The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-02

rates, for nearly one-half of the agri-
cultural products fthe United States;
hence the work should be national. and
not controlled by private corporation.
propose for the construction of this
road that a charter shall be granted by
the Congress of the United States
to corporators residing in Vir-
ginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Ken
tucky, Tennessee. Indiana, Illi-
nois, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska,
Iowa, Wisconsin,, and Minnesota. It
is estimated that to build and equip
this road the cost will not exceed $780,
600 per mile, which for 400 miles would
be $4,000, 600. Admit that the cost
would be $50, 900, 600. To raise this money
1t is proposed that the United States
shall issue its bonds for the amount
necessary. The road can be construct
ed in three years. Interest upon part
OF this money would have to be paid
during that time. When the road shall
be completed, in addition to the work
ing expenses there should be collected
from freight an amount sufficient to
pay the interest and one per cent. as
sinking-fund. This sinking fund would
pay the whole cost of the road in thirty
four years. AS the work is national,
this should be all the, charge upon
freight. The interest might be contin-
ued 10 the Government as source OF
revenue through all time. This, how
ever, would be subject for future con-
sideration. Freight, then, would be
carried at its true cost of transporta-
tion. The country would derive the
benefit in the development of It's agri-
cultural and mineral resources. there
by increasing the national wealth.
The speed on this road would be a
freight speed; but the recommendations
and cheapness with which passengers
could be carried would attract to 1t
ISnf11fnn1 nf a9nariHllV emil
grants seeking the great West, and per-
sons accompanying their produce to
market.
The finest deposits of iron ore, as re-
CARDS both quantity and qualify, are
found in Rock bridge, Botetonrt, Allie
gheny, and Greenbrier, Immediately on
The line of this proposed road. II is as
certained the coal In the Kanawha val
ley, where the heaviest deposits are
found in the United States, are of SUI
perior quality for smelling iron ore.
These deposits of iron and coal are with
in less than 100 miles of each other. 1t
will readily be seen that the coal and
iron will be thus brought together, af-
fording facilities for the manufacture
of iron unequalled on the continent.
While the country demands that our
iron should bo manufactured at home,
il also demands cheap iron. The Inn
portance of developing the esOurces of
*
when we see the vast amount of iron
ore shipped from the iron mountain
in Missouri, and from Lake Su-
perior, to be smelted in the furnaces be-
tween Pittsburgh and Wheeling, on
the Ohio river. This road will be fur
nished with fuel from the einexhaustible
coal-fields through which it passes. If
the agricultural products of the West
and returning freights from the East
are not sufficient to furnish freight to
the full capacity of this road, the GOALS
of the KanawhR will furnish annually
millions of tons, which can be brought
to tide-water at cost OF less than four
dollars per ton, including mining and
transportation. The only deposits OF
good camel coal in the United States
are found in the Kanawha Valley, u
little over three hundred miles from
tide-water. This coal is worth from
twelve to twenty dollars per ton in the
Atlantic cities.
Your limited space forbids that
should enlarge on this subject. have
only presented some of the prominent
facts Indicating the magnitude of the
enterprise. 1t addresses itself to the
mature consideration OF the statesman.
am satisfied that it only needs to be
brought to the attention of the country
to secure its completion.
II IT PETRPOINT