The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-29
The Chesapssks & Chic Rilroad.

The recent convention, held at IrontoD,
Ohio, to consider the proposition Of connecting
Cincinnati with Richmond, Va, by means Of
railroad along the Ohio side OF the Ohio river to
Huntington. manifested an earnest disposition.
so far us words could indicate it, ia inaugnratc
the enterprise at once. Representatives from
Cincinnati. and the counties along the proposed
route. speak in nfident terms of tie aid that
would be furnished by their respective locall-
ties. The recent act OF the Virginia Legislature
authorizing the. city Of Richmond to subscribe
81. OO0. 900 to the completion OF the western
connections of the Chesapeake & Ohio road,
was the moving cause to this fresh interest
shown by the people OF Ohio, and the promises
made were doubtless based upon the expecta-
zion that the city Of Richmond would come
forward witt! her subscription to cooperate in
the work.
The construction OF some railroad from Hum
tnrton to connect somewhere with the net
work of roads penetrating the various sections
Of the west and southwest, cannot be invested
with too much Importance to Richmond, bit 1t
is not reasonable or just that Richmond should
contribute so di$proportonably to its secure
ment. when it is>consilered that the whole
region of Ohio through which the proposed
road would run, would be vastly more benefit
ted. in a general sense, than Richmond. There
should be an equalization OF the burdens IN
proportion to the benefits. and Il common Ell
fort made to consi;mmate this important Work.
Cincinnati is offered, by connection Wi*h the
Chcsapes lie and Ohio road at Huntington, the
shortest route to the seaLoard. She would be
accessible to the lion, coal and timber, exis~
ting in great abundance Oil the route OF TINS
road through West Virginia and Virginia, and
open by speedy communication, to the markets
Of the world. With these advantages surely to
accrue to the wealthy city OF Cincinnati, the
citizens there are as much. Interested, TO say
the least. in this proposed; connection, as the
CITY of Richmond, and should contribute as
Iiberallv. And so with toe thriving towns and
rich counties intervening between Cincinnati
aud Huntington. Let all interested, there
fore, unite in q determined effort to bring
about the early organization Of a company and
the construction Of the road.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Company have la
bored under vast difficulties since the war, but
would have been enabled to overcome all OF
them had it not been for the financial revulsion
that paralyzed industry and destroyed con-
fidence two years ago. All corporation
SECURITIES were harmfnly affected, and the
fearful reaction that followed, Implicated the
interests of this enterprise as well as those OF
greater professions. Its credit had been strain
ed and its surplus resources almost exhausted
in concentrating its completion to tie Ohio
river, and was dependent fer its Femuncratise
operation Oh the completion OF the lines reach
Ing to the network of roads. either in Kentucky
or Ohio, that interlace the west and northwest
AS the prospect OF this connection weakened o1
Immediate fultiilmelt, the credit Of the cofnpa
ny became impaired, confidence was withdrawn
and stagnation followed. Like all unfortu
mates, its enemies multiplied, and obstruction
were thrown in its way, until it is powerless t.
accomplish the great aim OF his construction
unless assisted literally by the sections ant
cities to be benefited by its operation, after thu
connections in the west have been compile
ted.
Geographically considered. it is the most eli
gible route Oh the continent for the ffltercoTi
munication OF the west, northwest, and Pacfi
slope with tine scaboard. In heatlful opera
ton, it will develop more real wealth than any
other great through line'no i'll existence. i
will bhill I'D towns. establish iron furnaces an(
encourage manufacturing enterprises by rea
son of all thc,natural elements that enter into
these industries, more extensively than has yet
been realized iii any portion Of the Union
There is not 4 town or county between Rich
mond and Cincinnati that wo;ilsl not be bene-
fitted by aiding in the completion Of the wan
ting link beyond the OF 10. The erection and
operation of the workshops at Staunton, would
dispense hundreds Of thousands OF dollars
among our people. which would in turn be diff
fused throughout the Valley. And so from one
end to the other, ofthc great work, the untold
wealth that lies dormant for want of proper
appliances to bring it forth, would spring into
active usefulness and spread it's. blessings uni
versally.
The history Of railroads in this country ex
emplities the sciishness of human nature. Be
fore they are constructed, when Tie coantr.
through which their routes may IL. are isolated
and inaccessible, lands unsaleable, unutilizet
wealth lying all around, there is manifested
the most earnest solicitude for their conStrnc
tion. Small subscriptions are made by coun
tics and towns. and then. by the astutest finan
ecring and the most active and incessant lator
IN eaas sufficient are negotiated by the compa
ny for the construction and operation of tn.
road. No sooner is this accomplished and be
fore the enterprise even begins to pay expen
ses, we generally find that the chronic gruln
blers commence their work of obstruction, dc
aouncing item. as heartless monopolies, ant
succeed in organizing formidable opposition
which finally manifests itself in peEaicious allt
adverse legislation. Look st the entire west
ern country, and what would it be had railroad.
never penetrated it? Look at the region O
country between Staullton and the Ohio river
and what would it be without :he wealth crea
ting agency of the Chesapeake and Ohio Bail
road? Millions and millions of wealth have
been brought into active usefulness, lands that
were not worth the taxes paid on them, have
suddenly sprung into colossal fortunes. and the
whole face of the country from fforsaken will
derncssto fields of industry enterprise and civil
xation. While this has been accomplished for the
people, where are the benefits to the railroad
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