The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-11
8itlrnmnd 1ispattI1.
sg- THE CIRCULATION OF THE DIS
PATCH rs LARGER THAN THE COMBINED
CIRCULATION OF ALL THE OTHER DAILY
NEWSPAPERS OF THE CITY.
The Western Connections OF the Chesa-
pcaike and Ohio Railroasi-An Inter.
esting Letter from Huntington.

The Western Connections OF the Chesa-
pcalxe and Ohio Railroass-An Inter
esting Letter from Huntington.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, w. Va, March 3, 1873.
The Engineer Corps Of the Southern Ohio
railroad completed the survey from Dayton,
ohlo, to GAis point on Saturday last The
Charter under which this survey was made
contempiates an extension Of the Chesapeake
ana Ohio railroad from Huntington rta
Portsmouth, HIlsboro', and Wilmington. to
Dayton, distance OF one hundred and fifty-
live miles; with an alternate coal and iron
read uia Symmes Creek Valley, jackson,
and Piketon, 70 Hillsboro'. The line by
way OF Portsmouth forty.six miles below
Huntington, on the Ohio river is reported to
be OF very light cost and favorable character
throughout, and has the advantage of afford
tug torty-slX miles Of common line for the
Dayton and Cincinnati connections, should
the line to the latter city be buit down The
Ohio Valley. The latter is probably an ur-
gent necessity on the part of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Company. No grade OF over fifteen
feet to the mile is encountered from Hun
tington to Cincinnati, a distance of one hun
dred and fifty-one miles, and thesubscription
of one and quarter million dollars BY Cincin-
natl, aided by the subscriptions in Clermont,
Brown, Adams, Sciota, and Lawrence coun-
ties, will 60 very far towards ,defraying cost
Of construction. The coal trade over this
line from the Knnawha fields to Cincinnati
for home consumption and distribution
must necessarily he immense, as well as the
freight and passenger travel eastward.
Already the present freight from Cincinnati
eastward, over the Chesapeake and Ohio
line, crippled in transit by the uncertain
river navigation and the unfinished co;ldi-
lion of the Chesapeake and Ohio road, foots
up twenty cars Per day. The northwest
connection to Dayton is of still more value,
lraverSing, as it does, the richest section of
southern Ohio, and necessarily affordiug an
immense local traffic eastward. at Dayton
direct connection is made to Chicago uia
the "Dayton and Union" and the "Colum-
Dus, Chicago, and Indiana Central rairoad."
giving line of two hundred and seventy
miles length through an extremely produc-
i've and thickly settled region. At Chicago
The northwest system Of railroads is fairly
tapped, including the uncompletcd Northern
Pacific. The line from Chicago uia Dayton,
l1llSb0ro', and Portsmouth, to Huntington
is fOrty-two miles shorter than q line passing
| through Cincinnati to Daytop and Chicago,
md affords the latter city the shortest and
lowest grade outlet possible to the eastern
Seaboard. 1t has been proposed to build IN
independent line from Dayton to Chicago,
shortening thedistance over the existing lines
some twenty miles, and large subscriptions
| irc being made upon this route as induce
nents to the Chesapeake and Ohio Company
| for its construction. The tonnage from the
Northwest to the East over this extension
must he enormous. The distance from
| Richmond to Chicago (by existing lines be.
| tween Dayton and Chicago will be eight
hundred and thirty miles, equal to about
twenty-three hours for through passenger
trains. From Richmond ria Huntington
lud Portsmouth 10 Cincinnati, the route of
| i've hundred and seventy.three miles can
| hardly exceed sixteen hours in time. Upon
| he proposed Ohio extensions 10 Cincinnati
md Dayton ria Portsmouth total Of two
hundred and '1i(ty-nine miles of road, it is
'eported the local subscriptions foot up
nearly three million dollars, which affords
| conclusive evidence of the great Importance
lttaced by the people of Ohio to the Chesa-
pcake and Ohio railroad as their eastern out
let, and renders the first cost of construc-
ion to that company but slight burden
comparatively. The Ohio lines neccsi,atc
, bridge across the Ohio river at
Huntington, which is the only serious
obstacle of delay anticipated in con-
struction. . 1t is understood that the
line from Huntington to Cincinnati can
be easily graded within nine months after
commencement, and the northwestern route
20 Dayton be us readily completed within n
years time, both liues being Of very light
cost. With the completion Of the Ohio roads,
and rrof the Elizabethtown, Big Sandy and
Lexington road to Lexington and Loiis
vile, KY, all of which two years time should
bring about, the tratfic and travel over the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad will neceS-
sarlly he very great. 1t will probably re-
auire two tracks to transact the business Of
CGe road, even at so early date, should
these connections he perfected. The dis
tance from Richmond Uia Huntington, Lex.
ington and Louisville, to st. Louis, after the
.omplction Of the "Dig Sandy railroad,
will lie about 935 miles only, and equal to
some twenty.siX hours of time. BY way OF
the River line from Huntington to Cincill-
natl and rt0 the Ohio and Mississippi rail-
road the distance to st. Louis will be some
twenty miles shorter from Richmond.
Tue latter city, as well rs all other eastern
Land western :points touched, should feel
| greatly Interested in the early completion Of
l,thc proposed western and northwestern con-
INJECTIONS Of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
broad, and the profits to the latter company,
as well rs the benefits to the regions tra-
versed. which will follow the successful pro-
secution Of these enterprises, cannot lie over.
estimated. OHIO.