The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-11
o,,~ Western Connections.

,r,>,y ..JUNE il. 1850.
onr Western Connections.
worry remarkable event has happened.
Ills significant event-not one 70 oe Nus
t,.en nor to be disparaged. We kno" tna'
there are those who would make ''su' "
because they fear It; yet il Is an event noso
no made light of, because It runs in the hne
~ practical wisdom and of natural peiioso'
nbv. That event is the appearance IN tn's
CITY of delegation from the grand s's'e %
Ohio-a rib cut from the side OF 'h~n'-
hone Of her bone and flesh OF her hesn-a
delegation OF in,elli gent gen,lemen-sons OF
rho dauohter Of yirginia-who came TO see
how 4 was possible to unite the fates OF the
,ro,nar and the daughter by completing the
WAYS Of transportation and intefcommun'-
cation between them.
This Il the first delegation from Ohio With
such purpose that ever appeared IN fir'
p;pia. II Is significant event. 1t was baiieo
with pleasure by the people OF Richmond
and those who spoke for them regarded II
in the proper light. Years ago there came
from Ohio able men to discuss before the
highest court Of the State the matter OF the
boundary line which separated Virginia from
her fair daughter Ohio.
The late JOHN NJ. PATroN-that bright son
Of Vtrginia-represen,ed the Old DOMINION
and the Hon. Mr. VINToN, for some years an
able and prominent member of Congress,
represened the Safe of Oaio. The argu-
ment led by these gentlemen was one OF the
abiest in the annals Of the great contests be-
fore the Court of Appeals. Mr.. PATTON, in
the warmth of his native feeling, wound up
an impassioned sentence with the quotation: :
"How sharper than a serpcnt's tooth IL Is
Iohave thankles child"
Now comes committee TO confer With US
not concerning the Iine of separation between
the States of Virginia and Ohio, but upon
the question of how we may best mite the
people of the two States in amity and COM
merce. What a contrast; and how very
agreeable TO all concerned. The event Is,
therefore, as remarkable as it is satisfactory.
For half century we have been trying to
establish a facilitated line of communication
between us. We have by great labor and
expenditure surmounted all obstacles, and
have reached the shores of the Ohio river
with our improvement. There we STAND
begging our western friends 10 come" and
thew respond also, come" And now they
send deputslion 10 see if we cannot meet.
They bring no specific propositions, and we
have no authority TO make any; but there
was q mutual feeling Of friendship incul.
Gated, and the immense advantage Of putting
the two States in intimate communication
was made more clear and desirable by the
meeting Than ever.
This committee came from Ironton and
Portsmouth, both towns on the Ohio river.
At the head of the delegation stood Judge
W. w. JOHNSON, for many years judge OF
the Circuit Court OF his district, SOLID,
clear.headed gentleman, who spoke facts,
and had great aversion to speculation. He
lives In Ironton, a town wholly Of lnanu'ac-
turers and operatives. lie was neither en-
thusiastic nor fancitul, but presented the
importapce of railway connection between
Richmond and the cities of the Ohio in plain
and direct language.
Second on the list of delegates was the ven.
ersble JOHN CAMPBELL also OF lrontoD, man
of practical er ergy. ur fl ioging perseverance,
and decided forecast. He has had good fer
tune and increase. There is an amiable and
good humored sunshine in his face; but
mainly it is as stern and soilly practical as
his mills and rollers, and looking at him Grill
cally we fancy we hear the click and
clapgor of hammers, and rollers, and
wheels in the distance. He is a
great manufacturer, aad sees ahead the wor-
derful stimulus that Will be given to the
Ohio river manufacturing communities by
railroad connection between Ohio river per .
ple and tide water Virginia. lie was edu-
Gated 10 the school Of adversely, and became
disciplined in that constant devotion to his
enterprises which has anna sed wealth for
himself, and permits bim now to appropriate
little time to recreation and rest. Like the
stern deyotee to business, his motto is blu
sness first and pleasure afterwards" But
his business being hardly ever susceptible, as
he thinks, Of the slightest neglect by him.
self, the tine for pleasure never comes.
These two strong men we're tI.!orceG BY
other intelligent men flssm 1ronton prd
Portsmeuth-tia examples of the flourish.
ing communities on The Ohio river, where
nature bias combued the sources of Thrift
with such lavish hand that sator never fails
of its reward, ami plenty and contentment
bless the land.
This delegation, coming with such objects,
we are sure gathered fresh bepe and added
proofs Of the value Of the Railway connec-
tions with the Virginia tidewaier which
they seek. The Intercourse between our
people and these delegates was gratifying to
us as we'll as to them. We are ak ore than
ever impressed with the grandaar of the
route which dies along tae mean lice Of the
Ohio Valley and the lksaawha anS James
rivers. That iiae is moL favorable to hui
man labor and ,l9mtn me1tai force 6. is the
line below obstructive frostS and aboGe that
OF malaria. 1t atTor ds more of comfort and
sustenance to uninsl lite thar any other. Il
is the line most favorable 10 ,csacentratisn of
trade aud also 10 It's distributes. If 1t sa,all
not be crowded witk the mast facilitated
arteries OF transportation it wiz be Because
the people who live upon it lack 1he wisdoa,
and energy to ms&e it properly available.
m nh tpr II