The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-01-23
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
MONDAY MORNING. JANUARY 8. 1854.
,,1o'1'VTNGTON AND OHIO RAILROAD.

CONVICTION AND OHIO RAILROAD.
we have read with much interest the re-
DOR. Of James q Paxton, Esq, the Superin-
endentof this road The report states that
The total expenditures up to the present time
have been SCI, asa,s5. Fifty miles Of the
eastern division, commencing at Covington,
were placed under contract on the 18th Of
December last, and the residue of the work
on the western division, except few light
sections. Awarm tribute ispafd by the SUI
perintendent to the ability and fidelity with
which Mr.. Fisk, the chief engineer, has exc
cused his important trust. 1t is stated that
he has succeeded in finding two lines across
the Allegheny mountains, superior in grades
and curvatares to any line north or south
passing the same range of mountains, and
equalled in this respect by but few lines of
railroad in any part Of the country.
1t is confidently believed that the road from
Sandy to Kanawha win be ready for the track
during this year, and that, if adequate funds
are promptly provided, the cars may be run
ming from Sandy to the falls of kanawha, a.
distance of about ninety miles, at an early
period in next year. The fifty miles of the
eastern portion of the line are difficult of con-
strue,ion, and it was deemed advisable to al
low the contractors two years to execute their
work 1t is the opinion of the superinten-
dent that the Covington and Ohio Railroad
years from this time as readily and cheaply
as in three years.
The public viii be glad to learn that on the
line as located on either route, there is no in
reference with the right of way ofthe James
River and Kanawha Company.
In support ofthe argument that the Coving-
ton and Ohio Railroad will command large
local business as well as the Western trade,
thereport adduces some valuable facts in re-
gard to the salt and coal of the West. About
seventy thousand tons of salt are now manu-
featured annually.in Kanawha county. Gar
rangements, says the report, "are now being
made for mining coal in large quantities on
the kanawha and there is every probability
that this coal will be carried on the railroad
to the Ohio river, from which point it will be
shipped by the river to the cities of the west.
There is good reason to believe that the por-
tion of the road from the falls of Kanawha
to Sandy win of itself pay fair profit on its
cost. The eastern terminus of this road is in
the finest iron region in the country. The
iron mines of Allegheny, Botetourt and Rock
bridge are inexhaustible as to quantity, and
surpassed as to the quality of their ores by
but few mines in the United States. All that
is required TO increase the manufacture of
iron to any reasonable extent, is an album
dance Of cheap fuel. This article will be fur
nished by the Covington and Ohio Railroad.
Coal may be delivered at Covington at
charge of two dollars per ton, and may be
carried thence by canal through the counties
of Allegheny, Botetourt and ockbridge, and
furnished to the iron master at So so per ton,
or about cents per bushel.
There are many fine varieties Of coal in Fay
cite and Kanawha counties not found gene
rally in the country, which will be carried by
railroad to Covington, and thence by canal
boats to Richmond and Norfolk from which
points it will be shipped to the northern cities.
The mineral wealth lying on the line of the
Covingtonand Ohio railroad is not of such
character as to require large capital and
long series of years for its development. The
moment an outlet is provided for this wealth,
it will be developed. AT various localities On
this road one thousand men can mine and de.
liver on the cars ready for transportation
more than 200 tons of coal in year
The demand for coal is increasing in ratio
greater than the supply"