Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-10
COMMUNICATION.
THE PROPOSED MoNrEvUE RAILROAD.


extracts from report recently made by the Presden,
Of the Montevue Mining and Manufacturing Company
In making this request the writer is influenced by the
conviction that the citizens Of Washington and Alexan
dra amongst whom the National Inteigencer has very
general circulation have deep interest in the improve
ment the Montevue Company have undertaken. When
the Alexandria, Loudoun, and Hampshire road the Mou-
road the Pittsburgh and Connesvle road and the
Allegheny Valley railroad have been completed shall
have desirable and very direct railroad communi
cation from Washington, by the way of Pittsburgh to
Buffalo. By this route from Washington to Pittsburgh
the distance will be less than 80 miles. CITIZEN.
Extracts iron, The Report of the President of The
Moatepue Mining and Manufacturing Company made 10
the Directors February 40, 1854
Knowing that it was the immediate and principal OBJ
ect of these proceedings Of the Directors to have
structed railroad running through the lands of the
company and extending from the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad at Piedmont to point where the line of the
Pittsburgh and Connesyie Railroad will be nterseoted
Myerss MILL in Pennsylvania, have been
taken to carry that purpose into effect.
William H. Smith, Esq, an experienced and wel-qual
flied engineer appointed to make reconnaissance
the route of the proposed railroad The results of his
reconnaissance will be found in his report made the
Sd of September last, and hereto annexed Mr. Smith
estimates the length of the road to be thrtyve miles,
and says it be made for $4,000 per mile, making
the whole cost Of its construction 800 000 and says
speak with bold confidence when report that it is the
best natural route the mountains and its great beauty
is the certain safety with which may be travelled avoiding
all precptous sidesopes and sharp curves which the
fearful accidents when any in the
train Besides the immense trade and travel that must
pass over this road from the West and the on Cas-
elman river this being the and direct
dewater there would be in the effective organization and
operations OF the company many other modes Of rendering
the existing products of the lands angushng for
market available Thousands Of through which this
passes have the for the dense
white white pine by which they covered The
an in
exhaustbe supply Of timber for almost all purposes The
fertility of the soil too is another feature of moment"
After this report was received Mr. Smith was author
lied to organize corps of engineers to IN nsru
mental survey of this railroad route that its gradients
and length might be ascertained with entire accuracy
His report of the survey made the Goth of January
last is hereto annexed From it we learn with certainty
that the entire length OF the road will not exceed thirty
five and half miles and that be constructed from
the summit to the Connellsville Railroad Myerss MILL
with grade exceeding sixty feet to the mile and from
the summit to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Pied
mont with grade exceeding eighty four feet to the
mile; and in this report MIR. Smith says:
have, agreeaby to your request made instrumental
examination Of the ground proposed to be occupied by
road which places beyond all doubt the feasibility and entire
practcaby Of the route and fully confirms the impression
made upon my mind possessing advantages every
other road crossing the chain of mountains separating the
from the seaboar, both cheapness
construction and the and safety with which it be
travelled"
proper add that there will not be the line
port, tunnel, of radius less than thousand
feet or perilous precipice.
The period is unpropitious for inviting public attention
to any railroad project still there such peculiar
advantages connected with the location Of this road and
the devised for ensuring capitalists certain
liberal interest on the money required for its construc-
ton well calculated to produce that result, that
may feel great confidence in the speedy accomplish
ment of this undertaking.
The Montevue road, from Myers's Mill to Piedmont,
with the Connellsve road from Pittsburgh to Myers's
between that vast system Of railroads, nearly
peted terminating at Pittsburgh and numerous railroads
built about to be built leading from Piedmont to
commercial harbors the Chesapeake Bay, and to the
seat of the National Government in the District of Co.
lumbia. very brief reference to the extent of the
country raversed by these railroads that terminate at
Pittsburgh will furnish data to estimate the probable
amount Of transportation and travel that must pass
the Connelsve and Montevue roads, when these
to the cities the Chesapeake constructed.
The Central Pennsylvania Railroad opens advana-
communication between Pittsburgh and the interior
Of that great State
The Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad, extending from
Pittsburgh to Cleveland Lake Erie, connecting there
with line of railroads Chicago and thence to Alton,
the Mississippi, establishes most advantageous
mercia intercourse between Pittsburgh and all the north
counties of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri and
the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa, and the
Territory of Minnesota
An equally extended line Of railroad communication
will be established between Pittsburgh and St. Louis
raversng the central portion of the States of Ohio, In
ana Wnen the railroad from
to Pittsburgh, now being constructed, is completed.
Besides these avenues, the Allegheny Valley Railroad
Company engaged in opening another that will, with
the Ohio river assist to swell that tide of
setting already towards Pittsburgh and destined to
pand that city at distant day the dimensions of the
largest cities on the globe.
The last named company have this road under
contract and command the means required for its
pleon The route Of this road extends from Pittsburgh
along the valley of the Allegheny river to the mouth of
one of its tributaries known Mahoning creek, and
thence, most admirable route, to the New York
State line where it with lines of railroad leading
to Ere in Pennsylvania, and to Dunkirk, Buffalo, and
Rochester, in New York, and opens Of trade
and travel not only between Pittsburgh and the popuous
and fertile counties of Northern Pennsylvania and New
York. but with the whole of the British possessions,
known as Canada West, bordering on our lakes.
1t is not proposed to attempt estimate of the
sources, agricultural mineral and commercial of this
and expanded country which this bold and enter
prsng city is traversing with railroads 1t will suffice
for purpose to show that may confidently antci
pate that Of the trade and travel these railroads will
commodate amount will pass the Connelsyille
and Montevue railroads abundantly sufficient to make
the expenditures that will be required to construct these
roads safe and very profitable investments. With that
view il is proper take into consideration the length of
the roads from Pittsburgh to the seaboard already
structed and the length of the railroad line propose
open between Pittsburgh Atlantic cities, Of
which, the Montevue road, is indispensable part.
From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, by the Central Penn
sylvania Railroad the distance is 352 miles, from Pitts
burgh to Baltimore by the Central Pennsylvania road
and the Baltimore and Susquehanna road the distance is
1913 miles from Pittsburgh to Baltimore, by the Con-
nesvie and Monevue road to Piedmont thence by the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad the distance is 355 miles
from Pittsburgh, by the Cocnellsvile and Montevue
road Piedmont thence by the Alexandria, Loudoun and
Hampshre road or nv the Manassas Gan road to Alex