Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-08-03


bIPoLIs, JACKSON 4xD CHILLIcorHI
RAILROAD CoMPENY.-The charter fol
this company was granted March 22
1850, and authorized the construction o
a railroad from Gallipolis to Jackson
with the right of continuing the same t.
a connexion with the Marietta and Gin
cinnati road so as toopen aconnexior
with Chillicothe.- The company wa'
organized in July, A. D. 1859, with q
subscription Of about $4,000. Since
that time the COMPANY have made no eff,
forts TO increase the amount of stock.
1t is however certain that the subscrIp-
ton might be raised to 500, 1000 and
over without much effort.
Soou after the organization OF the
Company, the Directors made arrange
ments for a survey of the line. Mr..
Shaw of Virginia, was employed, with
a sufficient corps to run the line named
In the charter. This was done. At
the same time random line was run
from Gallipolis by Vinton and the Buck
eye Furnace to Hamden, a point on the
line of the Marietta and Cincinnati rail-
road. 1t was found that this line gave
a connexion in thirty two miles, while
the route by Jackson was over forty
one miles. By connexion at Hamden
the line of road would be shortened
nine miles, and the distance to Chillico-
the not be increased; besides running
through the valley of Little Raccoon
creek, the richest iron and coal region
in Ohio. The Directors, thereupon,
became satisfied that the interest of the
company required change of location
in the line of the road. An application
was therefore made to the General As
-sembly in 1923, for that purpose, but
was not granted, as was understood, be-
cause the general law afforded reme-
dy.
Hence an application was made to the
court of common pleas at its November
term, A. D. 1853, for change of the
line, and change was authorized, en-
powering the company to construct a
road from Gallipolis to Hamden, to a
connexion with the line of the Marietta
and Cincinnati railroad company. with
the right also to run tract so as to con-
meet with a line from Virginia down the
Kanawha. This change in the line of
the road having been secured, the di-
rectors at once caused it to be surveyed.
The survey was made last fall near the
opening of winter under the charge of
Mr.. Graves and Mr.. Mansfield, and was
completed during the month Of Febru-
ary. This survey is on file and shows
that first rate road can be made with
no grades over fifty-two feet, and no
curves with greater curvature than
three degrees, giving a radius of nine
teen hundred feet. The estimated cost
of such road is given by the engineer
at about 100000. This estimate is
predicated on the present high prices of
iron and labor; at the prices at which
Mr.. Shaw made his estimate, the cost
would not exceed 100000 or $780,
600. The grades of fifty-two feet are
only three and for short distances; in
no case exceeding one and fourth of
mile. The average grade for any con-
siderable distance is not over twenty
five feet. If the grades for short dis
tances were to be increased as well AS
the curvature, the cost of the road
might be diminished near 100000,
and neither the grades or curvature be
rs great as those on the Portsmouth and
many other roads. But as this road is
to be the connecting link between the i
Virginia Central road and Ohio and the
West, it is desirable that it shall be
road Of the best character, with grades
and curves admitting of great speed and
heavy trains.
The Directors have no doubt but that
thisread must be built 1t is natures
line for forming connection between
Ohio and the entire West and tide water
md the East; through the valley of the
Great Kanawha and Central Virginia to
and Norfolk. This route will
De found the cheapest one between Gin
,innati and tide water, and even between
Cincinnati and New York. Flour is
shipped from Richmond to. New York
or 25 cents per barrel, and ten cents
would place it at the Western end of the
'oad on the Ohio river. The Virginia
road will have no grades exceeding
ifty-two feet, while there are miles of
.he Baltimore road with grades exceed
ng one hundred, and some it is believed
rs high as one hundred and sixteen and
.wenty. The charge for a. barrel of
lour from Wheeling to Baltimore was
eighty cents last winter; and it is be-
ieved that sixty cents over such road
Is the Virginia would be as good as
eighty on the Baltimore. Such being
he case, barrel of -four by this route
an be carried from Cincinnati to Rich
nond for 70cents, and to New York for
IS cts. These calculations show that
he Virginia route will be able to COM
,ete for the carrying trade of the West
With any other line over the mountains.
These and other facts show that this
Virginia road must be made, unless the
,eople of Virginia are determined to
,ut themselves off from all connection
With the mighty tide of traffic passing
rom the vast valley of Ohio west to