Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-03-02

More might be said; but this article
has now extended to too great length.
The writer knows the views of Ohio,
her wishes and her anticipations, and
what she will do, if Virginia will but
meet her in spirit of union and mutual
interest. OHIO.
In former article, I endeavored to
show where the connexion should be,
and briefly why it should be made
There are still some further matters to
which I wish to call the attention of this
General Assembly and the moneyed and
business men of Eastern Virginia. The
time is now presented when these ques-
tons can be considered in a practical
light. Two years hence, when the
Baltimore interest has completed its con-
nections to secure the entire trade and
travel of Southern and South -Eeastern
Ohio, it will become mere matter of
curious speculation. Now is the time
for Virginia to act, if she wishes to Sc
cure her share of Western trade and
travel-the share that her natural ad-
yantages and position ensure to her, if
she has the wisdom to improve them.
Now is the time to act. l reassert
this important position. Baltimore has
her IS, ,OOO, 900 loan; her stock is, at its
present low rate of $45 to the share of
S1O0, rapidly passing into the hands of
capitalists; into the hands of men who
can afford to advance another S45 to the
share, and then make the road what it
should be, and its connections such as
will secure to it all the trade of South
ern Ohio. By lending aid to the Hills
bcfo road-by aiding in running a road
down the Ohio from Pomeroy to point
opposite the mouth of the Big Sandy
river-she can draw in all the capital
and influence and business men in that
part of Ohio to the support of her poll
cy and her interests. These aids are
granted on the ground that the road
aided shall send all its freight over the
Baltimore roads to the city of Balti-
more. The business men will also be in
the same interest, because they will be
stockholders in these roads, so aided in
construction by Baltimore capital
Hence, this policy carried out, and an
Ohio connexion viii be of little value,
when Ohio men have no common in
terest in the Virginia routes. Whereas,
if the Kanawha extension is made, the
Gallipolis and Marietta and Cincinnati
Railroad Companies viii have a direct
interest in sending freights in this direc-
ton, as their roads will be shaped in
reference to it. l am solicitous that
Virginia statesmen should look into and
understand the vital Importance of this
aspect of the subject. l am satisfied
that, at present, they are not aware of it;
that they do not see it in its relation
to the future growth and power and
wealth of this ancient Commonwealth.
If action is omitted, South Eastern
Ohio will be compelled to unite with the
Baltimore influence and acquiesce in the
Baltimore connexion--a connexion which
is not to their interests as much as this
Virginia connexion.
again assert that the Virginia road
will secure her share of the freight
Ny present impression is that this route
will be as cheap as any other for freight
passing from Cincinnati to New York.
The mouth of the Big Sandy is $50
miles above Cincinnati; the Big Kama
wha is 200 miles; Parkersburg near
500; Wheeling about 375 miles; and
Pittsburgh about 460 or 40 miles,
The Virginia road, then, is the lowest
on the river Flour can be carried from
Cincinnati to the termination of the Vir-
ginia road at about ten or twelve cents
per barrel. Freight has been carried
from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh at ten
cents per 100 lbs; and at fifteen cents it.
is considered fair business. At pres
ent, the rate is, or was lately, owing to
the press of business, twenty-five cents
to Wheeling, and thirty to Pittsburgh.
At these rates, boats full freighted, viii
clear some $1,000 per trip. 1 am told
that the freight from Richmond to New
York is about twenty FIVE cents on a
barrel of flour, or about 12s cents per
| loo lbs. The water-carriage of this
route is less on the Ohio end, and also
on this end than by the Baltimore route,
and will be, say, thirty-seven cents per
barrel, or twenty-five cents per 100 lbs,
This railroad line, it is true, is a little
Ilonqer than the Baltimore road; but