The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-09-05

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Of the North. But these roads may be made
available by connecting her present system Of
railroads with tho rails and rivers Of the West
by the short trunk Ine already proposed from
Greensboro or Wentworth, by way Of Smiths
and Little rivers to Central, in tho southwest
Of Virginia. Ono hundred miles Of new road
will accomplish this grind result, and not
only open the way to tho Ohio, the Mississippi
aud the Pacific, but develop rich iron and
copper region Of immense value.
1t will thus appear that this new line does
not compete with tho present North Carolina
railways, but, on the contrary, it would bc
link to connect and develop them, md until this
il done, they are not complete as a system,
and can not aid in developing tho great natural
resources Of the State to any great extent, or
the trade that she play enjoy from the West
The same may be said in regard to Flr-
ginia. Her present system Of railroads is in
complete and unconncctcd The great INK is
wanting to bind the East and West together,
and that link can but be made practically
available by way Of the Great Knnawha-
We have shown that the railroad system Of
North Caroinn requires lO0 miles Of new
road, over the mountains which separate her
from Southwestern Virginia, to connect with
the virginin roads nt Central. TO connect the
Virginia roads with the nayisublc waters Of
the West will require 40 miles from Central
to the Great kanawha at tho foot Of tho falls,
at the mouth Of Gauley, or $50 to the head Of
common navigation on the kanawla. From
that point the road may be continued direct
to Cincinnati, distance Of some 200 miles,
through n populous country and along route
that now demands railroad facilities.
But the link now impcntivcly demanded
to complete the present system of roads III
both Virginia and North Carolna is only 25o
miles in length - 100 from the head Of the
North Carolina road to Ccntrnl and l50 from
Central to tho head Of steamboat navigation
on the Kunawha. This conSummation would
connect Richmond, Petersburg, City Point,
and Norfolk by rail, over the present routes
and Hampton by water from City Point.
It would be Of immense value to the South
side and Virginia and Tennessee ronds, and
Of material aid to the Richmond, Danyille, and
the Norfolk and Petersburg roads, rs well as
the james river and Kanawha canal, since it
would bring vast influx Of trsdo and travel
that no other result could possibly obtain.
In regard to the Yirginia Central and Gov.
inrton and Ohio railroads, it would have the
effect Of really completing their line to tho
West. since from the mouth Of Grccnbricr
river all tho roads would connect, and ono
grand trunk limo to Cincinnati, ESQ miles in
length, would practically develop tho entire
system Of roads in both Virginia md North
Carolina. 1t thus appears that the line pro-
posed would complete, and not compete with
the present line.
It is unfortunate that the CovinSton and
Ohio route from Richmond is so indirect, and
so seriously located in error. 1t is fully fifty
miles longer than it should be, and undulates
up one hill and down the other. Though
equal to either the Baltimore and Ohio or the
Pennsylvania Central, it is still so for from
what it might have boon and should be, that
it can never enjoy n control Of tho Western
.rnde, as the lines herein proposed can and
viii.
But these fiRes open out and develop rich
and extensive interior. and arc required for
such a purpose. The great valley district O.
Virginia demands theso lines Of exit TO- tho
East, and they will find that the trade and
travel Of tho valley, and such portions as
ascend from tho lowcr Ohio,> seeking Balt'-
moro, Washington, Fredericksburg, and Rich
mond will naturally tako and monOpolizc
their lines to their full capacity. The erection
Of Hampton into a commercial city would give
powerful stimulus to such traffic.
The virEinians made great mistake when
they refused that portion Of the trade Of tho
valley which naturally drained into the Poto-
mac to Baltimore, yet gave her permission to
cross Western Virginia to tap tho trade Of
Ohio. Had Baltimore received the trado which
naturally belonged to her from tho valley, tho
er.at lines Of rail would have been completed
through that district Of the State, and pow
erful interest would have aided in completing
them to tho West In this Virginia acted over
amin the hble Of the "dos In the mangcr."
She could neither enjoy the trade herself nor
would allow any ono else to have it. The con-
sequence Of this policy has bsen to prevent
tho development Of her richest domain, and
entail loss on al concerned
The p,.po Of qonnee.ion, as hero gi7ou' BE-
tween too proposed trunk line, down tho Ka-
pawhA, and The Virginia and Tennessee road,
ve only propose q temporary. The Virginia
and Tennessee could not aceom@odate the