The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-20
G,he sciota Valley Railroad.

We have kept our readers fully posted rs
to therprogress of the sclota saiie! iai'-
road. which is to strike the ONO river al
Portsmouth, about forty miles below Hunt
inston. Recently there has been some
doubt as to the continuous prosecution OF
the work. But this doubt seems to have
been removed. The Portsmouth Tribune
OF April 18th contains an announcements
that the suspense is over; that the ocio''
Valley railroad is to be completed TO forts-
mouth that the cars are positively 10 DC III
Portsmouth by October LIST, but II possio'e
nv .nly LIST. Mr.. GEORGE d. CHAPMAN, tue
energetic contractor of the railroad, IN =
public meeting Of the citizens OF ioi.>-
mouth, expressed his qualification at TIE
result of the committees canVasslns. IL
hold the subscriptions good, he would coui-
,ocpce work on Tuesday afternoon at :
O'Clock on the City Hospital grounds, teet
inc confident that the amount yet necessary
would be promptly raised. With nm COM
,nencinc the road meant finishing II. lie
had built the first fifty miles of the ROAD,
and iouud il work we'll for all parties On
Tuesday, 10th instant, from two to three
thousand people were assembled on the
PREMISES. in rear Of the City Hospital, Ports
mouth, 10 witness the formal cerefnon! OF
breaking ground for the railroad. \ num-
Der OF old citizens, being called upon, then
each threw a shoyclful OF dirt.
traveller cannot fail to observe how far
both Portsmouth and Maysville-two OF the
oldest cities OF the West, situated, too, IN
the most favored portions OF their respective
States. Ohio and Kentucky, and resting
upon the advantages Of the navigation OF
the Ohio-have been left in the rear Of other
cities long since founded. The people OF
Portsmouth seem TO be awakening to due
sense OF this fact. The Tribune says:
ITO. day we are fifty years behind the
thrift and public spirit OF the northern ana
central part of the State. Towns that started
in the race long after Portsmouth was an
old place. by the advantages OF railroads,
have far outstripped her, and left us doing
and gazing like lot of mud-turtles on a
sand-bar. But there is a better day not lar
distant. With the certainty OF the early
completion OF the Sciota Valley railroad,
and other. important railroad connections
THAT are sure 10 follow. business will revive
and the growth and permanent prosperity
OF the city will be secured
All very good. 1t insures Ialuabic--ln
the opinion OF some OF our most cnhght'
ene6 and sasaciouS citizens Shc most Talu'
able-continuation of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad to the West and Northwest.
The public-spirited citizens Of that highly
prosperous iron city, Ironton, will not
suffer the short intervening link between
Huntington and Portsmouth to remain I'M
finished. In fact they have promised that
as soon as there is positive assurance thai
the Sciota Valley railroad is to be completed
to Portsmouth this short and inexpensive
line, running down on the north bank o.
the river and passing through their city, shall
be put under contract and eXpeditously
completed. And then, in the language o.
former editorial OF ours, we shall see what
we shall see. The people OF Richmond vii
have the railroad, and can make what they
choose of it. This movement is most auspi
cious. It fortunately precedes the coming
Of the delegation OF leading businessmen
OF the great cities OF the West who are tc
meet in Cincinnati and come by way OF tho
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad to Richmond
Norfolk, and the York river. There is much
to be seen on the line Of the railroad itself and
in the safe barbors Of our Virginia waters
and when these gentlemen have seen fol
themselves they will begin to appreciate the
advantages OF this line for travel and
freights, and will be stimulated to the early
completion OF all necessary railroad connec-
tions.
The western trade is already weaving for
itself broad and expeditions route over
the Chesapeake aud Ohio railroad The pa
pers along the Ohio give reports of increas
ing large shipments of corn, -four, tobacco
&C., for the railroad. The daily increasing
receipts at the James River wharves by ant
for the railroad must convince the mos
casual observer that we are on the TIRES
hold at least of new and largely increasin:
business. The completion OF the Sciot;
Valley railroad will be an assurance that th'
start which has begun will not be checked
and guarantee that the Improvement vii
be permanent.
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Ran. fuckers Interview.
The Winchester Times says OF the report