Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-05-27
htsptCIIuIIy yUuIs,
w. ii. LANGLEY.
PoRrsMourH, ONO, MAY 2lst, 1876

IORIbMOUIh3 OhiOs way SASeJ AO'o'
DEAR JoURNAL:-You probably no
ticed In the papers of this city last week
an item regarding the arrival here, by
special train, of the Vice-President, and
other officials of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and their immediate departure
Tor Huntington, West Va. There Is
more in this than you think. In a con-
yersation with gentleman, who Is weii
informed and connected with one OF the
two interested corporations, l am able
To approximato pretty CLOSELY as 10 the
object of the visit of these officials 10
Huntington.
The b. &c o. Directors are willing to
concede certain privileges and ri ghts,
for amere nominal sum over their lines
from here and SciotOville to Cincinnati,
provided the Chesapeake & Ohio II. r.
Company will build road from Hum
tington to SciotOville, utilizing the ST.
600, 900, offered by the city of Richmond,
made for the purpose OF securing an
outlet to the great Northwest. The
plan Is to run the road down the south
bank of the river TO Ashland, KY;
there cross the river and follow the Ohio
side to Sciotoville; thus taking In all the
towns on both sides of the Ohio river
from Huntington, West Va. TO Ports
mouth. Another object of this move Oh
the part of the b. Il o. Company Is to
kill Of the project of n proposed line to
Cincinnati, following the bank of the
Ohio river the entire distance. The dis
tance from Portsmouth to Cincinnati,
pia Hamden, is only fourteen miles great
er than the route would be In following
the bank of the Ohio river, q mere trlfie,
and practically no difference in the rum
ming time.
The same gentleman Informed me
that the 81 600, 900 offered by the city of
Richmond would build road from
Scarry creek, West Va, to Gallipolis,
including the cost of bridge across
the Ohio river at GallipOlls Island; that
q bridge could be built ut that point, at
the present cost Of iron and masonry,
for about $500, ,000--and mt less cost than
at any other point on the river. But
what IL the use of their going to CALI
polls? Here they have an outlet al
ready provided, to the West and North
west. At your place they have none
and very little prospect of any. The
difference In distance between Gallipo-
lis and Cincinnati and to Columbus and
the Northwest via Logan, Is much less
than from here. TO the Chesapeake
q Ohio road 1t would save fully fifty, II
not sixty miles.
When they are opposite Gallip0lis
they are nearer the b. Il d. Trunk lines
than they are 10 Sciotoville or Ports
mouth at Huntington. In addition to
that, the cost Of building a road from
Huntington to this city, including the,
cost of bridge across the Ohio at Ash
land, KY, would be at least half mil
lion dollars greater than the cost of a
road from Scarry creek to Gallipolis.
The people of Gallia county can get
this connection If they manifest one
half the public spirit and energy that
the people of this city, and of the towns
above here do. If you miss this golden
opportunity, you will regret it forever.
Assure the Chesapeake & Ohio Com
pany and the city of Richmond that
you will i'm certain time, guarantee
that the gap between Gallipolis and Lo-
gan shall be closed and you kill the
project for road from Huntington to
this place, or, at least make it of second
ary Importance. VIII youd0 it, or, as
heretofore, squat down Atnd, waiting for
some one elsdkbo come in to do the work
for you, fritter away the best opportuni-
ty you ever had to insure the future
growth, prosperity and grandeur of
your beautiful and healthy city? The
farmers of Gallia county are as much,
nay! even more, to be benefited by this
connection than the citizens of CALI
polls and other towns along the proposed
route. With healthy good will and a
strong pull together, the cars could be
running from Columbus and Cincinnati,
via GallipOlis to Richmond and Norfolk,
Va, by the first day of July, 1876.
VIII you do it? Stop not to question or
argue details, but build the road and
then sit down-and talk, and argue and
talk how much better it might have been
done. Such talk sounds better, in a
case of this kind, after the work is COM
pleted and the locomotive drawing a
train of ears 20 miles per hour over the
iron track.
The SciotO Valley R. r., to follow the
Scioto Valley from here to Columbus,
can be set down asa fixed fact; another
for the extension of the c.
& o. X. r. from Huntington to this
city if you fail to close the gap between
your city and Logan.
Crops hereabouts not OF the most flat |
tering character. Potato bugs in great
are putting in an appearance. |
Rain needed badly. Fruit will be
scarce.
Vonro