Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-23
TUESDAY MoRNING,MA as, Is;
THE PANHANDLE ROAD.

the public, .unaccoWpaineQ Oy RESPONSE WHICH
rendered the more necessary, since our correspoI
dent has, in come instances, failed to spprehend tn
> exact mesnipg Of our previous article.
We again repeat that the only undisputed portion
of the Ohio trade, reserved for Atlantic countr
from Alexandria to Norfolk, ranges from Parkers
burg 10 Catletsburgh. We mean by this to asser
that that portion of the Western trade which, In 1T
progress Eastward, will strike the Virginia side o
the Ohio between thoss two points, constitutes th
only portion of the trade which Virginia. by an e1
traordinary generosity of legsla.on-the Weldon o
which wa have neither undertaken to assert nor Il
dsny-has reserved to her own Atlantic Cities fe'
from all competition r'th the ssaboard cities Of neigh
boring States.
We have not fallen into the errors which our cor
respondent would seem to impute to us. and which
would indeed involve the grossest ignorance both o.
geographical facts and the usages OF Trade. MOI
does be con6ue his argument to mere refutatlon oil
such supposed errors. He attempts to chow that the
completion of the Panhandle road would enable the
line of which it forms continuous part, to turn aside
a portion of the Western trade which would other
wise seek an outlet by means of our own central
lines. Let US examine this assumption.
terminating at Wheeling and Parkersburg. And
Philadelphia has one line il not two, granted her,
both terminating at Wheeling Yes, Philadelphia
has at least line We may concede the tact, face
,iously asserted by our sponden that the Hemp
field road is q mere paper road" a "dead horse
But he entirely overooks the existence of the road
from Wheeling TO Washington, Pa, which the Char.
tiers vallay Road will connect with Pittsburg and
thus with Philadelphia.
The effect is THE: The Wheeling trade and all the
trade Of Virginia aud Eastern Ohio, North of
Wheeling, is completely shat out from the sesboard
of Virginia. And Philadelphia and Baltimore are
allowed to compete with Alexandria Richmond and
Norfolk, for the trade of that part Of Western Nir
gnia, lying between Parkersburg and Wheeling, all
the river trade OF the Ohio and all the overland trade
of the Ohio valley and the upper Mississippi, is laid
opep 10 the same competition. This is already Fl
fected, and we contend that the completion OF the
Pittsburg and Steubenve Road will not add to the
rivalry thus already created against our own central
lines. This is obvious because OF two facts: First
three railroads leading 10 Philadelphia and Baltimore
intervene between Steubenvlle and the future termn
OF the Virginia lines. Secondly, the line which
Philadelphia has already secured, furnishes shorer
connection with the great centres OF Western irade
than will be afforded by the proposed line. The dis
lance from Philadelphia to Cincinnati, oia Pittsburgh
Washington and Wheeling, is only 65S miles, The
distance between the same points, ria Pittsburg
and Steubenville, is 664 miles.
Thus it is apparent that Philadelphia has already
shorter line of connection with the great West, and
one nearer to the Virginia lines, than that by
which it is proposed 10 accommodate the people of
Brooke and Hancock. Virginia has already allowed
Philadelphia to enter as competitor by ceeding to
her the most advantageous routes which the lat
to, could have selected. Thi. has been done for the
benefit of the people Of Wheeling. For the benefit
Of the population of two Virginia countless it is now
proposed to authorize third road which cannot in.
c.ecse the extent of competition against Virginia. al
ready created. The Western merchant who would
prefer the Steubenville route to Virginia nea, would,
in the absence of the S:eubenvlle route prefer The
Wheeling connection with Philadelphia. For 30 far
az the general tradeof the West is concerned the lat
ter ofers the shortest connection with Philadelphia,
and that portion of the trade which the Steubenve
road could take out of the hands of the Wheeling in.
terest ia already shut out from the Atlantic cities f
Virginia.
But it is urged that the bridging of the Ohio will
give the Pittsburg and Steubenve road an immense
advantage over all the other lines OF Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Virginia, none Of which have get OBJ.
saiued the facility of bridge over the river. This
argument might have weight. were it proposed TO
prohibit the bridging of the Ohio at Wheeling and
Parkersburg as we'll as at Steubenvile. But no such
thing lie proposed. On the other hand, combination
of interests in favor OF SUCH bridges has become so
powerful that their construction within few years
is now placed beyond doubt. So far as the general
interests of Virginia are concerned, the policy Of se
seaboard, by means Of artificial barriers and obsta
Giles to the course Of trade towards other Eastern
citiee is already broken down. Every chance which
at all offered opportunity for such obstruction, has
been already permitted to pass uuimproved. Every
available means of obstruction has been placed be-
youd our reach by our own course of legislation.
BY other means, We must ultimately secure the frs;
place among all the competitors for the trade of the
West. Our own lines, when completed will offer the
shortest and cheapest communication with the Atlantic
seaboard. The unquesouabs advantage of geo
graphical position and of climate. the rapid compile
ton of canal and railroads the enterprise of
summatoo Of commercial excellence.
The great interests of Virginia, them can ose no.
thing by cediug to Philadelphia the privilege of
route across the Pan handle. A more particular
animation Of facts confirms this view. The road from
Wheeling to Washington, Pa, is already completed.
The city Of Philadelphia is interested in this road to
the amount Of about $75O,0Oo and without COL
tinuaop to Greepsburg Pittsburg this capital is
entirely useless The charters Valley road is in the
course Of coustructon-indeed, be completed in
a short period. The work on the HempGeld connec.
ton between Washington aud Greepsburc has also
been coz menced. The subscription Of the requisite
amount Of capital is all that is necessary to complete
bo.h roads.
TIE interests Of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are
completely allied to these functions, as to afford
complete guarantee for the rapid completion Of
AID the ultimate completion of both. The ultimate de-
sign Of this Swallowed forth by the articles agree
Inent adopted at Wheeling, by the Presidents and
some of the Directors of the Marietta and Cncinna
H. the Charters Valley aud the Iiemp6sld Railroad
companies. for the contamination Of a consolidation
Of the three companies to form corporation be
styled the Ohio Valley Railroad company, which
agreement was adopted at the instance of the Penn
sylvania Railroad company which undertook to fur
nsh such facilities and privileges as would render the
Ohio Valley Road virtual extension of the Pennsyl
vsnia Road to Cincinnati. One Of these articles of
agreement provides "tha as soon as the said consol
dated company shali be lawfully authorized thereto.
they will erect, or procure to be erected otherwise
the use Of suitable railroad bridge at or near
the city Of Wheeling"
1t cannot be doubted that this scheme, or
similar one which will procure for Philadelphia a,
least one line Of connection with Wheeling and the
use OF bridge over the Ohio, will be found feast.
bic.
So far ss the interests Of Wheeling are ceucerueo
we still entertain our previous opinion The differ
eocs of % miles between the road to Pttsburg fol-
n III