Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-02-03
REPORT OF EDWARD MILLER,
chief Esngfueer uDon rnc Western conneC
lions and extcnsions of the Pennsyl-
ynuIn Railroad.


the most accurate information concerning the iii f.
ferent extensions of the Pennsylvania Railroad
westward; and have verified it by personal examl-
nation of the maps, prohles, and estimates Ct the
respective companies, where was able TO do so.
l cannot, however pretend 10 have done this UNI
verSally 10 have passed over the numerous lines
of railroads in Ohio, having bearing on this sub
ject The Board are fully aw-re that to have done
so with a view of examining these lines profession
ally, would have required more time than 1t has
been possible to spare from my pressing and imme-
date duties upon The Pennsylvania Railroad.
Boston, New York, Philadelphia aud Baltimore,
are now striving to obtain the trade OF the west;
and these cities have constructed railroads for the
purpose. New York alone possesses twoot these
avenues, one by the Hudson river and Albany and
Buffalo railroads, and the nther the New fork ana
Erie. The Albany and Buffalo line, together with
the WeSt=In and Worcester road OF masSachuset s,
form the Boston route Philadelphia has construct
ed her road to Pittsburgh, and Baltimore her own
to Wheeling. The latter city IS also engaged IN
the construction of the ParkerSburgh branch, of
which the present road TO Wheeling will form the
main stem as far the Three Forks. The topo-
graphical features of the country appear to forbid
the construction of any great leading line within
the limits Of the United States independent OF these
and within their range, with one exception, the
Sunbury and Erie Railroad. -. ..
1t is not unusual to speak of the West as If it
were practicable 10 divert its entire trade to sin
gle city by single railroad. 1t is, however, great
commercial reservoir which even now is able TO fill
all the channels constructed TO carry off its surplus
and which will require all CT them soon to be in
creased in capacity and stretched to their utmost
limits, carry away its treasures rs rapidly as they
accumulate. The enterprise of our western
neighborS, the aid they have received from
eastern capital, and the facilities of construction,
rapidly covering Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ken
lucky and Southern Michigan, with network OF
railroads, which appear on the map at first view
confused mass of competing and interfering
lines. Some of these will prove failures, and 9TH
projected as leading lines will sink into the po-
Sitlon OF branches and feeders to those better pla
ced and supported. But it is certain thatthe keen
competition produced by their number, and the
remarkable facilities afforded by them, will Stlmu
late agricultural productions to the utmost; and
that those lines which become either by intrinsic
merit adoption, the leading thoroughfaTeS, will
be very profitable. A close investigation of the
map will show that various causes have concen-
tated upon certain points several railroads, which
appear to radiae from these places Ill different di-
rect'onS. The principal OF those are Pittsburgh,
Wheeling, Cleveland, Cincinnati, ST. Louis, Chi
cago, Columbus, and indianapolis. OF these, ma
ture and art have combined TO make Pittsburgh,
Cleveland, Cincinnati. Chicago, and ST. Louis,
great centres of radej and divergent lines are now
in progress, OF completed, which will connect Phil
lepha by direct routes with all these places, and
also with Lexington, the central point of Eastern
Kentucky. Western Kentucky will be best reach
ed through Cincinnati
1t is not my intention to enter into discussion
of the relative merits of the different Seaboard c
ties or of their lines of communication with the
interior being satisfied that all these cities will
reap the rich harveStS OF their audable enterprise,
and that all these avenues will find full and profit
able employment. In commercial point OF view,
however, there can be no doubt that the interests
of Philadelphia require her TO be connected by ties
of sympathy with those railroads which will afford
the best and most direct communication with the
important points Just named; and that she Should
not be wholly dependent for amy portion OF her
trade upou such routes pass through rival cities,
or subjected to their caprice, influence and in
teTeTence.
Taking the leading routes which may be con-
Sidered as dependent mainly upon Philadelphia,
and commencing at the north, we have the Ohio
and Pennsylvania Railroad, now upon the point of
completion, which commences at Pittsburgh, the
western terminus of the Pennsylvania Railroad
and passing through the great wheat belt of Ohio,
by way of the important towns of Salem, Canton,
MaSsillon, Wooster and Mansfield, terminating at
CreSline on the Cleveland and Columbus Rail
road. 1t is crossed by lines running west of north
TO Cleveland and SanduSky, which are completed,
and is extended by the Ohio and Indiana road 10
Fort Wayne, OH the direct route to Chicago; and
by the Bellefontaine and indiana roads to Indian
apOliS and Terra Haute, on the way to ST. Louis.
On the south il is now connected by the way OF
Columbus with Cincinnati, and will soon have n
more direct communication with that city by the
Mount Vernon road to Springfield.
These lines, the construction of which is now
rendered secure by the aid and countenance of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company 10 the Ohio and
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, and Mount Yer
non roads, will give access to n country of i'm
menSe production, by routes sufficiently favorable
to afford n vast advantage 10 the Pennsylvania
Railroad even for that trade which seeks New York
as It's market.
OF the propriey of granting this aid, and of the
beneficial results which must follow 1t, do not ell
terrain doubt; the full advantage, however, will
not be realized, until by branch line and bridge
the Allegheny river the two roads arc brought
side by side, and the present charges for drayagc
abolished, which operates as tax in favor of New
nd Rnl a1T1InU nG lin.,p in
four feet ten inches.
The next line to be considered commences also
al Pittsburgh, and passes through Seubenville and
CoShocton to Newark, where it connects with the
Central Ohio road to Columbus. 1t is intended
hereafter to extend it by an independent line 10
that point, where twill join the Columbus, Piqua
anil Indiana road. All these roads have the Penn
Sylvania guage of four feet eight and halfinches
and will connect us with the Indiana roads OF the
same guage, which will thus be unbroken from
Philadelphia TO st Louis, on very direct and fea-
Slble route.
The Pittsburg and Steubenville Company have
not yet succeeded i'll obtaining the right OF con-
Structing their load through the narrow neck of
Virginia, but hope 10 do so this winter. After OBJ
tanning this, should they need aud, they will DOS
sesS strong claims upon Philadelphia for assistance
The gradients upon this line correspond with tn oSt
OF the Western Division of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road.
The next line which requires attention is the
Hempfeld Railroad, commencing at Greensburg,
thirty miles east of Pittsburgh, and extending
throua Washington to Wheeling. From this point
two roads diyerge; the Central Ohio road through
GAINESVILLE and Newark TO Columbus; and the Ma :
retta and Cincinnati road through Marietta and
ChilicOthe to Cincinnati. The first is completed
from GAINESVILLE TO Columbus.
The Central Ohio road, at GAINESVILLE, intersects
the Wilmington road, passing through Lancaster,
Circleyille, Washington and Wilmington, TO the
Little Miami road. by which it is connected with
Cincinnati. This is the shortest line from Phila-
depha to Cincinnati, but its gradients are less ia
vorabe than those of the Ohio and Pennsylvania,
Steubenville, and Marietta lines. Its projectors
have hitherto looked towards Baltimore for assist
ance ana sympathy, but it will be an important
feeder to Philadelphia. The Central Ohio and
Wilmington roads have the four feetten inch gauge
The Marietta and Cincinnati road is the most
southern extension of the Pennsylvania road now
In tnh. Ennnnnnu ckcf mid IL.