Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-02-02
To WIN. L. JACKSON, Second Auditor
RIcHMoND, Va, Jan. is, 1854.


S1R:-I regret, that my official dutie;
prevent me from giving ''at length my
views" as requested by yours of the
14th inst, in relation to the Covington and
Ohio Railroad, and its two originally
contemplated branches. As member
of the late Board of Public Works, ]
was not called to act upon more i'm
portant subject, and it received from
me the consideration to which it was
Justly entitled. The construction O
that work, conceived in wisdom, as one
of the measures necessary to enable
Virginia to attain that position among
her sister States to which she is entitled
by her natural position, and great but
undeveloped resources, should not be
tardily prosecuted, but should be pushed
as rapidly as the present financial condi-
ton of the State will allow. Its i'm
portance l will not discuss. Suffice it
to say, that the construction of this
road, has been undertaken by the State,
not trusting it to the contingency of
private subscription, or to the control
of private corporation. 1t is the great
Central State Road, towards the con-
struction of which, the people of all
the localities in the Commonwealth are
to contribute.
The terminus of said road was an
important question, and one which
elected much discussion. There were
two great competing points, the mouth
of Big Sandy, and the mouth of the
Kanawha. 1t is true, that at one time
Guyandotte was competing point, but
the advocates of that place withdrew
her claims, believing that the terminus
at Big Sandy would afford her all the
facilities she desired.
The advocates of the terminus at the
former place, insisted that the road
there would connect with great southern
lines of railroads, and enable it thereby
to become the great passenger line oi
the Union. For the Kanawha, it was
urged that the State of Ohio was point
ing great lines of railroads to that place,
or would do SO, if Virginia would meet
her; that she desired to pour into the
lap of her mother. the treasures of the
trade of the great west.
The question was nicely balanced.
The Board was limited to the selection Oh
terminus, not termini; or both
points would have been selected: as ii
was, the mouth of Big Sandy was Sc
lected, not doubling that connection
at the Kanawha would eventually be
made.
In my opinion, the Covington and
Ohio railroad should strike the Ohio al
both points; the mouth of Sandy, and
the Kanawha. The one viii pour along
its line the trade and travel of the South
ern and the other the western routes.
Both routes shonld be constructed stimuli
taneously, and provision ought imme-
diately to be made for the same, so that
Kentucky and Ohio may be positively
assured of what Virginia intends to do.
Referring to the report of Col. Shaw,
l find that he demonstrates the impor-
tance of the mouth of the Kanawha as
the terminus of the road, and at the
same Time the necessity of branch to
the mouth of Big Sandy. That point
which was then considered to be the
proper terminus, does not lose its i'm
portance now, when considered with
reference to branch. The reasons
prevailing then, exist now, and with
greater force. The State should not
only construct the man line to Sandy,
but the branch also. to the mouth Of
the Kanawha. The one is necessary to
the success of the other, and without
both stems, fear this great road will
not meet the expectations of its adYo-
Gates. -
In the great contest for State superb
ority Virginia should lose no point, least
of all should she omit to connect with
Cincinnati. 1t is idle to expect that
place 70 be accommodated and satisfied
with the Sandy connection. Freight
and passengers can be at Scary, where
the Kanawha branch viii connect be.
fore they can be at Sandy, from Gin.
cinnati; and if the KanaHha branch il