fore stated, good road could be
made, even at the present high prices
Of iron, forfi $4,000 per mile