The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-04-04

shown By a comparison Of the following
routes '.E
PRoX CINCINNATI TO NEW YORK NJ RAILROAD.
By the Baltimore route, via Parkersburg,
-. ..... ..+.. .764 miles.
By the Baltimore route, via Wheel -.
=, inr, - - i - sls 3D.
By. tho. Pennsylvania Central Rail
" road, - -. D.. =" 802 /"
By the Lake Shore, n. Y. and Erie D.
-'"' Railroad, - >ay- 800 E~ 3i0 " 90
PROM CINCINNATI TO NORFOLK, AZ FOLLOWS
From Cincinnati to Big Sandy, l48 miles
Coying,on and Ohio Rrilroad from
Big Sandy to Covington), 224 I"
Virginia Central Railroad from
Covington to Richmoud) 206 "
Richmond TO Norfolk 90 ."
668 miles.
Tho road from Charlottesville 10
Richmond can be shortened 25
Total distance from Cincinnati to
Norfolk G43 miles,
which is 12l miles shorter than the short.
est railroad route between Cincinnati
and the Atlantic sea.coast.
From Richmond to Jackson's river
depot, o distance of 19G miles, tho Vir.
ginia Central railroad is completed, and
the State has expended three million Of
dollars on the Covington and Ohio Rail-
road, which interest it is now offering to
transfer to any company who will finish
the road to the Ohio river.
So we'll has this road been located
that there is only one ascent and ono dc.
scent from the Ohio river to the Chesa-
peako bay. And this can be said Of no
other railroad crossing the Allegheny
Mountains. Tn fact, the road from tho
Ohio river to Baltimore has several as.
cents and dcscents, with maximum
grade Of 116 feet to the mile, while the
maximum ascending grade Of the Gov.
inston and Ohio railroad going cast, is
only 29!. feet to the mile, and the maxi.
mum descending, GO feet to the mile.
In speaking Of the effects Of this rail.
road on Virginia, q writer we'll said,
years ago: "In her central position in
the Union, in hor mild and delightful
climate, in her noble Chesapeake and
majestic rivers, in her inexhuustiblc re-
sources of mineral wealth, and her great
manufacturing advantages, no state in
the Union possesses so many of the Gle.
mcnts Of greatness and power as Nir
ginia. These elements, however, cal
only be made .ubservient to her pros
pcrity by the union Of her whole people
and nothing will so strongly ccmen
them in feeling and interest as the con-
s,ruciion of this great work. Again
tho geographical features Of Virginia
arc such as that this great work would
cut her valleys at right angles, through
which, by means Of lateral roads, easily
constructed, the wealth and resources oi
the whole interior would naturally flow
diTusing, by means Of this central trunk
life and energy through every part o
tho State" . -..
CD Furthermore, Firginia's great va
ter line is to pass through the heart Of
the Kauawha coal fields, an improvement
uniting the waters Of the Ohio river
with the waters of the Chesapeake Bay
and destined in time to rival the Eric
Canal of New York in importance as &
transit for trade or travel. y canal ha:
been built on and along James river
from tide water at Richmond to Blu
canau in the Valley Of Virginia, q dis
tancc of 1871 miles, at cost Of SIC, 1926,
1921, rs per report Of W. p. Munford
Sec'y, dated Oct. 1st, 1865.
In the carly history of Virginia th'
advantages Of this watcr-linc connection
attracted the attention of her ercu
statesman, George Washington, having
been the first President Of the old Jamc:
River Company, and filled tho ofic'
from August 2lst, 1885, to Oct. 9th
1895. In one Of his letters about thi
improvement, he said: "N can, I think
be demonstrated tint the produce Of M
Western country, as lop dopn tho OH
as the Great Euna,oia, and l belierc Il
the Fiis, and Lcttocc" tho purts abor
the Lakes, may be brought to the htghes
port on the James ricer, at a less c'rpense
wih more case, including the return, ane
in a much shorter time, than AcGn be car
ried to Mc,o Orleans"
This proposed water line throus b Fir
ginia has advantages both in climate ant
distance over the Pennsylvania Contra
Canal and New York Erie Canal aa/
transit FIR the Ohio river trade o.tfht
:; Atlantic sea.coast. ...,..
1t has the advantage in climate, be
cause being much further south, th'
navigation thereof will not 10 interrupt
ed by leo to the extent that it is in tn
other canals. 1t has greatly the advan
tasc in distance, as shown by the follow
ing table .~.f"....
From Cincinnati 10 New York, rid ,..~
! Ohio river, Portsmouth ca
+. nal and Erie Canal 1873 miles
From Cincinnati to New York, rid - -
! q. Toledo Canal and Erie
Canal s. l,oOo
:! From Cincinnati 10 Philadclpbis IL:
ria Ohio river to Pistsburg
t. and Penn. Central Canal 99Z
From Cincinnati to Norfolk, cid s.et1t Z.
J. Ohio river TO Point Pleasant s -,
! and James river and Kann- ~.
l WIN Canal 'o1 a.
/! Being 20s: miles shorter then the Penn
isylyani. route; 2S4 miles shorter. thar
I New York, Toledo route. and 33(
.ho.ts. than! Nav York. Ports