The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1872-07-27
Farmers and Miners, Railroad.

Allow me, through ycur columns, to say
few words to the voters OF this city and
township, about the subscription to the
Farmers and Miners Railroad, to be voted
on Tomorrow. a recent visit of several
weeks at Norfolk and Hampton Roads
Virginia, the ultimate outlet of the road
has been the means of opening to me
some views ofits importance with which
have been strongly impressed and to which
would like to ask the attention of your
readers
The immediate effect of the road ifbuilt,
will be to open to us the coal and mineral
regions OF South eastern Ohio. But this
advantage, great as it is, is 10y no means
all. 1T Huntington, on the Ohio river, is
the western terminus of the hesapeake
and Ohio Railroad with which the Far
mers and Miners Railroad will undoubt-
eJiy, connect. 1t is difficult to realize the
revolution in the transportation OF freight
which this great road (the Chesapeake and
Ohio road) now rapidly approaching COM
pletion will effect. The harbors OF Nor
tOik and Hampton roads, are, perhaps.
al thinSs considered, the best on the whole
Atlantic coast They have one advantage
over even New York harbor-(their only
rival in natural advantages THAT OF be-
ing constantly free from ice. They are
deep and connexions enough to float
I 81 H. III
g.ance a. the map will show, too that,
owing to their central position, the greater
part Of the United States. the States of the
great West especially are nearer to the
seaboard at Norfolk than they are to the
seaboard at y y. Nearly the whole State
Of Ohio. the States OF Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, and Nebraska, and all south Of them,
are nearer Norfolk than New York; but
ley have hitherto been in the habit Of
shipping their produce to New York, Phil
alelphia, or Baltimore, by reason Of the
railroad and canal facilities tor reaching
those ports but it only needs an adequate
system OF transportation by railway. canal
aud river, to Hampton roads, to enable the
farmers OF all these states to send their
produce TO tide water much more cheaply
than they can now do. Such a system
VIII he afforded 10y the James river and
aud kaunwAa canal, aud its connectiug
rivers and 10y the Chesapeake and Ohio.
Railroad. With water communication,
we have at present nothing to 10. Luta few
facts will show the advantage to be reaped
hy the railroad and the lines that connect
with 10.
The distance in an air line from Omaha
TO Norfolk is IS miles lcs. than from Oma.
ha TO New York; from Kansas City TO
Norfolk the distance j. 81 miles les. from
~ Louis to Norfolk, lO2 milcsl less. rom
Cairo To- Norfolk, 40 miles les than the
distance OF these places from New y ork. -
when the more direct lines and lower
grades on the Chesapeake and Ohio have
been taken into consideration, the differ.
ence is even greater in favor ct the Nor.
folk route. lt IS evident, that uron the
opening oi he Chesapeake AMI Ohio Rail.
I'A' large po~ii1u of the production OF
The great West, now seesing an outlet TO
We.seaboard through the circuitou- AMI
o'ercrowded New York routes, will seek
an outlet through the new line. Nor 8.
this ALL 4 vast amount Of tbc produce oil
the West now rcacho. the sea shore by
water by way Of the lakes and the New
York canals, route which, being very
c'rcu'tous, is INSTRUCTED by storms on :hC
lake aud for nearly half ofeach year closed
10y ice Wien the canal ard river COM
munca'ion through Virginia IT, open, II
wit furnish a Inc of water communicate
shorter aud Zee from lee nearly ail winter
aud o.NnHne the expense Of rausshiT.