The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-28

a correspondent travelling in the valley OF
the Kanawha who was instructed to portray
the water-'ine through the Virslnlas IN
ridiculous hight. at the time when the
Government engineers were examining the
water-iine that correspondent was endea-
yoring to injure it in public estimation.
The Government engineers made q most
favorable report uponetae line, but adverse
ESSAYS and efforts have established such
sentiment Of indifference towards 1t that II
has lain dormant for several years.
That it was the interest of Ohio and the
Ohio.riyer cities to cause the northwestern
commerce generally, and especially that OF
Ohio, to hug the valley OF the Ohio river
was as clear as the MONDAY sun. And it Is
due to the neglect OF the Ohio cities OF the
ONLY measures that could have confined this
commerce to the Ohio valley that Cbicago
has ACQUIRED such wealth and populouS-
ness. It is this that has drained the grain
trade towards the lakes and brought Gin
cInnati rather 10 declining than prosper
ing condition.
Had Cincinnati objected especially to the
water line on the ground OF the irregularlty
OF the volume OF water in the Ohio river,
that would have been at least debatabIe
point. But that city became as indifferent
to railway enterprise that might direct the
flow OF commerce upon the !atltudinal line
OF the Ohio river. And we assert that 1t IS
matter OF vita; Importance TO Cincinnati
that this commerce should follow the east
ern and western line OF the Ohio river. We
repeat that it was for the want OF The ways
that could direct the Ohio commerce In this
manner that this commerce was drawn from
the river to the lakes-drawn there in spite OF
the disadvantage Of Chicago's location north
OF that Obstructive froat-ine which detains
commerce by congelation near half oil the
year.
We write to fix, rs far as we are able,
public attention in the Ohio valley upon
this point. AS sure as any fact can be, The
only line OF prosperous commerce for the
Ohio Valley towns is upon the mean line OF
the Ohio river from the mouth OF that river
to,tae kanaTha valley and thence to the
capes OF Virginia. That is the text for our
friends Of the Ohio valley.
1t is because OF the neglect OF this idea
nav, because OF futile attempts to succeed
BY utterly disregarding it-that the Ohio
cities have been languishing, and that a
check hes been put to that flourishing con-
dition which appeared all along the Ohio
until Chicago entered the field and began to
drain the Ohio rivers,
Cincinnati, as If altogether unsatisfed
with her efforts to live and flourish indie
pendently Of the natural law Of her COM
merce, madly entered upon that most uto-
plan OF schemes, the construction OF the
ssCincinnati Southern railroad" She has
by this time become satisfied that she gains
nothing by an outlay Of perhaps S20,0o0,O0O
In building this road. 1t can bring her no.
thing. The merchants of the southern cities
will buy their importations dthe points OF
importation. On the other hand; Cincin-
natl cannot become the market for cotton,
because cotton seeks the ship that takes 1t
out of the country. Why shall it go to Gin
cinnati? All that this southern line from
Cincinnati can expect to do is to transport
bacon, and lard, and whiskey, and petro-
leum to southern towns, and leave the trains
to return without freight and without pas
sengers to Cincinnati. The direct southern
line will do nothing for the Ohio-riVer city.
The articles of food, and drink, and light
which may be carried from that quarter to
the south find easy and cheap conveyance
by existing lines, and it was great waste
OF money to build q separate line for that
limited commerce which had nothing recip-
rocal in it to reward the enterprise that con-
structed it.
We have no doubt that Cincinnati is learn
ing great deal OF wisdom on this point.
She has an immense advantage in the mat |
ter OF climate over the Lake cities. Ii she
but assists at once in establishing an eff |
Client line OF railway eastwardly along the |
ropte Of easy grades and gentle tempera-
ture she will Immediately experience arevo-
luton in business that will be highly adyan-
taseous 20 her. This line is through Yir-
glnia. How vastly much better it would
be for her had her $4,000, 900 been cx-
pended upon the completion Of this latitr-
dinous route to the golden gate Of the At
lantic coast-the mouth OF the Chesapeake
Bay.
AS soon as transportation crosses the
frost-line difficulty increases, and it is won
derful how trouble and peril accumulate,
until a point is reached where it is no long
er practicable to proceed. Cold lays it's
embargo upon commerce. Even before
sseha point is reached the disadvantage
are sufficient to make it Improbable TO
carry on commerce at all. Tor these fea-
sons we consider that the advantages OF
Cincinnati over Chicago are considerable,
and she stands in her own light as long as
she fails to make them available.
1t will be observed that Cincinnati stands
at the highest northern bend OF the Ohio
river in the State OF Ohio. Produce from
The Northwest after reaching that city con.
tinues eastWardly In the line tending to-
wards gentler temperature, and pursues
the. easiest grade that is found between the
East and West until it reaches the Virginia
tide. Now, this is beyond ali dispute the
line OF commerce that is best, most praeti-
cable, most congeniaI to the people of. Cin-I
einnati. Il is the line that Wonld fortify i
that energetic and spirited city against the
consuming drainage towards the lakes.
81 We trust that tt,e flesh innpells that new
seeHas 10 be given to- the sastab Eminent at