The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-03
..n.ake and Ohio Railroad.

..,, NO seen that bill was introduced
..,to the state Senate yesterday granting to
Tho chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Com
nany privileges for establishing railroad
lines or branches of their road for three dls-
tinct purposes, viz by way Of James river
from near Covington to or near Richmond !;
from some point on its road not west OF
Staunton to some point on the Potomac
above Washington; and one or more
branches from "points at or near the city
of Richmond to points upon the james
or York river, or upon the waters OF the
" Chesapeake Bay"
The bill authorizes the company 10 Se'ec'
its routes. We see no good ground o' oo-
lection to this bill. Touching the pranch
to Washington. we have to say that the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad company Is
entitled to all the pa>Scngers--nay, ana
freishts. that are destined tor washington
or anywhere else north of it, and which
the road brings from the West through the
Alleshanies IN Virginia to any point to
which it may build branch road. 1t
would be manifestly unjust that any Of the
roads which now tap it, or which may be
permitted to tap it, shall draw OIL from it
the business, or even q considerable part
Of that business, which its great enterprise
and heavy expenditures have enabled it to
bring through the grand Virginia noun
tain passes. We are clear for giving 1t the
right to build its own branch and carry its
own passengers to their northern destiny
and let the tappers "tap the hollow beech
tree"
Richmond cannot be hurt by this. Pas
seDgers for Washington and north OF it viii
never come by Richmond. Let the CheSa
peake and Ohio railroad provide for then
and secure its own business, 1t will only
strengthen the main line and increase it:
efficiency and its ability to assess low charge!
upon freight.
The proposed road down James river II
to enable the company to establish easy
grades on its entire line in order to be able Il
carry the heavy freights from the West Will
greatest ease and upon scale OF cconom!
superior to that on any of the great road
which unite the eastern CITIES with tn
West. Probably with the proposed exten
sion from, we suppose Clifton Forg'
to Richmond, there will be no grade com
ing east from the Ohio river to Richmond
that will exceed thirty feet to the mile.
The third proposition for continuation
of the line from Richmond to some poln
on James river, or York river, or on thu
Chesapeake bay, is also one to which WE
make no objection. When the road il
brought by the most favorable grades tc
this city, here it Will permanently end, I'M
less the company find that some other ter
minus is necessary for the purpose of quick
and easy shipment. When that is so we
can neither object nor complain. The com
pany will never incur the cost OF building
road to such new terminus if it is not IN
dispensable. If with the road brought to
this city we cannot accommodate it and
move with success and dispatch all Its
freights, then we could have no ground to
complain that additional facilities OF ship
ment were secured by the company.
All that we have right to demand Is that
we shall have equal chances with othel
commercial communities. We want direct
lines, and are more entitled to them thar
any other city in the State if one must bt
preferred over another. Give us these
direct lines, moved with greatest speed
and managed upon liberal terms. and VT
can neither ask nor hope for more. Ifwitl
these advantages the physical resources
and natural blessings of this locality canno
secure to us steady growth and great wealth
then we shall be greatly disappointed. W.
certainly can ask nothing more.