Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-01-30
There is a section Of the State between

There is a section OF the State between
the Allegheny mountains and Gauley river,
much Of which is as valuable for all agricul-
tural purposes as any in the State, the
greater part Of which is now almost a vii
derness, and must remain SO, or else be
rsedsincrely for grazing unless improve
,ments are made by means of which its pro-
ducts could be sent to tidcwater.
But there is another view I'd be taken Of
the value of the road to the State.
The Covington and Ohio road is not 10
be regarded merely as an improvement by
itself. Its position is one that will enable
it to give life and energy to other improve
ments in which the State has invested an
amount very nearly, if not quite as large as
tie amount required for the construction Of
the Coyington and Ohio road and which,
il that road be not made, must become
worthless as regards the objects fer which
they were constructed and remain what
they now are. merely local in their claarac-
ter, and unable, With the. limited business
they have, even with the high rates Of
change shat this forces upon them, to do
much more than prolong their existence
But with the Hcagy tonnogc that the Cow
ington and Ohio road~7wond bring to the
James river and kanawha canal, and the
light tonnage and the travel that it would
place upon the Central and other roads, in
which the State has invested largely, those
works would be rendered productive, and
be enabled at tic" same time to do their To-
cal business on more favorable terms
Whats yer, then, the net revenue Of the
,Covington and Ohio road may be, that rev.
enue in view Of the States interest in other
improvements, may be at least dcpbled
ifand that amount credited by the State to
TO. the Covingtoa and Ohio railroad as d.
rectly and Indirectly consequent on its con
struction.
There is view, locking 20 *he future,
, that may properly be taken IN this ~connec-
ton.
1t has been shown that the Transports
ton of heavy tonnage between the capes of
Virginia and Cincinnati is somewhat cheap
er by the Virginia route than between New
York city ard Cincinnati by the New y ork
ID Ohie canals. his it ,sfus5 be reeonect-
ed is fir Only seven months in the year, as
the New York canals are closed by ice the
StACT I'VE ilOHUuS.
1t has also been shown, that as between
the Virginia and Baltimore, via Parkers-
b lrg, routes the transportation Of heary
tonnage between the capes Of Virginia and
Cincinnati is little more than s. per ton
! i7s't,esua7 cost cheaper BY The Virginia than
the Baltimore route.
| And that, as respects the carriage Of Hight
freight by the James river to Richmond,
and thence continuously bp raf5road to Gin
cinnati, the Virginia. route is about eighty
cents per ton cheaper, IN octutl cost, be-
tween the+capes of Virginia and Cincinnati
than the Baltimore route.
Cincinnati then would find it cheaper to
use the Virginia, that the Baltimore route
for the transport Of its tonnage to and from
New York; and as for five months in the
year the New York and Ohio canals are In
operative from ice5 end 1T that time the
. Ohio is in its best state for navigation, it is
believed that Cincinnati would find it fer
her interest to rely entirely upon TIE Viz
GINA route as her line &C connection with
New y ora-
But may u5t Cincinnati find It for l:er in
terest to do Nee and make her imports and
exports through the ports and cities Of Vir-
ginia ? For foreign shipment, NorfJlk Of
ftrs unusual facilities. Her position and
harbor are not surpassed BY those Of any
seapo.t in the United States.