The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-06
The Virginia and Kentucky Railroad
connection Between Cumberland
Gap and Bristol ,A -'

We some time ago referred to tbs !mper-
lance Of the completion of the Cumberland
Gap and Bristol Railroad, which Is one Of the
main links connecting Norfolk with the great
West-and gave an account of the recent
neeting Of the stockholders at Bristol. We
have now portion of the promised report of
Colonel ROBERT W. HUGHES, the late acting
President, made to the stockholders upon
that occasion, which is of interest to "our
common harbor." There were considerable
oarrassments in the early operations of
the Company which delayed its progress,
arising ont Of some conflicts with contractors,
and growing, perhaps, out Of the difference
OF opinion entertained as to the eastern ter
minus Of the road. Bristol aud Goodson being
the points urged. Owing to the advantages
OF the former point, it was ultimately fxed
upon as the terminus.
Up to 1851, the company had expended
$l72,43l, and there was additional work
amounting to $4,000, which had not been
settled. Graduation had also been executed
at different points on the line from Goodson
to Clinch river, to an amount which would
have been estimated at tbs time at more than
100000.
A new and lively interest has lately arisen
In Cincinnati and Central Kentucky, accord
ing to the report, on the subject of railroad
connections from Cincinnati and Louisville, IL
the direction of East Tennessee and South.
west Virginia. The former city has deter
mined to resume her great projects for South
ward railroad connections. The Importance
and number Of railroads which converge from
almost every quarter into Cincinnati is amaz-
ing. They reach out to Baltimore, Pbiladel.
phia, New York, Cleveland, Chicago, Alton
St. Louis, Cairo, Louisville, Nashville, and in
every direction, except towards Southeast
kentucky, Southwest Virginia, and East
Tennessee. This deficiency of commuuica-
ton Cincinnati is determined to supply. Her
original design was to have connected with
Charleston, South Carolina. The long delay
which has attended the construction of the
road through Central Virginia, has naturally
induced the inquiry, both in Cincinnati and
Virginia, whether another route might not be
found to Norfolk, and whether Cincinnati
might not open such a route, in prosecuting
her original scheme Of railroad to Charles.
ton. This query, Colonsl HrGHEs says, is
answered by the projected road from Cum
berland Gap to Bristol. When Cincinnati
shall have reached Cumberland Gap with q
railroad, she will have arrived at a point from
which both Norfolk and Charleston may b.
reached over the very shortest route. No
gap in the Cumberland mountain, west Of
Cumberland Gap, presents the double advan-
tage OF opening the shortest way from Gin.
cinaati both to Norfolk and to Charleston.
On reaching Cumberland Gap, she would
only havs to select between the two. In
this, Norfolk would have decided advan-
tage over Charleston; for there would only be
one hundred miles Of road from Cumberland
Gap to Bristol to construct, in order to COM
plete the connection with Norfolk; whereas
three times that distance Of very costly work
would have to he constructed, to complete the
connection with Charleston. Only the link
from Cumberland Gap to Bristol would have
to be constructed, and Norfolk would DO
reached.
Such q line from Cincinnati to Norfolk,
would possess many other advantages over
route to Charleston. Ga the line to Norfolk,
water navigation is met at Lynchburg, Eve
hundred and four miles from Cincinnati, and
at Buchanan, four hundred and seventy-fve
miles distant from Cincinnati. Ship naviga-
ton can also be met at City Point, six hun-
drsd and thirty-six miles from Cincinnati; or
twenty-three miles nearer than Charleston. 1t
is also stated that ships Of larger draft can
come to City Point than can cross the bar at
Charleston. The passage also from Charles
ton to Europe leads along the Gulf stream,
which makes the trip longer than that from
Norfolk to Europe by the distance between
Norfolk and Charleston. But the road be-
tween Cumberland Gap and Bristol has a
value independent of Cincinnati.
We cannot overestimate its importance as
q connecting link between Kentucky and vir-
giuia. Virginia has an expensive system of
roads covering its eastern territory, which are
engaged in conducting local business, and
which are exhausting her wealth and injuriDg
her cities by acting as feeders to the railway
systems Of other States, gathering up the
trade Of Virginia, and carrying it off to other
localities. They have been constructed at
cost Of $So.oUo,ooo, and for the want Of
trade equal to their capacities are not paying
dividends on their capital stock. IN connsc-
tioa with these roads, Virginia has harbors