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

tres of Louisville and Memphis and Leuisi-
ana! This work in word, is not only an
example Of the rich results OF con,plefion,
in profits but it is enough to startle us with
the most serious apprchensions that it will in
a short time be SO commanding and controll-
lag in its vast popers as to crush every rival
and competitor for the internal trade, south
of Baltimore. If the Chesapeake Il Ohio ia
not prosecuted vigorously soon and now, can
it ever be completed? and if the profits Of
the Baltimore u Ohio are SO vast, as tine re-
suits prove, why cannot the Chesapeake u
Ohio be now commenced in earnest and pros
ecuted to completion very soon !? The pros
pect Of profits and Of power for its most GER
tainly not only invite but tempt us to its con-
struction. Completed soon no other work
or central line can compete with it, and if not
completed at once, it will fad the utmost DIFF
fculties in ever being completed at all. And
though our people are weak now for the un-
dertakiug, they will not sooner be stronger
than they are now, and thoir worry weakness
is in truth the strongest argument for putting
forth their utmost efforts. The proposition
to commence The construction Of this great
line would seem, iu our present condition, to
be so hopeless and vain, that apathy would
not be criminal, if we had not the line of the
Central Railroad, the main link, already COM
pletcd, and if that work was not already our
own, and if it would not be built wholly in
vain, III case it never reaches the Kanawha,
and in case it is cancellated by the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, by its branches up and
through this Valley to Salem. But you al
ready have tie Central through your centre,
and it has tunneled the Alleghanies, aud on
ly needs one strong heaye of your people to
give it the tacilis descensus down the western
slope Of the back bonc-ridge to the waters
of the Ohio. The Central has already as
eended the mountains can't you make the
Coyington and Ohio easily descend to its Ka.
nawha terminus, where is every prize Of COM
mercc, COAL salt, iron, OF! and pork, awaiting
your arrival with longing expectation of a
way to market.
We say that no other Central line can ever
compete with the Chesapeake and Ohio line
from Richmond to Cincinnati and Louisville,
if once completed. 1t is in fact the only
Central line between the Capes Of the Chesa=
peake and the mouth of the Ohio. The
points OF Cape Henry and Of the centre Of
the Ohio Valley are due East and West from
each other. Baltimore can't reach Cincin-
pati by q nearer route than Parkersburg mol
Louisville, by nearer route than by Staun-
ton and Catiettsburg. The average equation
Of grade and distance between Louisville and
Cincinnati in the west, and Richmond and
Baltimore in the East, is about difference
of IT'S miles in favor of Richmond, through
Staunton; and navigation from Richmond te
the Capes is about 80 miles, and from Balti
more about 100 miles Such differences o.
175 miles by land and of 70 by water max
ing to the Capes difference Of 245 miles BY
land aud water, must necessarily give the
goal and palm Of the race Of commerce to ever
the sowest train. But that is not all There
is a still greater difference in favor Of ths
Chesapeake and Ohio line in the immense ad
vantage Of climate. (Here refer not only t.
President Fontaine's address, 5, but to my
letter to Lacotepr).
IF then the Baltimore and Ohio
4 can earn, 1o,09670t
-,