Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-06-02
REPLY OF pREslagaH poa4AINE.

hEfLf OE f'isf2sif9DTF fONfAfNE.
t9FF4QE VA CENTRAT. r. h. COMPANY, t
Richmond, Va, May 18th, 1868.
THOMAS w. MUNEoE, ESQ.,, DUBUQUE
lo9wA-DEAR SIR: Your letter of the oath
ultimio only reached me few days ago, and my
answer has been someW hat DELAYED hy other en-.
gagements, 80
indeed to all those bordering on the Mississippi
Valley, Of opening the route through Virginia.
along the Valleys of the kanaWha and James
rivers canaot be too highly estimated, on ac-
count Qf its cheapness and directness OF trans
portation to our Atlantic seaboard.
You very properly remark that the friends OF
the railroad communication, the Great Kanaw
ha Navigation Company, and the advocates Of
the continuous water-line which has been sug
gested by the Legislature of your State ought
to unite on the linked line for the present for
the reasons so clearly set forth in your letter.
l agree with you that 'one cannot DE a true
friend to either enterprise, who does not equal
ly wish to promote the SUCCESS of each of the
Others" So deeply impressed have always
been with the correctness OF your view OF the
subject, that in report made many years ago
to the STOCKHOLDERS Of the Virginia Central
Railroad Company, not only stated that there
was no antagouism between this company and
James River and Kanawha Canal, in conformi-
ty with the views contained in your letter, but
that the canal would be an auxiliary, and indeed
relief to the railroad in carrying from Coving
ton eastward some of the heavy products which
will be brought there over the extraordinary
low grades of the Covington and Ohio road,
and which ought to be transported at rates not
very desirable to the railroad company,
While no one will deny that the continuous
water line is the cheapest and ultimately will
be adopted, the very low grades Of the Gov
ington and Ohio railroad will enable it to ap-
proximate the capacity of canal in the cheap
ness of transportation.
The following table taken from the report of
distinguished engineer, with his Introductory
remarks. will serve to illustrate and sustain this
statement and at the same time show the COM
parative advantages which the Chesapeake and
Chic road will have over any railroad crossing
the Allegheny mountains
To give a clear idea of the rapid decrease of
the effective power of locomotive as the grade
increases, the following table is given showing
the nett weight lin tons of 1000 poundsl which
can be drawn by a "a ton engine with eight
drawing wheels, on different grades from level
to 100 feet per mile.
AS practical question 1t must be remember
ed that the present rolling stock OF the Central
company would diminish the outlay for equip
A double track will cost for grading, &C., a
bout so per cent more than the single track,
but its capacitywill be more than double, and
Of course if double track is made for an in
creased amount of tonnage the cost of rolling
stock would be increased in proportion to the
tonnage to be accommodated. -
I'd. The capacity of the single track would be
more than one million of tons, that of the doub-
le track about four millions.
| A single track may be prepared for operation
| with temporary tracks around tunnels tor
| Salts, 600; this could be constructed in from
| one and half to two years. But if completed
| the construction of tunnels would extend the
! time to three years.
Sd. IF an abundance of freight be offered, so
| that the train can always be loaded going east
ward and one half going westward, the actual
| cost of moving freight exclusive OF interest on
capital would be about one cent per ton per
| mile. $40 gs
| 4th An ordinary thirty ton locomotive will
draw with case over the Covlngton and Ohio
| FEET PER MILE.
Grade Level 10 20 80 40 so 60 20 80 sc
| Weit,, GIG 4OS 3O7 243 2O2 l6S 144 126 112 10(
| Some idea may be formed of the relative cost
transportation over different grades by glance
at this table.
1t will readily be seen that the Northwestern
| States will derive immense benefit from the con
struction of the mixed line in advance of the
4 completion of the continuous water line, and
that the latter will be promoted by it. In an
swer to your questions after full consideration