The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-19
BURNETT House. }


CINCINNATI. December 7, 1879.
Moior John w. Johnston, President James
Riuer and Kanapha Company. Rich
mond, va:
Dear Sr,-Rcierring TO yours Of Novem-
Der 29tb:
The only work OF public Improvement, l
bclieye,sto which Cincinnati. IN her corpo-
rate canacity, has contributed aid. is the
:. Cincinnati Southern railway" line just
completed, and extending from Cincinnati,
through tho States OF Kentucky and Ten
nessec to Chattanooga. distance or 33S
miles. BY the laws OF Ohio no subscrip-
ton to the stock Of any railway or other
public work OF like nature can be made by
any Incorporated town or city. There
fore 1t was necessary in this in
stance to secure special legislation, which
in substance authorized the city to issue her
bonds to the extent OF S10,000,000 for the
construction Of the road. under The super.
vision and direction of board OF five truS-
tees. The act made the city entire owner
Of the road, with various provisions AZ tn
the duties and power Of the trustees in re-
ference to the construction and after-dispo-
sitiou OF the same, the bonds being secured
by mortgage on the road and also by the
good faith of the city. The first suhscrip.
ton was found inadequate for the cost OF
construction, and BY additional legislation
has been increased. by popular vote, until
the amount OF bonds now issued ana au-
thorized is S1S,000,0O0.
IT is the general impression that an addi-
tional S2,O00,000, making S20,O00,00o IN all
will be expended before The road j. fully
completed and equipped with full terminal
facilities, &c There seems to exist an al.
most universal opinion that this enterprise
will prove exceedingly valuable both as 10
its giving. in itself, fair return on the in
yeSfment, and secondly. as to its subserv-
ing its chief object in bringing to the city
very greatly increased and valuable inter
course and trade with the country through
which it passes, and with which it makes
direct and close communication by its con-
nection al Chattanooga wi.hthe ei.tire south
ern system of roads.
For some eighteen months portion OF
the line has been COMPLETED and in opera
Iion (>ome 100 miles), without any through
connection with other hines Of transp0rta-
ton. The local business developed on this
part of the road has proved very. valuable
and far in excess OF the most sanguine cX-
peciations even OF the strongest advocates
OF the enterprise, and is accepted as a fair
index OF thu value Of the line when COM
pleted throughout. Perhaps The best indi-
cation OF It's merits Is in The fact that the
BOMBS lin spite OF the seemingly large debt
incurred by the city,. beaIing $40 per
ceut. interest, are eagerly sought after, CON-
handing ready sale ut lis to 116.
There seems to he now almost unanimous
con6daace in the valtie and success OF the
road on the part OF The people OF Cinclu-
natl, who have as Il body built it aud own
ii, this feeling extending 10 those who in the
beginning were strong insheir opposition
to SO great and expensive an undertaking.
AS the Baltimore and Ohio road has been
and is to the city Of Baltimore. % VIII be
the =. Ciucfnaa.i Southern " 10 Cincin nati;
and, on smaller scale, the James. River
road to the civ OF Richmond.
Yours, very truly,
W. T. DANDKIDGE.