Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-13
Cevngton and Ohio Rsilroad-AleghanyG Grade, only
Twenty.nine feet to the Mile-Can Transport as
Cheaply an Canal

Cevington and Ohio Rsilroad-AleghanyG Grade, only
Twenty.nine feet to the Mile-Can Transport as
Cheaply a. Canal.
! To the Editors Of Tie Enquirer:
GENTLEMEN A letter from the Petersburg
Express, was published in your paper OF the elh
instant, in which the writer ventures the re-
inarkable statement that the friends OF the
! Covington and Ohio Railroad 'are in doubt
about its ultimate success" rs profitable
enterprise when completed, and declares that
one of its friends thinks il would not pay TOR
the oil required Tor lis machinery. lis adv0-
Gates may well say save Us from s'icii friends,
and We will take care Of our enemies.
This wholesale denunciation Of work re-
sarded BY its friends as promising the largest
profits, in money, from working it, and the
greatest indirect benefits TO the State, is so en-
travagant, whether proceeding from prejudice
or want OF information, that it scarcely needs Il
notice As nothing has occurred 10 change the
original estimate of its Importance, the Fact
that the work Is not abandoned, but that the
Board of Public Works are pushing its con-
Strurtion with the prospect of an early compile
ton as far Il, the White Sulphur Springs, might
be relied on as a sufficient reiutation; but, as
the merits Of this work have been commented
OH recently III the public prints, and some Of
its acknowledged friends have made great mis-
takes about the physical characteristics OF the
line which ought to be corrected, ] have thought
that in making that correction, it was not aIiiss
to let the correspondent Of the Petersburg En-
press know that the distrl,st of the enterprise
was not 50 general as he supposed.
The mistake alluded to was made by the
dispatch" some eight or ten days since, in
reference to the grades crossing the Allegheny.
The editor thought it was sufficient advan-
taye which our great Virginia line had over the
Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, supposing lis
grade to he " feet to the mile for short dis
lance, where it could usc assistant power, while
those Of the Baltimore Rail Road were III feet
for MANY miles These latter were stated Cor
rcctly. But what would he the comparative
advantage, when il is known that tie gr"de 81
tic Corington and Ohio RaH Rodd IS o1tg 90
feet To- the mile cktre II rrosses tie .iHeghany,
as shown by Mr. Fisk's report: that it no
where, from the western base to the Ohio. tx.
cecds 20 feet. and large part does not exceed
! D feet to the mile:
Tile ,riem,ls Of this yOad Geiiece M"t tie re-
ctipts from passengers 'conld be 50 hrge M"f
TIE State might ceN adord 10 ha"9oH Ire
heaey products Of TIE rest at rest or less thu"
|
cost.
few reflections on the above proposition
will show that lis truth will, be Or Is being
subjected To the most rigid scrutiny. There
are VERY few who do not believe that II the
water line was in full operation through to the
Ohio river. Virginia would now be reaplns
benefits in the enlarged commercial wealth and
prosperity of her cities, amply colnPen>atIng
inr an outlay of II or - millions OF dollars
Now the proposition is, that passengers and
light merchandise will pay sufficient profit on
fins road. which is estimated by Mr.. Fisk, at
only ten millions, and that treighi> on the
heavy productions of the West, may be put 80
low that they will rot exceed the usual rates
| Of transportation on canal.
According to graduated t.blc furnished
By distinguished engineer OF the powers Of
locomotives, on different grades, ~ ton engine
will draw more than three times As much on
grade of % feet, as ii can on grade oil ITO
feet to the mile, these being the respective
grades Of the Maryland ana Virginia KoadS-
! The Baltimore and Ohio Road Is most likely 10
colnpctc with our Road, but it has been shown
that one engine will carry more on the Covlng-
ION and Ohio Road across the Allegheny noun
tain, than three Of the same weight Will Oh
that Road No line Of communication be-
tween the Atlantic and the West can compete
with this in c!IcapEcs> Of transportation, con
siStinc OF water carriage from Richmond To
Covington, 23D miles, and the remaining dis
lance Of Railroad, four-tifths CT which has
grades of ~ to % feet to the mile, and rroSHtS
the Allegheny with >hor; section OF ~ icet
| to the mile.
The low grades are not the only advantage
It must be remembered, that winter Is he sea-
son when the great bulk Of the proceeds OF
Western labor goes To market. II il taxes any
route. at that time, North OF ours, 4 will en-
counter frost and snow oil railroads with high
grades, or n blockade of ice Oh canals, whilst
| this line would be comparatively free from any
such impediment. 1t is evident, therefore,
that this road must do very large business:
and. in the hands Of the State, it could aliord
to carry heavy products at tie usual rates o
canal transportation.
To Justify the lowest scale Of charges on this
State work. will barely refer 10 the coInpen
sating benefits which will be enjoyed by the
ilcrcascd profits of other works in which nc
Commonwealth is largely intereSted-to III,
development of agricultural and mineral wealth
along the line. and the increased prosperity o.
our commercial cities Think, too, Of the thou
sands of visitors who would he added To oul
Virginia Springs from the South, and the NIL
lions of dollars 10 the taxable property oil the
State.
As a friend of the great through water line
contend that the CoyingtoH and Ohio railroad
ought to be pushed through at All early date
is have cndcavorcd 10 show it can do ihuci
that the canal can do, but it cannot carry al
the tonnage that will be offered; nor can tw'
sucl, roads do it. \ canal will be needed, an'
the railroad having demonstrated the nccessitl
for one, will be the most powerful agent II
securing It's ultimate success.
SEPTEMBER 10. 1852 NiE"INi'S.
The Democracy of Greenbrier, at the las
Court of that county. says the Valley Demo
crat, passed resolutions in favor oil Hovclno
Wise for the next Presidency. The Hon. WIN
Smith addressed the meeting, and paid an clio
nucnt tribute to the ability and Integrity q
Henry 4. Wise, and urged that every Western
Yircinian should sustain Wise for the Prcsidcn
cy. There is no doubt of the >,icngth Of Gov
Mise with the Western Democracy. lie vii
sweep the West like an avalanche. Keep The
ball in motion Let the people declare then
preference cvcrwhcrc.- f"ipeper Same wax
~ Hcp~blira".
Late and Important from Busnos Ayres-
Bv adviccs from Buenos Ayres to the Ia
of july, we learn that the first hostile shot
had been exchanged between the authorities o
the Argentine Confederation and the officers o
the State of Buenos Ayres. Two Bueno
Avrean war vessels running from the city 10
Corrientcs, were fired on when oil Rosario, bu
sustained little damage. After passing, one o
the vessels seized an Argentine war seaoone
and took from her lot OF war material. III
.:.. ..aa.nar Asnnncinn having Hon Nj