Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-12-17
c,ug. Of N. Co,lur,ou and Ohio u,l,ro,a.

esese VI tue toNheton ana Oho Eanroad.
We publish from the Report of the President O
the Central Railroad, the following views OF Mr.
Charles EleL the distinguished Engineer OF thai
Company, on the gauge of the Covington and Ohio
Railroad Without taking any partzan position or
the question in controversy; we give place to thi,
paper on subject likely to command considerable
attention:
The OF your work. it has long been supposed
in great degree dependent ON the gauge of the road
fom Covington the Ohio In this opinion however
have not concuried for whatever may be the gauge
first established for that line the public aud
necessity will compel return that of the Central road
so soon as connection is formed with tho works of Ken
| lucky and Ohio.
But this question of gauge formerly of 50 much inter
The recent development OF the policy of those western
companies with whose lines the works OF Virginia are to
connect seems TO place the whole matter beyond the
reach OF future controversy.
The State OF Virginia and the State Of Kentucky have
each in the course OF events but apparently without pur.
suing any fixed common plsn adopted two distinct
gauges viz: a feet and a feet 5 l-2 inches gauge
Now IL lisa somewhat remarkable and very important
hct that all the roads of Virginia designed TO share the
western trade which lie the south of James river
have adopted the feet gauge aud that all the roads of
Virginia lying north OF james river have adopted the
feet IL inches gauge while all the roads in the SOUTH
ern part OF Kentucky aud Tennessee have adopted
feet gauge of the southern Virginia roads and those in
northern Kentucky have adopted the feet ~ inches
gauge Of the northern Virginia roads.
Tor "gna than this since 10y connecting her northern
family OF feet IL inches gauges with the northern
cluster o. kcntuck roads, she own ports and
seaboard outlet for the trade which will be collected
by that extensive work of stern lines without b.,k
ot bulk. And further by connecting her southern f,mi
OF feet gauges with the southern cluster Kentucky
and Tennessee lines having tracks of the same dth she
also the trade Of that portion of the south ives,
which Is Iraversed by lines oi feet track to her own
ports
Under such a state of facts it would be strange inf,t
to inss li,L, -
row track on the iue of the southwestern road and com
pei two transhpmen OF all the of southern
Kentucky and Tennessee before get into Virginia,
or link OF wide gauge the Central line to compel
break OF bulk and ranshpment o! all the travel pro
duets anu supplies OF northern Kentucky. before they can
enter this State.
1t is not to be- supposed either that thew who are inter
csed in the Central line will be ambitious of mo.
nOpoy as TO wish to interrupt the passage oi the r
mate trade of the roads south of james river by nscr
ting link OF narrow gauge the lynchburg and Truncs
see road, to divert its business the north or that the
interests south can have much doubt the suiciency
of the trade the fertile southwest which is tob brouob
forward by the Tennessee road sustain that line as to
seek To nterpose mpedments and compel needless tran.
shipments on the Central route.
Nv own confidence in the of the
road has never failed. have considered it ne
ceary for that work TO encrVlch upon the ground Of it,
central neghbor To insure it the liberal support
Indeed there is clearly trade enough belonging to each
section Of the State sustain the proper roads of the
section; and do not doubt that shall all be sufficient
y employed IN extending our several lines and putting
them proper condition and oI
their legitimate commerce as it flows into respective
channels
Ii has, krow, been suggested that a wider g,,ys
than that which has become almost universal this coun
try aud IN all Europe Is intusicaly better than that
which Is IN general use. do know that should DENY
the fact it that tho question here
But the problem not now TO ascertain what would be
Tue best Euase Tor railroad, but which is for the
Covingon and Ohio road connecting a. il does with a
system OF roads OF narrow gua.e its extremity
and another system OF the same guase spreading all
northern aud central Virginia, at it, eastern end
II the question still a and open one beIiay.
that shoci be inclined to recommend six feet cuage
from Richmond to Cincinnati there connect with tb,
siA feet gGLgc leading from Cincinnati to 81 ou and
from - Louis westwardly AMI thus obt ain An adv,u,
over all competitors north SOUTH But this Question, AZ
intrinsic superiority has been iorecosed by the net work
ol narrow guage extending from the western border of
Virginia through northern Kentucky and southern Ohio
to Cincinnati; and over these cars must pass
kno" It i often cOntcEted that ears will not run
great distances ii the guages made continuous
but there i really 10 practical difficulty ia the way; aud
tc day i not distant when they will traverse tie mains
from the Atlantic to the PIcit: without transhipmcnt
1t Is probable however tina: the through will not
he Owned toy Tie separate companies whose roads cus
iutc tht through lncS but hy the individual or asSo-
cAted uauspottcs, Who will provide their own station.
Tor repairs. Even now, to avoid transhipmentS
cars are loaded with freight ut Philadelphia and
carried over the Wilmington and BrItinorc road
crossing the SnSqnennui on the top of ferry
horse amt tic Baltimore and Ohio road to
Wheeling They will also bc sent forward from Wheel
Cincinnati aui - Louis tue roads lead
ing thither finished.
To a continuous gauge and a narrow gauge too
from Philadelphia 10 Cincinnati, tie PcnnS rail road
company have recently runscribcd $500 900 aid the
construction of road from Wheeling to Cincinnati
through onio the nearest terminus OF which i 500 mile.
from Philadelphia, aud the rcmoter terminus than
$50 miles distant. To the object coutinu
giuge-thc city "' Philadelphia IN her corporate
pacy, has subscribed 100000 tie stock Of the Hemp
field road, forming part at the line. Aud to Sc
br trade and travel of Kentucky the
Pennsylvania al road company and merchants Of Pha-
,lepha, have subscribed the stock of road in that
state to e constructed the Pcuus ylylui gauge thus
passing beyond the State a portion of Virginia
over than :wo hundred miles 81 the territory OF
Ohio and twice crossing the Ohio river TO the ad
vdutgr OF a continuous gauge into Kentucky.
Tne President Of tie Cincinnati, Marietta and Wheeling
Company in Ohio, in bis report, congraultes the
stockholders that bs company, by these subscriptions has
not only secured unbroken gauge Phil ielphia
that in consequence Of the adoption OF the feet ~ n-
chCs gauge for tie Coyugton ana Ohio road, 10y Virginia
they would hc able also to send forward their frcgted
Cincinnati and southern Ohio the NAV ba
branch Of the Central road aud bridge Ohio
without transhipment to Richmond.
While the intelligent President Of this Ohio road in
most practical comprehensive, and business IKE report
thus points out the advantage Of continuous gauge
through Virginia, NATURALLY suppo-ng the question to
have been settled here every motive prudence aud
economy must clearly settle it, is it be suppose that
Virginia will di.appont his calculations by unnecessarily
interpreting two transhipmcnis the line. Two an,hp
meut- serving no earthly purpose but TO force at and
from her bOTder' that trade which the State
/ is spending millions Of dollars securey
The idea il certainly prepOsierous for further dis.
CUSTOM and think tc question has been virtually settled
/ by the adoption of feet - inches gauge on the
road from Big Sandy to Maysyc aud it, extensions north
aud west through Ohio aud Kentucky
! These views are respectfully submitted.
| CHARLES ELLET JR
| chi,f Eayssr.
/ Usg or "CosrIprsrr,I" LsrrrE4-Ina ruling upon
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