The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-07


What is here said of Norfolk, holds true of
any point on the waters adjacent to Hampton
Roads; and applies as well to Newport News,
West Point, City Point and Hampton. |
speak of Norfolk alone simply because it is
more prominently before the public mind.
Cairo being the centre of Western trade,
and Norfolk the most eligible seaport for its
shipment abroad, the one connected with the
system of railroads in Kentucky, and the other
with the system in Virginia, | can conceive
OF no work more important, both ia its coati-
mental and local relations, than the Virginia
aud Kentucky Railroads. A comparison of
the distances between Cairo and the eastern
cities, will still further display the importance
Of this route, direct from Cairo to Norfolk, and
of the Bristol and Cumberland Gap link of it.
The distance of Norfolk from Cairo in an air
line, is $50 miles. The distance on rail-
road line, passing through Danyille, Ken
lucky, Cumberland Gap, Bristol, Lynehburg
and Petersburg, is $40 miles aad could be re-
tluced to 750, on strait line. The distance
from Cairo to New York is 200 miles, and
to Baltimore, by the shortest route, 1856 miles.
The distance from Cairo to the mouth of the
Mississippi river, is by the curve of the river,
Lilo mics, aud by railroad via New Orleans
and the lower river, Cos miles. But the trade
which takes this route must, after reaching
the mouth, skirt tie Gulf and Atlantic coasts
"a distance gilmore than fifteen hundred miles
before reaching point in the Cult Stream
opposite Norfolk on its route to Europe; and
must encounter, moreover, the damaging eff
fects Of the Gulf climate Placing them in
tabular form, these distances are as follows:
From Cairo to Norfolk ................8 $40 or 7O5
6 60 New York. 1900
GO GO Baltimore .................. 1856
:" Z" 70 the mouth of the Mis-
sissppi by water. lilo
To the mouth of the Mis-
sissipp river by land. 6G5
The time is not far distant when the i'm
mense trade which converges at Cairo will
refuse to traverse distance of 200 miles to
reach New York, or of 1856 miles to reach
Baltimore, or of more than 1000 miles in
making the tour of the Gulf, and will prefer
to move directly to Norfolk, or the deep
waters of the lower James river, over a dis
lance of 75O miles
The case is nearly as strong in favor of
this direct line to Norfolk, it We take Louis
vile as the starting point; and is not mate
rally weaker if we take Cincinnati. The
distances by actually constructed and pro-
jeeted railroads from Louisville to various
pOiIIo Va Underwater, are lbs lOlONS.
To New York. 1905 miles
To Baltimore... Observation-Disclosures. 730
To Norfolk ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. CTS
To ship navigation at City Point, Va, 600
The distances by railroad from Cincinnati
to the same points are as follows:
To New York ..........................s2 5 miles
To folk, Via Bristol .-..................IUz
Te City Point, via Bristol. ="
This distance in favor of Baltimore is neu-
traized by the fact that trade, after reaching
that city must still move one hundred and
fifty miles before reaching the ocean, which it
enters in the vicinity of Norfolk. The dis
lance via Baltimore to the Capes from Cincin-
natl is, in fact, $50 miles, or fifty miles fur
Their than to Norfolk.
Whether, therefore, we assume Cincinnati, |
or Louisville, or Cairo, as the point of flepar-
ture for the trade of the West, the route
through Cumberland Gap, with a single :
ception, offers the shortest transit to the sea-
board The only route that completes with |
orr own in point of distance, and completes
only with reference to Cincinnati, is that
through West Virginia over the projected
Covington and Ohio railroad The interyen-
ton OF a new State on that line politically
antagonstic to Virginia, has clouled the
prospects of that great improvement and
cannot fail to engender discOrd in its man
agement Al my present writing nothing
has been definitely accomplished OF settled
towards lnsuring the completion of that great
improvement. By means of the road which
we have in charge, Virginia may reach the
railroad systems of the West simply by ex-
tending her own chain of roads, on her own
soil, to her own western border.