Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-07-05
Correspondence Of the Cleveland Plaindealer j
progress of the Chesapeake 4
So Ohio Railroad.
Col. II. d. Wn1rcoMB, CHIEF ENGINEER.

Col. H d. WnrrcoMB, CHIEF ENGINEER.
Huntington, ". Va, june %, 1872.
MEssRs. ED1roRs The event which has
been look forward to for SO long time with
such deep solicitude, because of the increas-
ing hourly assurance we have had therefrom
of the certain ultimate result-the compile.
ton Of the Chesapeake & Ohio railway
has become fixed fact. and the people Of
West Virginia are rejoicing that twenty ad-
ditional miles of railway, up the valley Of
the Kanawha, are in successful operation
The first regular trains from Huntington to
Kanawhs Falls commenced running between
those points on Monday week, and hence.
forth there will be two trains, daily, from
this city to Charleston, and one ninety miles
east from this city.
The present terminus Of the road is at
Kanawha Falls. q short distance below eau
Icy Bridge. to which point the trains will
be dispatched at very early day. thereby
lessening the stage ride to White Sui phur.
From Gauley Bridge to the Springs the dis
lance is little over sixty miles. The ride
is not fatiguing one, the traveller is ever
interested in the lovely and picturesque
scenery which encompasses him on every
side, making the journey, indeed, relief
after days confinement in a railway coach.
Over four thousand laborers are now en-
ployed by the Chesapeake & Ohio railway
Company. between Gauley Bridge and
White Sulphur, and in some instances,
where difficult rock work is encountered, a
relay Of hands keeps the work in progress,
day and night with view to the earliest
possible completion, and opening through,
Of the line from Huntington to Richmond.
if oeaseless labor and large expenditure OF
money can accomplish the desired result.
Tho passenger business, and the trans.
portation Of freight. Especially the former.
since the opening of the road to Kanawha
Falls. have thus far largely exceeded the
expectations Of the Company. And every
day seems to give evidence that the general
business will still be further augmented. -
The through passenger travel is becoming
quite q feature already-White Sulphur
Springs being the attraction. Local passen-
ger travel is large for so sparse settled
country. It is amazing how railway makes
people travel Whether it be business or
pleasure which has aroused them to such
unwonted activity I know not all I am au-
thorized to say is, that they have suddenly
become very active travellers /" & Hitherto,
along the upper end Of the Kanawha Valley,
there seemed not to be sufficient local loco
motion, either on foot, on horseback, or in
vehicles. to break the tomb-like stiffness that
pervaded all nature, and sometimes became
SO oppressive as to "make the senses ache"
except poW and then the famous "solita.
~ horseman,'' whose appearance, as he
came cantering along. would not only in.
terest and refresh everybody, but remind
the happy beholder that somebody else ''still
lived ="
1t would extend my letter beyond reason
able length, were to detail the history of
the early organization, subscriptions, sur
yeys, triumphs and defeats, successes, de.
lays, "hopes deferred" pecuniary embar-
easements, and numberless troubles which
attended and surrounded the incipient move
ments Of those public-spirited men who had
in charge, for many years. the various rail-
way interests now consolidated into the Or
ganization known rs the "CAesapeake d
Ohio Rai7vay Company" ! shall reserve
these, and kindred particulars. for future
correspondence, .s4est't IT.
There Is one conspicuous instance, how
ever. Of long and uninterrupted connection
with this railway that deserves special men
ton, because of the rarity of similar cases
in these fast. and, too often. unappreciative
times; times, "a we daily sea, when glitter
outshines gold, and blowing goes up the lad
der faster than merit; when the audaoity
of the novice attracts infinitely more than
those quiet and unobtrusive qualities that
ever denote genuine worth; an instance
where the merit Of stern fidelity to duty,
and talents equal to bis Office, haye made
the gentleman in question part and parcel,
as It were. Of the very work itself. allude
to Col. H. D. Whitoomb. the present Chief
engineer Of tho Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
Company.
Cpl WhitqeommRs connection With the rail
way interests Of Virginia ante.dates, proba.
bly,, that Of any other official now in service
in either the old or new State. If there be
an exception to this statement, am not ap
prised Of the fact. When quite young, be
entered the service Of the Virginia Central
Railway Company. Gin 1851, / believe, } as
Resident Engineer. With headquarters at
Richmond. Soon afEerward be became ri.
vision Engineer, and as the construction
and extension Of the road progressed, the
Company, in casting about for s.the right
man in the right place, to assume what, it
was then evident, would necessarily become
very arauous and responsible post, the
rank and duties Of Chief Engineer, unaui.
mously rendered that position to COL Whit
comb. At the very outset Of bis connection
with the Virginia Central road, his intelli
gence, activity, and untiring energy, at
9nee attracted the attention of the officials
Of the Company, soMe Of whom these with
whom be came most Immediately and con-
stantly In contact, and were the better ena.
bled to judge-soon detected in him many
evidences that he possessed those qualities
which in the professional character, always
denote promising and successful career,
thtaat big attainments would keep PAGE with
bis ambition. and they predicted that, soon.
or or later, he would take his place. in the
general estimation. among tbs most eminent
railway engineers in our country.
When it was determined to extend the
Virginia Central west from Staunton to
Covington, Col. Whitcomb, who had the
work in charge, gave it his constant person.
p supervision. He lived upon the line, as
il we're, and 20 task. however unusual and
onerops, failed to- receiye bis prompt at
teRtion, He made % exaetiops upon the
time and labor of others that be did not
make upon himself. He prosecuted that
portion Of the work with remarkable energy
end finished it to the perfect satisfaction of