The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1853-02-11
Railroad to Cincinnati.

! A few days since we copied from the
Georgetown Standard q Communication re-
Iatiye TO railroad from this place, via,
West Union, in Adams Co., !Georgctown, in
Brown Co., and New Richmond, in Cler-
mont Co., to Cincinnati. The country thrc
which such road would pass, is much in
need ofsome outlet for its surplus products
many OF It's inhabitants having TO wagon TO
Manchester, Hillsborough and Ripley over
bad roads, distances of from twenty Il
forty miles. The road would pass through
an excellent small grain and lumber region,
and connect at this place with the Scio,o &
Hooking Valley line, from which it woulc
receive immense supplies Of coal, iron and
other products of The mineral region. sBe
sides, like our own railroad, it would build
up large business ofits own, populate more
sthickly the country through which it woult
pass, and by giving q steady market at,both
ends Of The road, encourage armers and stocl
raiStrs, and benefit the people generally
No doubt exists in our mind that road or
this route would pay, from its opening, q
handsome per cent on the COS, of consruc
ton, as ii is belle vedthere would be no heavy
grades, deep cuts or tunnels TO be made. /
the road can be constructed cheoply, and i
it will pay, the next point for our citizens tc
consideris, will it benefit Portsmouth ant
Scioto coun;y9 We know there are those
who take avery narrow view of this ques.
tion; and we are therefore disposed to dwell
upon it. We wish it born in mind thai
Portsmouth is the Southern outlet for the
products Of the rich alluvials of the Scioto
Valley, and, also, of the products of tht
greatest mineral region in the Unlon-that Q
great north aud south railroad connects il
with the Gulf of Mexico and the inland sea:
that it is perched upon the banks of one
Of The largest rivers in the Union, and tina
thousands Of steamboats, touch at its whar
annual yin short, that it possesses advan
tnges in point of location that cannot be ia
ken from ii; and, Furthermore, that lis inhab
itants are highly onterprising and anxious Il
forward its prosperity, This being the case
would railroad connection with Cincinna
ii tend 10 injure Portsmouth? 1? We argue j
would not, but would have the contrary ef
feet instead. 1t would certainly increas
our business with that city, because the con
venience of transportation would be greater
and our increased business with other por
tions Of the country would require it. Th
effect Of railroads is TO equalize prices :,
goods bought in New York or Baltimore, 70
instance, when we once have railroad con
nection with those cities, can be sold at
small advance over cost here, because of th'
rapidity and cheopness of transportation.-
Thus, the merchant loses nothing and tb
people gain. Groceries bought south can b,
sold as cheap here as in Cincinnati, becaus'
we shall have railroad, as well as rive
connection, and that city can have nohin
more. Goods bought in Cincinnati by tn
quantity can be retaled here for less thai
small buyers can obtain them there, afte
paying cost os transportation, &c. w
can manufacture iron here little cheape
than The Cincinnatians, because are at tn
very point where the raw material costs tn
least, and we shall have conveniences fc
shipping 10 the best markets, equal 10 thoS
OF Cincinnati. Why, then should we ieO
competitions Why should we be contentt
with one railroad, although our city th:iv'
il Two win enhance its importance still mort
We confess we have never been able TO Sc
the good sense Of such an crclaSiDe policy,
But, more anon.