Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-15
THE PROPER RAILROAD ROUTE TO
CINCINNATI.

W. DUNCAN Esq, President of the Alexandra
Canal. Railroad and Aqueduct Company, to
Col. Richard J. Cox, of Aldie, Va, upon a
matter of great current interest to our citizens,
the proposed railroad from Washingt to
Cincinnati Col DUNCAN took an important
part at the citizens railroad meetings at the
City Hall, it will be remembered, and the study
and experience ne has gi wen to railroad matters
give much weight to his views:
RossLYN, Va, opposite Georgelown,) jan
nary 10, 1c69.-Cot. Rich'd j. Cor, 1idie, Va
DEAR SIR:-Your letter of the 5th December
was received. and as You observe i took the lib.
erty OF publishing il In the "Chron!cle.'
You may well congratulate your section Z,
that feeling corresponding with your own,
has sprung up, and which, doubt not, will
result IN railroad enterprises that will change
the prospects of the cities Of the District and
coliaterally develope that section of Virginia in
which You reside, and that your efforts to this
end Will be successful.
The citizens of the District Of Columbia,
with their friends in Congress, and the people
abroad, East and West, have determined that
the projected lines Of railway shall be put
thIougb Western Inenbeos and their constit-
ueDts see the importance of the two roads, di-
verging from Washington. one to Cincinnati,
ana the other to Cleveland on Lake Erie, not
only that easy and quick transit can be had for
passengers and freights, but il will settle at
once and forever, the question OF the perpetui-
~ OF the National Capital in its present ioca-
ton.
The route you propose for the line to Cincin-
matt is undou btedly the one TO be chosen, Iudg-
ing from the indications abroad. 1t Will, as
you say, cost comparatively little to construct
such a road. taking in the course, from a point
on the Loudon ard Hampshire road, Aldie
through the Gap. following Little river to the
plains in Fauquier county, on the Manassas
Gap road, and thence 10 Staunton, and con-
meet with the Chesapeake and Ohio road, Of
which 2i0 miles is now built with its weste rn
terminus, Cincinnati. With the inducements
Of triIling cost in this connection to Staunton,
interest Is v0n
that the majority of the capital can be used to
assist the Chesapeake and Ohio road (Which
needs it) 10 finish their line as projected, quiets
their apprehension as to a rival line, and vet
directs the trade eastward via Washington all
rail. rather than by Richmond, which 1t might
seek If connections were made near Gordons-
vile. In locating railway, it is very neces-
sary TO look TO its resources for freight patron
age. The Philadelphia and Reading road
probably carries more tons to market than pass
out Of the State of Illinois. Agricultural pa.
tonnage is limited, whilst mining resources are
nexhaustible. A single county underlaid with
mineral deposits may he make to afford more
ducts OF State
whist you exhibit in large figures the pro.
duee annually sent to market. ana the vaiu- of
live stock from the counties of Loudon, Fan
queir, Clarke. Jefferson, Berkeley, Page, Au.
gusta and others, approximatIng Ss,UOO,U00, it
would be but drop in comparison to the value
OF mineral beds, which now lie, ami have for
centuries been undisturbed. Virginia has more
uDdeyeloPed wealth in her bosom than the GAL
ifornias. What she needs Is outlets. She was
among the first of States TO urge onward the
car Of progress. She has everything which
bountlful nature could supply in the way of
SOIL climate. and mineral resources. Yet things
worked slowly, and she is innocently the vic
tim of precocious enterprise-but II is TO be
hoped a new era is dawnlng. What Virginia
lost IN the old system of turnpikes canals, &c.
is being gained now by new forces. Foot paths
must give way county roads, county roads to
turpplkes. turnpikes to canals, canals to rail-
roads.
need not say to you that such a road would
pay; any judiciously located, fairly patroniZed
ranrosd always does and always will pay a
fair interest on its real cost. Your people, if
inclined to take stock to such a road, need not
hesitate; the country must be developed-labor
given a remuneratve employment Your pro-
ducts taken to market. all that Is required is TO
get the road on a solid financial basis, and put
1t on the plan OF the greatest freight capacity
orening IL to the equal right OF all carriers de-
string TO transport over 1t, dividends will come
and rapidly, TO the proprietors.
II may be questioned by some, and am free
to confess :hat the subject is agitatIng Congress-
and the States especially, which will feel first
the results OF perhaps an limo vation, but Con-
ernnsnt, will exercise the right TO build roads,
IN any direction, through any part of the
CONAN under its jurisdiction.
Inc more railroads YOU nave the greater the
immigration. This secures wealth, fosters
enterprise, and de yelops what has lain dormant
for so many years; eschewing the distinct
party lines Of the present day, accept the broad
principles Of the Democracy of l790-uuive rsal
liberty free speech, free press: establish schools,
encourage domestic manufacture and advance
Internal Improvement.
Let material craftsmanship control her future
and Virginia Will come from the darkness
which now enshrouds her, as Of old, mighty IN
the councils, but mightier and more powerful
in the effort which elevates humanity.
am, with great respect, yours: &c.
WM. w. DUNCAN.