The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-03-25


tailsd 20 be profitable 'rhich does connect the
centre or Interior production scttt tie Qnf,ys
Of commerce OR Mc.sca board 10 illustrate
this law Of transportation, we have but to cam
pare the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, fin.
ishedswork from the Ohio to the Chesapeake,
with the Va Central, an impoverished, ms
complete work, without terminus proper at
either side
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has not
route. or grade, or distance OF rate of
cost to be compared with that of the va Cen
trail. as complete work, both being flushed.
Its very inception was adverse to its success
or credit 1t is now admirably as well as am
bitously well managed, but its origin prom
ised nothing but mismanagement, and added
immensely to its cost The Central, en- the
contrary, had reputable inception, not tend
ing to dcmoralize its management, and it has
been conducted with all the economy and sue
cess tsmeans, and the integrity industry, vigi-
lance and skill Of its superintendent have Sc
cured Yet the Baltimore and Ohio compa-
ny has sprung up and risen to height OF
power, progress and profit, before which the
Va. Central is dwarfed. Why is this? The an
swer is that the one was completed at once, com
paratiyely, from Wheeling and Petersburg to
Baltimore, aud the other has languishingly
drawn its slow length along towards incom-
pleteness at either end. The Baltimore and
Ohio reached the Ohio and the net work OF
transportation OF the Northwest per saltem,
whilst the other tcdiously and with toll tar
Oily got 10 the steppes and tunnels of the AL
leghany mountains, without reaching OF touch
ing the trade of the great West !;
seemed to odut against the mountains, and
like flexible line driven against them was
doubled into zig gag eastwards against their
distractions. The angle at Gordonsville was
its pons Of failure.
The distance and grade Of tie b. simore &,
Ohiofrom Cincinnati to Baltimore, is l35 mics
longer that from Cinoira.t ii to Richmond J;
and the distance and grade from Louisville
to Baltimore, is 206 miles longer than Louis
vile to Richmond. We had the average
distance Of near ITO miles difference in favor
of Richmond from either centre Of the trade
of the Ohio Valley and this was not all,
| from Baltimore to the Capes Of Virginia is
100 miles, whilst from Richmond it is but
about ~ miles by Railroad and 80 by navi-
gaticn; yet the Baltimore Il Ohio, completed,
is mastering the Central, incomplete, as a
profit OF s if not 10 per cent is to no profit
whatever and actual loss and cost BESIDES
The Baltimore u OHIO has not only been sub
ject to the disadvantages of a bad beginning
and its cost, Of distance and grade, but it has
had to encounter comparatively adverse eli
mate, and has undertaken enterprises Of the
most costly character. It has constructed
itself at q COST Of more than - millions of
dollars 1t has purchased the command Of
the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad. 1t has
nearly completed the 20 tunnels OF the Park.
ersburg branch they are 81 miles in length
and the expenditures on them have been $50,
030 per mouth. 1t is connecting the Marietta
Railroad by bridge over the Ohio river, al
Parkersburg. 1t has steadily formed allan.
ces with the North western lines, thus compe
ting with the New York 4 Pennsylvania Rail
roads. 1t has assumed the assistance OF SO
miles from Pittsburg to Connelsvile 1t has
purchased the Baltimore l. Cuba Smelling and
Mining Company, at Locust Point, and there
by makes its own Rrilroad iron. 1t has built
double track Railroad from Cumberland t.
| Baltimore, and pier at Locust Point for the
use of foreign Steamers with So ,25O square
feel. OF covered pier space. 1t has established
from its own means lines Of Steamers from
Bremen and Liverpool 1t has built main
stem in connection with tie Central Ohio al
Belleaire, costing million and half Of dol
lars. 1t has incurred the cost Of large add
tional machinery for all these works. 1t is
aiding the contribution asked for the Winches
ter 4 Strasburg Railroad for 100 miles VI
the Great Valley Of Virginia It is then Sc
curing Baltimore monopoly of geographical
advantages. 1t is aiding the Orange, Alex
andia & Manassas Bailroad in extending it,
line from Strasburg to Harrisonburg, or
condition of serving the Baltimore & Ohio
1t has subscribed 100000 to the stock o
the Winchester & Strasburg Railroad i
Potomac Railroad. 1t proposes to lease the
line from Harper's Ferry to Harrisopburg
l01 miles, and pay interest on its cost. Thi:
will be done by February 18th, 1869. 1t ther
proposes to extend the Valley line to connec
with the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad at Oh
near Salem, thus forming continuous lIne
to Louisiana These are the operations ane
results of Ralroad finished to the Ohio
And enormous asare these expenditures ano
gigantic as are these enterprises, yet the ac
emulation Of assets and the dividends o
profits are mammoth and almost nonstrous
What can cope with the fixed and established
monopoly of Trade aud its profits, but short
er route, Of easier grade, Of less cost, goins
direct to the ecntreof the Interior westward
and DIRECT eastward to the Capcs Of the Ches
apeake This central route through Staun
ton has more facility Of Trade, has more op
portunities for enteaprize, more undevelopee
resources, easier grade, shorter distance, more
direct access to foreign commerce, will have
necessarily larger quays OF commerce, car
make mere favorable connections at less cost
has milder climate, has a cheaper improved
country on the Eastern front Tor Imnligra
ton, and must make larger profits. and ac
cunulate more capital, and WELD more power
when completed than ever the Baltimore
Ohio has ever realized or can ever reach
The property and assets of the Bait.
Ohio road, after all its costly enterprises con
sist Of
Railroad and..arpurtenances, 21,450,62l
Rolling stock, 3,62l,75;
Other assets, 16,G10,71t
Total, 43,os3, 90;