Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-05-26
From the New York Bulletin.
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.

The opinion VIC have heretofore expressed
as to the future importance of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad, as a part of the
transportation system of the West, is fully
confirmed by the course of events Cincin
natl has become fully alive to the advantages
to be afforded by the new route for forward
ing its products to the seaboard, and already
three roads are projected to connect that city
with the railroad The Eapress remarkes:
Three railroads are projected to connect
Cincinnati with the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, which are contending for prece-
dence and completion. The Cincinnati and
Chesapeake railroad company propose to
carry their line up the Valley of the Ohio,
via Portmouth. to Symme's creek, nearly
opposite Guyandotte, about $50 miles
The Covington and Big. Sandy railroad COM
pany is like manner propose line on tae
south bank of the Ohio, via Maysville, dis
lance 1875 miles. Both roads have remark
ably easy grades, and but few important
bridges structures, The Hillboo's branch
railroad, for which 20 miles are in opera
ton, and 80 more graded, propose to ex-
tend their lines to Cincinnati and Dayton on
the one hand, and to Symme's creek on the
Ohio river, where it will unite with the
Chesapeake and Ohio trunk line by
bridge, the site of which is determined.
In addition to this, fourth line, the
Lexington and Big Sandy, is in process of
construction, and will be completed in about
eighteen months, which will connect with
the Chesapeake aud Ohio at the city of
Huntington. This line will have the very
important advantage of opening a short and
direct communication between the great to-
bacco-producing country of Kentucky and
the principal tobacco market, Richmond. 1t
will also connect the blue grass region of
Western Virginia, one of the finest wheat
growing countries in the world, with Rich
mond, which has a capacity for grinding
and putting up 1000 barrels OF -four per
day. These new lines have been projected
purely as the result Of the extention of the
Chesapeake and Ohio from White Sulphur
Springs to the Ohio river, and will cons'i
tute resource not contemplated when this
frightening Of the road was determined up
on. In addition to these new railroad
feeders, the completi n of the extension will
connect the road with 49,, 900 miles OF river
navigation at the city Of Huntingdon
source Of traffic the Importance Of which it
is not easy to over estimate. With these
comprehensive connections and light and
easy grades, in contrast to the steep inclines
of the Baltimore and Ohio, it is evident that
the Chesapeake and Ohio must become the
great route for the transportation of all
Western and Southwestern products which
naturally find their ocean outlet at the Chesa-
peake bay.
The response Of the West to the prospect
of this road connecting the Ohio with the
Atlantic, has induced the Chesapeake and
Ohio directors to put forth evey effort for
the early completion of the extension There
are now 5000 men at work on length of
200 miles of road which We presume is
specimen of activity in building unequalled
in the history of railroad construction in the
United States, and indicates the eagerness
of the managers to avail themselves Of the
advantages awaiting the completion Of the
road We learn that iron has been f"r-
warded to both ends Of the extension and
that track laying will be begun Immediately.
On some parts of the line, cutting ard
tunneling has to be done, and at those
points progress is limited by the possibili-
ties of engineering +; but there appears to
be no doubt that, in few months, this
great trunk connection between the West
and the Atlantic will be open through its
whole length.
The completion of this road may be ex-
pected to create quick development of the
coal and the iron resources of West Virgin
Ia 1t has long been known that the coal
deposite of that section were among the
largest in the world, being thrice the extent
of those OF England but so long as there
was no railroad to convey the coal cheaply
to market this immence source Of wealth re-
NAMED untouched. The same remark is
applicable to the iron deposits. We are not
surprised therefore to learn that practical
miners from Pennsylvania and Maryland
are making active inquiry respecting mineral
lands on the line of the road in anticipation
of its early completion. Great credit is due
to the capitalists conducting this enterprise,
for the energy with which they are pressing
the much needed work to a quick consum-
nation.
L