Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-10

through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to St. Louis will
roads, the way of the Central Rail
road, through Philadelphia and Baltimore.
In like manner it must be believed that much travel
will be thrown upon these roads, connecting Pittsburgh
with the Southern portions Of Confederacy by very
direct route, without short and dangerous OF
perous precpces Numerous travellers from the South
States intending visit the lakes instead of travel
ling that which is the customary route through
Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York,
would prefer it is fair to presume route to Pittsburgh
only $50 miles long, leaving the Northern and Southern
railroad line of the Blue Ridge in Virginia, and
passing through the magnificent scenery Of the Aegany
mountains Pittsburgh by the Connesvile and Monte
roads, and thence by the Alegany Valley railroad to
| Buffalo and the lakes.
/ In estimating the amount Of through tonnage that
would probably be transported the Connellsvle and
Montevue roads it may be conceded that Philadelphia
and New York have advantages in competing with the
cities the Chesapeake for European East India
trade But it is otherwise with respect
all those articles that to be transported these lines
OF railroad that terminate at Pittsburgh, which for
the markets of the West Indies, Mexico Central Ame-
rca and all that part Of South America drained by those
great rivers the Oronoco and Amazon For all this branch
of foreign trade the cities of the Chesapeake have
an advantage in location New York and Phadel-
phia The railroad line between Baltimore and Pitts
burgh is now and the railroad lines between Alexandria
and Pittsburgh viii be- shorter than the railroad line be-
tween Pittsburgh and Philadelphia while the sailing line
between Philadelphia and the capes of the Chesapeake
the route to the West Indies the Gulf of Mexico and
Caribbean sea- is over two hundred and fifty miles, while
the sailing line from Baltimore and the sailing line from
Alexandria to- the capes of the Chesapeake does not
coed one hundred and seventy miles.
Assuming, then, that the Chesapeake cities have an
advantage in position Northern Atlantic cities
in competing for our orega trade to the countries last
mentioned it is only necessary to enumerate the articles
Of commerce that into that trade and have
to estimate the amount of through tonnage that would
probably pass the Connellsye and Montevue roads
on the way to these markets
he RE IF voffh no Trna
sury the commerce and navigation Of the United States
we learn that from the ports of the United States
send to the West indies Mexico Central America, and
to the northern countries of South America some Of the
articles enumerated being country and others
to another stayes heading shingles plank, hewed tim
ber mass spars beef tallow, hides horned cattle, but
ter cheese pork bacon lard hogs horses sheep wheat
Hour, Indian corn, rye oats pulse biscuit and ship
Bread apples potatoes spirits from grain taow Candles
SOAP household furniture, hats, coaches and carriages
leather boots, shoes. iron and manufactures Of iron
glass; and coal. And we import from the same coun-
tries for own domestic consumption, coffee, sugar.
gold silver, diamonds and other precious stones
hides, molasses, salt, Spices rice, and dye-woods.
1t rs only necessary to read this list of articles that
enter into trade with the countries named to form
judgment of the of such articles pro-
duced in the manufactures, the workshops the furnaces
and FORCES Of Pittsburgh, transported to that city
the system of railroads terminating there produced
along the line of the Connesyille and Monteyue road
and we prepared to form estimate Of the amount
of tonnage Of this character that would be transported
to the cities of the Chesapeake And when it is consider
ed that this Montevue road is to pass through the only
chasm In the Allegany mountains through which rail-
road be constructed and that this chasm and nearly
the whole line Of this road is the land of the Monte
vue Mining and Manufacturing Company, and that
this account other rival work be readily construct
ed it does not unreasonable to believe that the d.
rectors OF the company will fail to perceive that with
the have under CONTROL the capital required
construct road very advantageously crcumstanced
can be obtained.
In addition to this through trade, the Monevue road
ought to have local trade OF very great value This
road at the distance Of thirty miles from Piedmont enters
the extended Summit coal field Casslemans river in
which there are seams Of coal three four six and twelve
feet in thickness This coal field according the report
Of Professor Ducate made when he was geologist Of
Maryland to the Governor of the State 1929
extensive than the coal field Georges creek in Allie
gany county. And it will be within one hundred and
nnetysix miles Of Alexandria by railroad when the
Monteyue and Alexandria roads have been constructed
Then the transportation of this coal market will
sttute an extensive business. ..@ s,
Passing, as the Monteyue road does, from Piedmont
to this coal field through dense forest Of white oak
white pine, and other valuable timbers, much need
ed in all the country drained by the waters of the Chesa
peake east Of the Aegany mountains, it must derive
large income from the lumber trade also.
Of the extent of its local trade secured by its being
the best avenue to market for great portion of the pro-
auctions of the counties Of Westmoreand Washington,
Green, Fayette and Somerset in there
not data to form very precise estimate We have how
ever sufficient information that subject justify the
expectation tnat the trade on this road from these
ties will be very great We know that these counties
are fertile and popuous, and abound in agricultural and
mineral wealth We learn, from the seventh United
States that they produce for market than
ten millions Of bushels of grain annually We have
letter addressed by Edward Scul, Esq, intelligent
citizen of Somerset county, to Gen. Larmer President Of
the Connellsvle Road Company, wherein inform
ed that there in that county hundred square
miles of territory containing COAL Of territory
equally extensive containing iron ore and that fully
third Of the one thousand and fifty square miles of that
entire county contain COAL iron ore and limestone, in
juxtaposition We have also letter, addressed to Gen.
Larimer by the Hon. Andrew Stewart in which, speak
ing of Fayette county it is said:
There is perhaps county the State, Of the same
extent 1928 square mies containing greater of
mineral wealth. Stone coal of excellent quality is found
three nine, and twelve feet, all less btumnous
Limestone exists equal extent and iron excellent
quality is found less extensively but embracing it is beiev
ed nearly onehaf of her errtory and wherever
found the coal and limestone for fuel
riably found in juxtaposton.
These minerals have been extensively developed and used
in the manufacturing pig and bar ron castings nails &C. at
some fifteen twenty iron works fgcs furnaces and fac
tories, along the Chestnut Ridge aud Laurel U in said
county producing thousands Of annually but the
difficulty and expense Of transportation heretofore pre-
sented serious obstacle the manufacture Of iron in
this otherwise favored region"
Considering the advantageous location Of the Monte
road, through wide chasms in the ridges and
tans that divide the eastern and western waters easy
grades the absence of tunnels precpces deep cuts and
short curves its entire line; its connexon OF Pied
mont with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad now COM
peted; and considering that it will be connected with
the roads leading to Alexandra and the South Atlantic
to be constructed cannot be unreasonable estimate
that it would yield good profit the Of money
qured for its construction from the trade and travel
fhafy hp fbor of