Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-03-18

has no commercial interest 10 repre-
sent that is not altogether harmonl'
GU, with the best interests OF Rich'
mond. In this communication he
presents to us views and facts Of the
deepest interest to us. We commend
his letter to our readers:
An Outlet OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad
HUNTINGTON, March s, 1873.
Editor Dispatch,-Are you, great
as has been your interest in the Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railroad. aware how
little time and money, relative to the
past ex oense, is necessary to insure
a rail connection West?
1t is not necessary to spend the
large sums required to complete the
Lexington and Big Sandy or oymmes
Greek roads. But if YOU Will exam
inc the map for one moment 1t must
appear to you that the short link be-
tween Huntington and Portsmouth
is the true way "out of the wilder
ness"
Ii was announced to an enthusias-
tic meeting in Portsmouth last week
that the conditions to the proposed
loan to the Michigan and Ohio Rail
roads were complied with A SINH
lar movement now being vigorously
pressed, promises road very soon be-
tween Portsmouth and Cincinnati.
There are only fifty miles between
Portsmouth and Huntington, and
hoping that information in regard TO
this may interest YOU, l offer few
facts.
DISTANCES.
The actual distance from q point
opposite Huntington tc Portsmouth
is forty six miles. but the line cuts
the Portsmouth branch of the Mari
eta and Cincinnati railroad at SciOto-
vile 6 miles above Portsmouth, leav-
ing only forty miles Of actual con
sanction The Ohio river can be
Gro ssed q: Huntington by tow and flats
the same arrangement for many years
used at Parkersburg. The OHIO Rir-
er neger freezes at this Poin'.
CHARACTER AND COST.
The survey runs directly along the
river. and fully two thirds of the
road would be simple turnplking'
In order TO save expenses ami time
considerable amount of low trestllng
would be required at first across the
small streams. There are 10 large
streams. nor tunnels, nor deep cuts,
nor fills. The right Of way has been
mostly secured. and the remainder
can Ire readily arranged The maxi
mum grade would be ten or fifteen
feet to the mile, and the curvature
very geutle. The road can DC made
/ in four months.
THE LOCAL BUSINESS.
I doubt if there Is in America such
unoccnpied railroad territory as this
/ |; traver,es the most productive fur
mace region West of PittSburg, and
. is never out of sight OF town. Por;s
mouth and lrun,on have IN aggre
cate assessment of ten millions, and
are in the strictes: sense manutactu-
ring ceuters. The Iron railroad will
/ bring in 10 ironton the product OF
a large number Of furnaces, and
"The Etna Works" the largest fur
mace on the continent will open blast
this season. The iron furnaces along
or near the road have a daily prod
uctiou of several hundred tens, aud
there are FIVE or six large rolling and
nail mills on or near the route The
bottom lands are broad and fertile,
and the population is wealthy and
, such as would travel Il great deal.
The demand for our Allegheny
ores in this region would soon assum-
immense proportions.
\ lust arrangement can be effect
cd for a temporary use of part Of the
Portsmouth branch, and for Cincin-
natl and Chicago business via the
Marietta and Cincinnati road.
ITS IMPORT. ANCE.
Twill not dwell upon the impor>
lance of project 'cithu our reach,
erc,, at the present tine, that would
double the revenues Of the CheS. ~
Ohio Railroads; would, rs supple
ment IL the river connection give 1t
continuous line of trade and travel;
would carry crowds to our watering
places. and give absolute control Of
the trade between the West and the
south Atlantic States, make great
prominence in the competition for
the New York, New England, and
European trades 10 that line. But,
while the great projects are fora time
in allowance, wouli it not he well to
stop and consider a suggestion that is
true that with less money than was
spou' on three miles OF the Chesa
peake ana Ohio railroad. or in the
Church-Hiil tunnel alone, Richmond
aad TIE GreGt HtSt can be connected?
What DO YOU say to an effort to get
up through trains, without change OF
cars, from Chicago. -. Louis, Gin
,qnnati, Louisville, and Memphis to
Richmond via the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad for July +, 1915?
II G. p.