The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-24
orr Western Connections.

Our Western Connections.
The Ironton (Ohio) Democrat OF the 2oth
September advocates very earnestly the
proposition to continue the Scioto railway
from Portsmouth uia Ironton to Hunting
ton, there to join the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway. We quote the following para
graph from what it says on the subject:
It must he obvious to everybody that our
CITY wants connection by rail with some or
the main lines OF road traversing the State.
| Her business interests require IT. Nor can
she ever meet in full the commercial de-
mands upon her without it. River navlga-
ton is easy and pleasant, and with hlsn
stage Of water the transit is quick and RAPID
enough, and would meet all the demands
of trade upon us. But the river Is not 10 DC
| relied upon. During few months IN sum-
mer the water is so low that boats OF the
larger class are laid aside and the smaller
crafts alone can he used in the transport
alton of freight and passengers. In WIN
ter. IL the weather Is any way severe, there
are times when, for weeks, by reason OF the
ice. no boats can navigate the river; and we
are left without any but the ordinary ira.
yelled roads to do the import and export
tra1fn Of the CITY. Under these circumstances
any plan by which the construction OF
railroad can be effected should be encour-
aged by our citizens. Within a few weeks
Portsmouth will BE put in direct colnmunl-
cation by rail with the capital OF the otate.
The completion of the Scioto Valley railroad
to that city will form a new era i'll lis MS
tory. and, being its southern terminus, Will,
we have no doubt, add largely to It's CONNER
cial importance. Mr.. Chapman, the contrac-
| - n,ofa n,
we see it stated that he has already been
prospecting up the river in view OF extend
ing the valley road from Portsmouth to
Huntington, the present western terminus
of the Chesapeake and Ohio road. In fact,
the Richmond (Virginia) papers have com
mented fayorably upon this enterprise,
inosmuch as it will complete link now
wanted to pit that city in connection WITH
the lakes OF the Northwest. lnasmuch
MS it is now reduced to certainty that
this road will be constructed 1T an.
early day, ought not the business
men of Ironton give it attention, As the
route ria this city is materially connected
with their commercial interest. Ii the road
is DETECTED from us by crossing at Ports.
mouth and passing up on the other SIDE OF
the river, perhaps going inland lew miles,
its construction will be positive injury 10
the CITY, which will be felt in all its business
departments. We see from the Richmond
Dispatch OF last week that Mr.. Chapman
says she will not stop until the connection
is made with Huntingdon This dcclara-
ton, coming from gentleman who has
given ample evidence in the building
OF the Scioto railway that his assurances
arc something and can be relied upon,
shouId excite our citizens to some ac-
ton in the premises, in order to secure to
the city the benefits to be derived from this
public Improvement. We are assured, from
parties who know Mr.. Chapman, that what
he undertakes he generally accompllShes.
That Huntington and Portsmouth will be
tied ogether at an early day in iron bands
we do not doubt, and that the business. IN
terests Of Ironton would be promoted by
being made a point on the line is equally
conclusive to our mind. 1t is OF the highest
importance to the city and the citizens OF
Ironton that they should take some steps
towards securing this great public thor
oughiare, for such it will be when COM
pleted.
What is said in this extract concerning
the troubles Of the Ohio river navigation
interests us, for it reminds US OF the enl-
barrassments OF our present route to the
Ohio. If the Chesapeake and Ohio railway
had continuous railway communication with
the West and Northwest the amount Oh the
transportation thrown upon it would be
such as to bring it up in prosperity until 1t
would stand forth as one of the first rail-
ways in the land.
In regard to the immediate question OF
connection by way OF the north side
OF the Ohio river with the Northwest
and West, we desire to call the atten-
ton OF our citizens to this point: 1t is
not under the impression that we are
not to have other connecting lines beyond
Huntingdon that this line by Portsmouth is
considered, but that its completion will
hasten two or three others. Lexington and
Louisville will 60 at once to work to COM
pletc their road by Mount Sterling and Big
Sandy to join the Chesapeake and Ohio;
and Cincinnati will Immediately build one,
and perhaps two roads, that will have the
same connection. One road from Cincin-
natl to Portsmouth will be surely made at
an early day, and another, on the south side
OF the river uia Maysyille to the Big Sandy,
will be built. We indulge no extravagant
expectations. They are altogether practi-
cal, and rest upon the best foundations.
In what we said the other day about the
connections the Scioto Valley road would
give us with the lake cities we could not be
so far misunderstood as to lead the reader
to suppose that we only looked to that road
as opening to us that communication with
the lakes. We distinctly stated that the
Scioto road connected with roads communi-
eating with Chicago and Cincinnati and the
whole West north Of the Ohio river. Never
theless we look upon the connection that it
will give us with the lake cities as most i'm
portant. This will inaugurate trade be-
tween the lakes and the South Atlantic
through Richmond that must at all seasons
be considerable. But it is when the ice en-
barge is established that we look for
the chief volume that will be driven
by the Chesapeake and Ohio line for
want of an outlet. 1t is the water
communication with the East that concen-
trates the immense grain trade upon Chi
cago and other lake cities. When the water
is CONCEALED the produce there so accumu-
lates that there is constant apprehension
OF disastrous losses from excessive storage.
The Kanawha route would be new and
valuable means OF relief for the pressure OF
nroduce unon the lake cities during the