Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-16
THE PANHANDLE RAILROAD.

the Ohio river near SeubenvilIe and for that pur
pose 10 define aud punish such oFsnces" has served
lay before the public all the principal facts connect
ed with matter Of vital interest to those of our coun
ties which lie closely wedged between the boundaries
OF Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The adjustment of our State boundaries, conducted
under the supervision Of The great author of the Bill
of Rights was the result 0fa most ssgacious sdapta
ton applied to the natural advantages afforded by
our original territorial compass. Two counties in the
Southeast although entirely separated from the rest Of
the State were appreciated at such value that no
offer could be entertained for their transfer to Mary
land, 80 important was it deemed, and Justly, TO
cure for the State jurisdiction both sides Of the
Chesapeake and the exclusive command Of it's en-.
trance. Moreover during the Revolution it was dis
covered that this Peninsula afforded the most direct
line OF Northern and Southern travel, connecting
| Norfolk with Philadelphia and New York. So appa-
rent is this latter advantage, that the selfish Jealousy
Of the Baltimore interest, which has induced the con.
stant refusal of the Maryland Legislature to give a
| charter for North and South railroad through the
Atlantic counties ofthe State, has alone prevented an
enterprise which otherwise would have been long
since oompleed-that uf an air line railroad from
New Jersey to the vicinity Of Cape Charles.
Analogous considerations justified similar reser.
walton Of Territory in the Northwest. While the
South Eastern arrangement gave us command OF the
Chesapeake and afforded facilities for Northern COIN
muuicaon which, sooner or later, must be made
available in spite of local jsalousies, it was attempted
by territorial arrangement, in the North West to se
cure for Virginia an Atlantic monopoly of the trade
| nf tbA Vail
Brooke Ohio and Marshall were interposed TO pre
vent competition on the part of Pennsylvania, to
make Virginia cities on the Ohio the only cnhrpots
of an immense trade to be led by concentrating lines
of roads and canals, to our own Atlantic cities. Re.
osut legislation has entirely defeated this scheme,
which must otherwise ultimately have resulted in all
incalculable development of the importance Of our
territorial situation, securing for Virginia CONNER
oal and political supremacy almost, if not entirely
commensurate with that which might have been
commanded by the retention OF all her original North
| western Territory. Baltimore has been permitted to
| extend her railroads TO Wheeling and Psrkersburg,
| and Philadelphia is about to be connected with the
former by two routes scarcely less important. Thus
two Atlantic cities North Of the Potomac, have been
| permitted to monopolize the trade of Wheeling and
Maryland has been allowed TO compete with, if not TO
supsrsede Virginia, in all the trade which strikes the
Ohio between parkersburg and Wheeling. The only
undspued portion Of the Ohio trade reserved for our
Atlantic country from Alexandria TO Norfolk, ranges
from Parkersburg to Cstetsburg.
We do not propose to discuss the wisdom or gene
raj effect of this excessive liberaity towards our
Northern neghbors. Ii s sufficient for our present
purpose to advert to the fact that it has become
impossible for our own Eastern and Western lines to
compete at all for the trade of that part of our own
territory which extends from the Southern boundary
| Of Pennsylvania to the Nor!hernmost bend Of the
Ohio River. 1t ia under these circumstances that the
citizens of Brooke and Hancock counties are now
petionipg the Legislature for a naked charter,
which cannot possibly involve any future expense to
the Commonwealth, and which will not only enhance
the value of property in those counes aud afford
their citizens the facility of Eastern and Western
Communication by rail road passing over their own
SOIL but will afford them the shorteat possible line of
travel to Eastern Virginia.
At every session of tho Legislature since 1850 the
Phtsburg and Steubenville Rs Road Company has
applied for certain privileges At first, only the right
Of way across the territory OF Virginia asked;
but subsequently they have solicited charter pc.
mitting them TO bridge the Ohio River at Steuben.
| vile. As there is q rail road already made between
Pi.tsburg and Steubenvile, the Western shore of
he Ohio, the road between the same points through
this State must to insure its completion, present
| peror advantages. 10 give the Virginia road any
important advantage, the right to bridge the river ia
indispensable. 1t is shorter by twenty.eght miles
than ts rival but this would be more than counter.
bt a. n lo,l&,
| ticability, of crossing the river by ferries
AT present. the continuous line of railroads run.
ming from Pt,sburg to Marietta, on the Ohio side of
the river affords the only line o! railroad travel for
our citizens in Brooke and Hancock who travelling
Eastward. They are thus Obliged to seek Ohio, for
travelling faciites-scuslly driven out of their own
State for railroad facilities-when they could have
| the same upon their own soil. Moreover, the com.
petion of the Panhandle Road would bring the peo-
pe of two Of the most distant counties of the Com.
monweath nearer our own capital and seaboard and
when the Pittsburg and Connellsvi,le and Alexan
dris Loudoun and Hampshire roads are completed
it will form an air line between the Northwest and
Alexandria.
Such are the advantages to be derived by Virginia
from mere charter to the Ptsburg and Steubenville
| company authorizing them to bridge the Ohio
at Steubenvile. Two objections have been as
| serted 10 the extension Of this privilege both
of which appear to entirely groundless. First,
it has been contended that would create rivalry
against the Coyington and Ohio road We have al.
ready demonstrated in general terms the inspplica-
bity of this objection But more specific consider
| alton of the matter may be useful Baltimore al.
ready secures much of the trade of the West by the
Baltimore and Ohio road, connecting at Wheeling
| and Parkersburg with lines of travel and trade
| leading to the West and Southwest. Philadelphia
has already secured a passage through Virginia,
| which is The best che could have solicited
| The Hempfeld road branches from the Penn
sylvana Central road at Gresusburg. and ex-
tends to Wheeling. This presents the shortest
route between Philadelphia and Cincinnati that has
ever been projected. The distance is 647 miles. II
the Hempfed road should never be constructed fur.
ther than at present. Philadelphia will lose but ittle
for the road from Wheeling to Washington, Pennsy-
vauia, is finished, and the CHARTERS Valley road from
Washington to Ptsburg is in course of construction.
The distance from Philadelphia to Cincinnati by this
route is 65S miles The distance from Philadelphia
to Cincinnati via Seubenville over the Panhandle
road, is G64 miles.
Thus is clearly impossible that the Pittsburg and
Steubenville road rival the Covington and Ohio
road when two routes to Baltimore and two shorter
routes to Philadelphia intervene.
The other objection raised, that the trade of Wheel
Ing will be impaired, is equally napplicable As we
have shown, the routes passing through Wheeling
are shorter than the line proposed. and every bridge
thrown across the Ohio above Wheeling must tend
to make that city the head of navigation the Ohio
and thus arrest at her wharves tho immense trade
which passes up the river 10 Pttsburg, and the i'm.
portance of which is inestmaby superior to that of
any line Of railroad.
The bill which passed the House of Delegates on
Thursday last does moi affect the application Of the