Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-03
THE covINaroN AND OHIO RAIL RoA

nj hAION4E ~ DUNNAtASI'
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TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 3, 1881
THE COvINGToN AND OHIO RAIL ROAD
Last week, VIZ devoted short article TO II review
Of the history OF this projected improvement. lhat
history, We confess, is not very encouraging we,
therefore, recur to the subject for the purpose OF
submitting few thoughts in furtherance OF the %
ect We had in view when we wrote the last article
Notwithstanding one million and half OF dollars
havo been appropriated and more than two'thrds oil
that sum have been expended in its construction the
public mind seems to BIZ impressed with doaot re-
specting the time and manner OF its final completion
and, whether indeed, it will spcr be completeu.-
This doubt is evidently, tie Legitimate offspring OF
past legislative action in regard to this ROAD ohe
Legislature appropriating million, and sue'ee'.
ing Legislature appropriating only half mH'oh oi
dollars to 30 important work US the Covngton ana
Ohio Rail Road is reputed to be- the pubic is III
loss for rule to apply, in tho premises BY which the
anal resut-the completion OF tho road-can oe
worked out. 1t is not known that the Legislature
will ever appropriate another dollar IN that a'ree''oh
Some are of the opinion that, as purely Stste WORK.
the Covngton road will never be completed; othefs
are OF the opinion that, to be finished II must oe
transferred to individual capital and enterprise
others again, think that ts success depenuo upon Ito
conversion into joint stock concern the Stateto take
three.6ftbs Of the capital stock; anu 1t may DE-
that others are TO be found who think the scnene
ought to be totally abandoned. 1t must be admitted
that these conflicting sentiments prevailing IN 'ir-
ginia do infinite harm TO the road if they do not al
feot the yalus of our secSstes and the high standing
of our State. A vascia,ipg, unsettled pohcy re-
spectng any great enterprise is well ca'cuiaeo 10
weaken public confidence TO its success and n!so
to shake the public faith in the spirit and resolution ol
its patrons and friends Thus il has been with the
Covington road until now ts whole future senve!op
ed in doubt and uncertainty.
At the same ,ims all the great advantages which
were claimed for this Improvement oy its original
friends still exist. In distance, grades, soil, climate
western and south western connections 1t has the
same paramount claims that were represented oy It's
friends when the first appropriation was made 10 H.
1t is still pro emineny the route for connecting tho
waters of the Atlantic with those OF the Ohio and
Mississippi, and the improvement which would be
sought by the major portion Of the trade aud travel
between the East and the West. 1t stl the line,
improvements Immediately North Of Us, aud draw
through Virginia and keep In Virginia the trade that
properly Belongs to her, aad that has been ts-
ken from her, simply because che vas not promp;
to grasp and hold It for herself. And, yet, all
this admitted, what will people say, "bat will they
think. when they are told that the average monthly
expenditures in the construction Of this immense
work do not exceed some ten fifteen thousand dol
lars' When We remember that the last estimate OF
the cost of the whole improvement, made by very
competent, cautious and experienced Engineer, is
little over twelve millions Of dollars and then put
this and tka. together we may we'll look forward to
its completion with fear and trembling.
As one of its friends, however, we do indulge
hope that points to i.s completion. II 1t were the
only Improvement Of any magnitude In the Stats
that was u.fni.Asd, we should have no doubt upon
the rubject Rival projects would not then exist;
the system of tog-roiing would be obsolete; and al
the energies Of the State would be speedily ard ef
fectually applied to the contamination Of this one
great object Unfortunately, this l. not the existing
condition Of things in Virginia, and we fear that the
great iox-the Coying,ou and OHIO reilroad-wil be
kept before the Legislature for tims to in
the foor." Combinations for other Improvements
are still needed, aud their friends, in legislative par
lance, are ",oo smart" to be ju,t aud generous to
the overshadowlng claims Of this, and thus leave ns
friends free act In regard to other schemes as their
conscience and judgment may dictate.
Still something .bould be done, something must be
done on this subject by the next Legislature. Def.
mite action cannot be postponed any longer. The
people will not consent 10 il, but will demapd of their
representatives. that they decide finally to the fate
Of the Covington road.
Before the meeting of the next Legislature, it is
highly probable that tho Great Eastern-,hat im.
mense steamship now in process. Of constructions,
and nearly completed In Epgland-will have made
her first trip to the Uuted States. /, Is understood
that there are only two ports in tb, country that
have sufficient depth Of water to accommodate her
mammoth proportions Portland, in Maine, and Nor
folk, in Virginia One or the other Of these she
select. What efor,s are we making to invite her TO
Norfolk True, the lines Of rail road penetrating
into North Carolina and Tennessee, already com.
peted, will suggest to her that Norfolk i. the
best port for the receipt Of the immense staple pro-
ducts Of the great West and South. But how much
stronger would be the argument in favor Of Norfolk
il there we're the prospect Of speedy direo 60 n.
mrnication between that city and the Ohio river by
way Of the Covington and Ohio rail road II the
owners of that vessel could be satisfed that Virginia
unalterably determined to open a great ccntrot
thorougare through her territory, they would with
far greater assurance OF success, adopt Norfolk as
her American port. Then, ALSO Virginia could have
at trifog cost, that direct trade which has fur
nished theme for ths display of much oratory
and Ink, and which would, in fact, add immensely to
the wealth and the power Of the South, and In the
came ratio add strength and stability TO the Union.
This great object should be accomplished. Virgi.
MIA can do It, and if che fail sbe will he derect to
herself as State and to her proud position as
member Of the confederaoy. The question, the prac-
ticai question. now is, rW she do IL Much has
been said Of the large debt that the State has already
incurred Of the heavy taxes that are imposed upon
the peoples and extravagant lamentations have been
uttered about the reckless expenditures Of past Le.
gislatures and the burdens thereby necessa.
rily imposed. We do not desire to detract in any
particular from the rigid truth of the case. On the
contrary prefer to state the present facts they
actually exist. Therefore, we frankly admit that
there has been wasteful and unwse expenditure of
the public funds. Many schemes have received ia.
vor and aid from Legislators that totally de-
void Of merit, and works have been constructed on
State account that have proved worthless. In this
way much money has been squandered and our taxes
increased But after all, our public debt is not par
ticularly large for State of the size and vast
sources of Virginia, and when we compare with other
States and other people, We will probably find that
our taxes are not extraordinarily large. Besides
what practical good is to result from adopting at this
tIme stand still policy1 Suppose the next Legisa
ture refuses to appropriate dollar, how far will that
s,o tou.arda raexing ua Of onr nrsaeut debt or d-