Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-10-29
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad.

Mr. Huntington, the President, and Mr.. A.
A. Lowe and Generals Wickham and Echols,
Directors, of this Company, accompanied by
Mr.. Storrs, the New York Counsel, and H. D.
Whitcomb, Chief Engineer, and A. H. Perry.
General Superintendent, arrived In our city on
Saturday. Messrs. Huntington, Lowe, Echols
and Storrs came directly through from Louis
vile, KY, having made a careful examination
of the line from that city, all Of which is now
controlled by, and in the interest of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad Company. Mr.. Whit
comb, the distinguished Chief Engineer, join
ed the party at Huntington, and accompanied
them over the line Of his road.
Our readers have been familiar for several
years with the name and character of MIR. Hunt
ington, who is undoubtedly one of the foremost
Railroad men of the age, and who, whilst he
has inscribed bis name high on the roll of dis
tinguished men, has rendered the most valua-
BILE services to his country.
Mr. Lowe is most accomplished and pub
lic-spirited gentleman, one ofthe most eminent
of the class of Merchant Princes Of whom
New York is so justly proud, and who have
made her one Of the most powerful cities of the
world He and his associates in business have
for years conducted the very largest China
trade, bringing them wealth and influence,
which have always been used SO as to elevate the
American name abroad and add to the devel-
opment of the resources of the country at home
We rejoice that such men are now connected
with our Railroad, and it is source Of great
pleasure to us to know, that, after the most
careful examination by them of the road, and
of the country through which it passes, they
have come back encouraged and elated at the
prospect of the great results to follow its early
completion.
Their line will, during the next year, extend
| from Louisville, at the falls OF the Ohio,
through the famed bluegrass section! and the
lucky, embraced in the celebrated Hanging
| Rock" region, to the coal field of the Kanawha
| Valley, the richest on the CONTINENT thence
to our iron ore beds of this region, and ION to
Richmond - in all distance Of 622 miles
| What they have seen has satisfied them that
this is to be one of the greatest freighting
roads of the continent. They saw, immediate
| ly on the line of the road, seams of coal Of the
various bituminous varieties, Of the celebrated
Splint coal, and of Camel coal, varying in
thickness from four "a to ten (l0) feet. They
saw too the immense iron ore deposits Of this
region, embracing the Block, the Fossil, the
| Hematite and Red Shae ores, and the mag
netic ores Of the section just East Of US.
These gentlemen were greatly astonished to
| be taken to solid vein of Hematite iron ore,
presenting d front thirty (30) feet deep, within
mile of their read, and to be assured that
this vein was easily traceabe for distance of
thirty 500 miles.
! The veins Of Fossil ores, eighteen inches
thick, which are situated within mile Or two
of the road, also indicate the great mineral
wealth Of the country. They know what is to
be the result, when their road shall bring this
coal and these iron ores together. Iron is now,
| and will continue to be, manufactured cheaper
here than anywhere else in the country. They
were loud, too in their praises of the magni-
Gcenee and beauty and variety Of the scenery
along the road.
The Canyon Of New River is described as be-
ing the most picturesque and beautiful ever
seen. We have ourselves the greatest curiosity
to see the beauties of the country through
which this road passes. and we predict that
sight-seers and tourists will be found soon
in great numbers going over the read to see for
themselves the magnificent scenery of the
| Greenbrier, New River and Kanawha.
We know now, and rejoice at it, that the men,
who have had the means, the nerve and public
spirit to build this great highway, will soon
reap rich reward therefrom.