Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-26
TO THE People OF VIRGINIA.
THE PANHANDLE ROAD.

4 communication, appearing IN y" Inc South pi
Wednesday, compaips that our view Of this subject
sssms 10 IGNORE entirely the interests of the city OF
Wheeling, a. explained and advocated by her repre-
ssntstive." Now il is indeed possible that we MAJ
not have failed TO appreheDd entirely the exact phase
10 which the matter II regarded by the represent
lives Of that city but the author Of the communca
ton must be that in our previous articles we
have never Loaf sight Of what we consider to be the
true interests of Wheeling. Indeed, we have regard
I'd II az one of the great recommendations of the
measure 80 ably advocated by the representatives O!
Brooke and Hancock, that its adoption will add me-
tsri.lly to the commercial Importance Of Wheeling
oy placing tina; city at the head Of navigation.
The South's" correspondent confines his argument
on this question to the assumption that the compile
fon of the Steubenvie road will prevent that of the
CHARTERS Valley and HempAeld roads. 1t may very
we'll be questioned whether even the completion of
these roads would bring much additional trade TO
Wheeling, a. would the mere bridging the Ohio at
steubenvie. Apart from this, We must st believe
that the whole argument 10 based on a mistaken a.
sumption The Charters Valley and Hemp6eld roads
are both chartered, and both connect the rail road
nov completed between Washington and Wheeling
with iuportan: points Of junction 10 Pennsylvania.
Ano, slthough the work on both lines msy
be now suspended, 1t has been commenced
and a glance at the map Of Pennsylvania is
sufficient to demonstrate the great advantages 10
P,ttsburg and Philadelphia. which must result
from their completion. The fact that Philadelphia
still refuses to abandon her interest Of three quarters
Of million in the Washington and Wheeling road,
IL sufficient indication that her capitalists fully ap
preeiate the advantages to be derived from its extern
Sion direct connection between Pittsburg and
Wheeling offers too many inducements of interest to
The former to permit that enterprise TO be abandoned
usre not the neghborhood dvantagss to bs obtained
By connection with Washington sufficient Of sef
70 ensure the completion Of the Charters Valley
Road. Whatever specious appearances may be
evoked produce opposite impression this matter
j. placed beyond doubt by unavoidable consdera
toLs dicrsed by the convenience OF travel and the
inferesie Of trade.
A. view this matter, the completion of tie steu
bsnvile Road cannot deprive Wheeling Of a angie
advantage present or prospective. and must secure
her advantage more than commensurate with the
concurrent benefit of railroad connection with Pitts
burg, by stopping the whsrves of Wheeling the
greater part of the river trade which ascends
Ptsburg.
1t the correspondent OF "Ihe South" who presents
the only view Of this subject which, without impair
Ing the argument in favor of the Steubenvile road
psres the interests Of Wheeling in conflict with the
Rensr in.eress Of Virginia 1t s asserted that the
legislature has to choose between the Steubenville
road and the Philadelphia connection with Wheeling
that the interests of the two lines are not co-exist
eu;-thst the completion of the former muat defeat
that Of the latter connection Suppose we admit this
What thenf The question crises, does not the Steu
bsnvile road offer to Philadelphia much less oppor.
tunity for competition with the Virginia nes than
would be secured by the Wheeling connection Un-
doubleday it does. The Stsubenville road is not
oaly further removed from the Ohio ternini of the
Virginia lines. but it affords longer and less direc;
connection with Cincinnati. II we admit the premi
- Of 1.-The Souths correspondent he has presented
. stronger argument than we have in favor of the
ssaubenville road. If we deny his premises, then
his argument goes to prove nothing at all.