The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-11-09
Another Railroad.
From the New York World

r-HJ AhSSI 10 pOseAVie IHluNdy
between the Baltimore and Ohio and
Chesapeake and Ohio Roads, nearly
parellel with the former, and with a
route which it is claimed is far supe-
rior to either in cost of construction,
grades and local resources.
The new line has enlisted the aid
OF some Of the richest men and
ablest railroad managers of New
York, Cincinnati and other cities.
They have been thoroughly con-
yicted that it will prove a profitable
enterprise.
The project was originally started
under the name Of the Baltimore,
Cincinnati and Western, but in De.
cember, 1881, charters were taken out
in Maryland, West Virginia and
Ohio under the present name.
Since that date the work of organ.
ization, the final location of the line
and the perfection of the financial
plan have been pushed vigorously,
and now almost all the details pre-.
paratory TO active work are perfected.
Five routes were surveyed; the one
selected being briefly as follows:
Starting from Cincinnati, the line
follows the north bank of the Ohio to
Portsmouth, then to Gallipolis, Ohio,
on the Ohio River distance from
Cincinnati about one hundred and
fifty miles. Crossing the Ohio River
there into West Virginia, the line
follows the Great Kanawha River q
distance of fifty-four miles to Char
lesion, where it connects with the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, com.
ing up from Richmond.
From Charleston the line turns
north.easterly and follows the valley
of the Elk River for some hundred
and sixty-seven miles to its head.
waters at the Allegheny Mountains,
crossing there through remarkably
low gap upon grade of only seventy
three feet to the mile.
II passes distance of about nine
miles to the North Fork of the South
Branch of the Potomac River, and
thence by the banks Of the same for
some sixty miles to Moorefeld, near
the boundary of Virginia and West
Virginia.
Thence the line crosses the country
via Winchester and Leesburg to the
Potomac River, distance Of about
one hundred and four miles, and,
crossing the river at Edwards Ferry,
it passes through the State of Mary.
land about fifty-seven miles to the
City of Baltimore.
Thus the line extends n total dis
lance of COL miles from Baltimore to
Cincinnati, Of which distance ISL
nearly two.thirds the entire length,
are along the banks of rivers, an ad.
vantage possessed by no other rail
road of equal length in the United
States, and securing to this road q
very low cost Of construction.
By this route there will be but two
large tunnels, as against several long
and numerous short tunnels on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, be-
tween the Potomac and the Ohio
River at Petersburg, with no grade
in West Virginia to exceed seventy
three feet to the mile, as against one
hundred and sixteen feet per mile on
the Baltimore and Ohio.
The work to be done and the diff,
culties to be overcome through West
Virginia do not compare in extent
or magnitude with similar features
of either the Baltimore and Ohio or
Chesapeake and Ohio Roads, and the
cost Of construction will approx.
mate about one-half of that actually
incurred upon corresponding portions
of the other roads.
The most difficult section of the
line is, of course, that in the region
of the Allegheny Mountains.
The road will develop section Of
country nearly six hundred miles
long, from Cincinnati to Baltimore,
by about one hundred miles average
width, containing enormous local re-
sources and almost entirely unprovi-
ded with railroads.
The eastern section through Vir-
ginia and Maryland crosses n fine
farming country.
The western through the rich Ohio
River tier of counties to Ohio, thick.
ly populated, very productive agri-
culturally and Astounding in well
developed mineral resources, but the
middle section will ultimately prove
the most valuable to the road.
The great business to be done here
is in coal, timber and iron ore and
their manufactured products.
The Baltimore and Ohio road
crosses the northern part and the
Chesapeake and Ohio the southern
part of West Virginia, while the line
of this projected road follows the val
ley of Elk River, takes the central
part of the immense coal, timber and
iron ore section of the State.
Professor Maury says in a report to
the Company shat the available
quality of coal, iron ore and timber,
in section ten miles on each side Of
the road through West Virginia, is
,.l go onn I'M mn n o.,