The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-14
Correspondence fthe Richmond Dispatch. :
WEST VIRGINIA,
Opening OF the Western Division of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
The City Of Huntington.

| HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA,
December 4, 1871. I
1t gives me the greatest satisfaction
to announce the realization on yester
day of hopes long deferred, in the sue
cess'ul opening Of the Western
Division Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway.
A train Of cars, under the supervision
Of Captain Mallory, and in charge o.
Captain Dabney Williamson, conductor
va. dispatched to Charleston on the 81
instant, and to-day the first regular
train left that place at $50 A. NJ, and
arrived at the city Of Huntington abou,
o'clock, bringing quite a number Of
passengers.
The track being not as vel thorough.
ly ballasted, considerations of safety
instead of speed, controlled all in
authority, and | am happy to say "the
opening" was a complete success. This
initial trip was one Of great anxiety to
those in charge, whose attention and
watchtul care was well rewarded by a
general acknowledgment by all who
participat on the occasion OF the salts.
factory management of every depart
ment. The train returned to Charles
ton ct $50 P. NJ, and henceforth we
shall have daily communication with
the capital from this point.
Whilst this suspicious opening OF
the railway has been the occasion OF
such universal satisfaction to this sec,
ton of our State, We have not been
without cause OF rejoicing for recent
relief in other directions. In fact, the
opening Of the road found us in the
midst of a general jubilee and our
hearts filled with Thanksgiving that
our river Of troubles had passed For
three long and weary months our
agonies have been well nigh insupport,
able! The unprecedentedly low con-
dition Of the Ohio has hung like a
funeral pail over the impatient and
grooming people of the OHIO Valley.
Navigation has been almost totally
suspended, business of all kinds has
been clogged at every point, enterprise
thwarthed and overcome-altOge her
making the situation a most dlsheart-
ening one to those who have their
homes and pursue their avOcatons in
this hitherto favored section Of our
glorious republic"
The recent rise in the Ohio, however,
has lifted up every interest and set in
motion the wheels of hundred steam
ers that are now afioat and gladdening
the hearts OF the Observation-Disclosures
people OF Cincinnati, and in fact the
whole lower Ohio and Mississippi riv-
ers. Coal lows from above are pass
ing our city every hour of the day and
night, signalling to US that all danger
has passed, and we rejoice abundantly
thereat.
Hitherto the cities below us have de-
pended mainly for their coal supplies
from shipments at Pittsburgh and above
on the Monongahela. During a low
river that source of supply has been a
very uncertain one and often placed
Cincinnati, Louisville and other places
at the mercy of an INSCRIPTIONS gang
of coal dealers, who stand ready
at all times to conspire and raise the
price of coal suddenly to the most
exorbitant rates. The quantity of coal,
however, which the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway Company will atan early
day be able to deliver at this city and
ship daily down the river, will, for
tupately for the public, soon put al end
to conspiracies for high prices among
the coal operators who have 50 long
fattened upon ill-gotten profits realized
through nefarious ring combinations.
Our young city has suffered some
what for few weeks past from the
same cause that has afflicted our rivals,
Pittsburgh and CIncinnati-viz: a Tor
riyer. 1t has been difficult to procure
a sufficient quantity Of lumber to supply
the demand by builders; consequently
improvements have not progressed quite
so rapidly recently as during the earlier
mart OF the season. The rates Of freight
also upon the small crafts, which alone
could navigate the river, were more
than auadruple those at ordinary sea
sons. The cost of building material Is
a consideration in new cities, however
great and wonderful their growth, as
we'll as in old communities and finished
places. And yet, as an evidence OF our
progress, | must say that even with the
present somewhat diminished activity
in the erection of buildings Gas it APP
pears to us) the visitors from all parts
Of the country who are daily arriving
and crowding our thoroughtares haltln
amazement upon the avenues at the
poisy hustle, the activity, the energy
ard spirit OF enterprise that confron's
them on every side in the wlde-awake
prosperous and soon to be excelsior
city of West Virginia.
Altogether, however, We have made
most satisfactory progress during the
season, and the lookout" for the future
is OF the most gratifying and encour'
aoing character. The elements nave
been against us, but we have done well
neyert6e less. Before the first cam
paign" in Huntington closes, and WIN
ter shall have set in, we can count over
one hundred houses erected in our city
since the first OF July. Among these
we have two fine hoiels-one OF them
completed and in operation-the other,
q larger one, will be furnished ana
ready for guests by New Years. we
| Iry poo5s h0useS and DRUG