Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-05-10
The Shortest Railroad Route to the
West.

more afforded the advantage Oi tie stlVItest
routes from tide-water 10 the great W est. IN
spired by this fact, the Baltimore and ONO
Railroad was the earliest commenced OF TIE
great trunk lines destined t. pass over Tie
mountains into tie Valley of the Mississippi,
and twas pushed, spite Of all obStac'es, through
many wears, until the wGrS was accomplished.
Striking first the moro populated central West
AN eve has always been kept to the South
west slso-as rich field where ultimately great
resources were to be developed which would
more conveniently find market at Baltimore
than elsewhere Consequently, while the first
main line of the road was carried TO Wheeling,
another was subsequently projected and carried
through to Parkersburg, lower down on the
Ohio and this latter, now operating in connec-
ton with the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad,
starting from the opposite bank of the river,
forms the shortest line between Baltimore ana
Cincinnati. The Marietta and Cincinnati road,
like many others which were in an unfinished
state in 1857. became embarrassed through the
financial crisis of that year, and fora long hn'e
remained prostrated, until finally ITS whole Tor
mer Indebtedness being capitalized into stock,
and new capital supplied BY the parties IN m
terest and Others. it was put on It's feet again,
and an additional SO 900 900 0havcbeen expend-
cd in completing it. Until towards the end OF
the last month the company had used the tracks
Of the Little Miami road from l.ovcland to I'm
cinnati. q distance of twenty-thfee miles, al an
annual rental of sixty thousand dollars, ahd
was consequently subject to all the inconveni-
ence and restrictions necessarily attending the
running Of trains upon the tracks of a riral line
But the Marietta and Cincinnati road has now
completed an independent ronte intote west
crn part of the city of Cincinnati. The for
warding of this work at q period OF extremely
high prices forlabor and materials, and OF every
thing connected with the binding Of railroads
indicates the degree of importance attached 20
il i'm subscribing the interests involved. The
advantages to the trade of Baltimore resulting
from the extension can scarcely be estimated.
This shortest line in existence lthe Marietta and
Baltimore roads via Parkersburgl from the lead
ino CITY of the West to tide-water, has never
hitherto been in a condition to realize fully the
advantages natural to its geographical situati N.
The western terminus of the line being at the
station Of the Little Miami road in the eastern
part Of Cincinnati. several miles from the depots
of the roads leading thence further West, the
beu,fts gained in distance were more than
neutraEzel hy the disadvantages resulting from
u
streets If that city, and the Marietta Company
was obliged to depend almost exclusively upon
business with Cincinnati and upon lis local
traffic The operations of the company under
these difficulties have demonstrated the value
and vitality of the property. We are informed
that the gross earnings nave steadily improved
and tue Increasing local business of the rich
valleys of the Sciota and Hooking have yielded
C.. 4 1. l.o..a ,frihU tnH
enabling the company to meet tie interest on
the bonded debt, and furnished, in large de-
gree, the means necessary for extending ana
improving the line. Whilst thew upon the
west end of the road was progressing. the conf
pany have completed two tunnels, rebuilt the
bridges generally on the line, besides removing
all treStle work and substituting instead, SOLID
masonry and permanent cmhankments. WITH
regard to tho changed terminus of the road, the
managers of the Marietta company arrangei
in advance to obtain facilities for the accommo-
dation of passengers by securing portion oil
the new depot of the Indianapolis and Cincln-
natl road. situated in the heart of the city, but
three squares from the Burnet House. The
company has also, we learn, purchased several
acres of ground in the same vicinity, upon
which have been erected the requisite buildings
for receiving aud delivering frcights, and ar
rangements have been perfected by which pas
sengers and freights may be transported from
the Ohio river at Belpre, lopposite Parkersburgl
without change of cars, to the Mississippi river
at St. Louis or to the lakes at Chicago.
By the Marietta route, Baltimore is nearer to
Cincinnati than is New York, via the Ereroad,
bv twohundred and seventy-six miles toLouis-
VILE. two hundred and seventy miles, 10 Indian
apolis, one hundred and eighty-four miles to
st. Louis, two hundred and twenty-one miles,
and to Chicago, seventy-seven miles With
these advantages in its favor, and the ability to
afford lower rates from this city to all points
west. southwest and northwest, the trade OF
Baltimore, now increasing, ought necessarily
rapidly develope.
1t was in anticipation Of the results now about
IN beconsummatcdth that the city of Baltimore en-
dorsed the first mortgage bonds of the North
Western Railroad 10 the extent of one million
five hundred thousand dollars, and the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad endorsed tie second
and third mortgage bonds of that company t.
ike amount. and extended, from time to time,
and principally at periods Of great financial de-
preston, aid in completing the ParSersbnrg
Branch road amounting To- about two million
Eve hundred thousand dollars, in addition To
these guarantees. The city Of Baltimore has
now disposed Of her interest in the Branch Road,
and the property as re-organzed IS owned oy
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company and
private stockholders The latter company is
rapidlv arching the tunnels between Grafton
and Parkersburg, and, in connection with the
Marietta Company, pushing forward the work
f,r the costly iron bridge at the Ohio river
Upon the completion Of these improvements
this great through route, already equal, viii
propaLly excel in prompt, direct and reliable
transportation, any in this country leading to
the great West.
rye extract the above from late e5ioTial
of the Baltimore Sun, not only as matter Of
/ information, BIZ, of interest to the trave ling
public. On this line passengers 90 through
from Parkersburg to Indianapolis without
change of cars, and to St. Louis in four hours
in advance Of any other line. Sleeping cars
from Cincinnati to ST. Louis and Chicago with
.r-t.-o Can't + p DurFusRT well AID