The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-19
Orr Western lconnections.


our citizens, and discussed fully the SUD-
icct OF establishing through railway con-
nection between the State Of ONO ana 'no
city Of Richmond. -se-.-.r'
AFR. PEBBLES corroborated the statement
already made in this paper that the seloto
Valley railway will be openeo 10
mouth. Ohio, on the 1st day OF octooei. ~
10 ,mnortant that those who take any inter
est in this subject shall inform themselves
mon the geography of this line ana It's eo''-
.,a,,;no rou,es. The Scioto Valley is per-
rend;cular. from north to soutf1-silsht'y
west OF north. 1t is, perhaps, the rlcnes'
valley in Ohio. Upon the scioto river s.a''us
Columbus, the seat Of government OF 'he
State. The railway which is about TO De open
ed Is from Columbus to Portsmouth, on Tue
Ohio river, the distance between the to"hs
being ninety miles. At Columbus the ec'o'o
road connects with roads from Cleveiano'
Sandusky, and Toledo, on Lake Erle' INC
distance from Portsmouth uia Columbus 10
those cities being about 200 miles each 70
Toledo and Cleveland, and 100 to sandusky.
These are the principal towns on the lake
shore. Between Portsmouth and Columbus
are Circleville and Chilicothe-conslderao'e
towns. At Crclcville, seventy miles iloin
Portsmouth, the Scioto road intersects the
direct line to Chicago. Indeed, the sc'oto
road, piercing the richest part OF ohlo' mus
itself at almost every ten miles IN contacI
with roads draining the richcstterrltory ai-
most in the Northwest.
Now, then, this Scioto Valley railway Is 10
he completed and opened and the event cete-
brated on the 1st day OF October next az
Portsmouth, Ohio. Portsmouth is thirty"
c;oht miles from Huntington, the present
western terminus of the Chesapeake ana
Ohio railway. If we suppose that thls
tb;rtv-ejoht miles is bridged by railway
what do we behold? Richmond in commu-
nication with the Northwest and the lakes
nv WAYS direct and expeditions; Richmond
possessed of the ways OF communication
unsurpassed by any, that give her all equal
chance with any others for the trade that IS
UNSURPASSED for its richness, ana extend
Ing over IL Couuts 10
pansivenesS as for its wealth.
Think of such.a thing il you can, aud
take into your mind the suggestions that
naturally grow out OF the facts. Have we
not for half century been struggling, and
hoping, and disbursing money by millions
to accomplish the very object which the
facts now stated show to be at the very door
OF consummation
Yes, we are within forty miles OF acqull-
ING q thrifty intercourse, and commerce
as rich as any we are likely ever TO
have. And how long shall we stand
with this gap misunderstanding, and
looking, and hoping? That depends in a
degree, at least, upon our own exertion.
Certainly something should be expected
from city so deeply interested as is Rich
mond to effect through connection such
as this. Well, then, aohat 1ronld Richmond
think of such a through connection 6y
Christmas We are informed that the en-
terprising builder Of the road from Column
bus to Portsmouth proposes to hnlsh the
road from Portsmouth to Huntington by
the oath of December. Such an achieve
ment would be invaluable to Richmond. 1t
is a matter for investigation, and one that
demands present consideration.
The proposed line for the connection is
from Portsmouth up the Ohio river to Iron
ton, q town of considerable manufacturing
enterprise; there by bridge across the Ohio
to Ashland, another town OF great enter
prise and bright promise; thence by Cat
lettsburg, at the mouth CT Big Sandy, on
the Virginia and Kentucky line, to Hunt
ington, and there by Christmas! 1t Is real
~ very charming to think OF
This connection opens to Us the whole
Northwest. But the interesting point IN 1t
is that it must be the prelude to other con-
nections. 1t is certain that the establish
ment of our through connections with the
Northwest will compel the early compile
ton of the through connection with the
Kentucky cities of Lexington and Louis
vile, and with the great city OF st. Louis,
which is the centralizing point OF the COM
merce OF the great plains-the point OF
affluence and OF effiuence with which 1t
will be fortunate for any city that it shall
have an intercourse of any considerable
rank.
We invite the attention of our merchants
and businessmen to these interesting facts.
Let us not forget that the great object with
our northwestern fellow-citiZens is to have
rapid and facilitated communication with
the Atlantic coast by way of the more mode
rate lines of temperature. They want their
transportation to descend by graded line to
the point OF exit to the ocean, where it is not
embarrassed by frost, nor subject to the dis
advantages OF Observation-Disclosures. This
point is the golden gats.from the Chesapeake
to the Atlantic. This hfle strikes Richmond
where the freight for export earliest
meets the sea-soing ships, and where
transhipment may be successfully made
from rail to the ships that follow the sea.
Here, too, the foreign imports that seek the
farthest point in the interior, under the rule
that takes the imported goods as near as
possible to the consumer, will be delivered
for distribution.
Richmond, then. has Il grand object, and
is impelled by strong considerations to make
a decided attempt to hurry the connections
that promise fer her the brightest adyan-
tages.
-
LET Us HAVE A LITTLE REST.-Many OF
our exchanges are clamorlng for an active
canvass OF the State. We have considered
thia s,1crnosfinn nnd doubt tho n anns sify for