Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-02-15
WEDNESDAY, FEsRUARY Is. 1854.
rho covipston and Ohio railroad.

..sl The Covington and Ohio Railroad.
We announced last week the loss in the
House of Delegates of the bill appropriating two
millions Of dollars 10 the Covington and Ohio
Rilroad II is scarcely necessary for US to say
u nnr readers that We deeply regret this result.
The House has since, however, agreed TO recon-
slider the vote by which the bill was lost, and We
h0pe 1t viii yet become law.
We consider this improvement one of vast i'm
pOrtance 10 the State. not only as means of de-
yeloping the resources of the section through
passes and furnishing speedy and certain
outlet to market for its surplus products but also
as constituting the shortest and therefore the most
desirable connection between the rich and pOpu-
Ious Valley of the Ohio and the Atlaatic seaboard
IA road that viii pour the products ofthat fertile
and teeming country iato our cities and towns and
thus in an eminent degree advance their growth
in wealth and population. But It is entirely I'M
necessary for US to spend time in detailing the adj
yaniages that are to flow to the State at large
from the completion of this great central line 10
the Ohio they can scarcely be oyer-estmated.
Many causes combined to defeat the BILL The
magnitude and costliness of the work no doubt de-
tered some members from voting for it; and the
Jealousy of rival and conflicting routes constrained
many more to cast their votes against it. We
think the friends of the Virgins. and Tennessee
Railroad have pursued most illiberal course-to
use no harsher epithet-in reference to this i'm
proyenent. They, having already obtained from
tho State and by the cooperation too Of the friends
osthe Central and Covington and Ohio roads, all
the aid they require for the completion Of their
work, attempted this session in the first place 10
have gauge adopted for the Covington and Ohio
road different from the Central but corresponding
with that Of the Virginia and Tennessee road
Falling in this, they then, with magnauimous
aud generous spirit we'll becoming in Virginia
Legislators, voted in solid column against any ap
preparation whatever to the Coyington and Ohio
road. FL.
In the next place, the bill had to encounter the
Jealous and determined opposition of the Rich
mond IVhig. We confess We were much sur
pr;sed 70 find that paper assuming so hostile an
attitude towards road that was to have its east
err terminus in Richmond, and when completed
must necessarily give great impetus to the on
ward progress of the city. But the reasons of the
IPhig are as unintelligibe to US as its position
II advocated for the Coviugton and Ohio road a
gauge Of . feet, on the ground that ifthe feet
81 inches gauge Chat of the Central road should
be continued to the Ohio, Baltimore would nevi-
tably tap it aud draw off all the trade and travel
from Richmond; but with gauge of feet it
would be impossible for her to do so. She can tap
none, however, except with the consent of the
State of Virginia.
Another objection Of the Whig is, the cost of
the work. That paper thinks the construction of
227 miles of railroad a work greatly beyond the
capacity and resources Of the State. MIR, Fisk an
able and experienced Engineer, estimates the cost
at ten million of dollars the Whtg puts the cost
at 81 millions, and expresses the fear that after
this immense sum is expended the road will be no
nearer the Ohio than it is at present.
But the great aud overwhelming objection with
the IPhig is, that the work cannot be constructed
without some experimenting agency. Thatduty
has been imposed by the constitution and laws up
on the Commissioners of Public Works, and the
Biiig is not willing 70 trust them with the ex-
penditure Of single dollar, much less with that
Of millions. In fact that paper calls upon the
Legislature forthwith to abolish the Board. which
il seems to think would apply no money for the
object contemplated BY the Legislature. but use
il all as great bribery and corruption fund by
which the independence of the Legislature would
DO destroyed, our liberties overthrown, and gene
raj ruin and bankruptcy supervene-in fine that
Messrs. Graham, Boyd and Armstrong would
swallow up the entire Commonwealth. We en-
sssain noDe Of these fears, doubts and misgivings
n reference to the Commissioners Of Public
Works, and cannot oppose great and beneficent
schemes simply because they will have to be con,
structed under the superintendent of men from
whom we differ on the subject of Federal politics
We feel under no special obligation to defend the
Board; we objected decidedly to the introduce
ten Of party IN their selection; but since their in
ducton into office, we know Of DO action Of theirs
iasifying or excusing an unrslenting and ndis-
srimnato warfare against them. And to say
nothing Of the justice, think it very bad policy
20 assail 50 unnecessarily a Board upon whose
skill, tact and judgment in tho management of the
monetary affairs of the Commonwealth, its credit
in 81 high degree depends.