Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-23
ENCOURAGING OUTLOOK.
Binding the Great West and
Northwest to Virginia.
PRESENT MANAGEMENT.
New Dopots to he Built-SystematiEing
OperstionS-Industrial and other En-
terprisss TO be Stimulated.

The Chesapeake and Ohio railway is q
u5uument to perseverance in the face Of
gupeudoas difficulties.
lis history is the history Of the success
"a. defiance of almost appalling physical
Obstacles and OF the triumph over tremen-
d9us barriers erected by diversified inter-
nal geographical interest and by financial
trses.
rs great stretch of trackage across the
two Virginias to-day is the magnificent
realization Of an idea generated by Colonel
Edmund Fontaine and his associates over
bali a century ago, and which was Loyalty
adhered 10 by their successors until the
idea became an accomplished fact.
This idea has expanded-has become
nors ambitious-with the years. but its
central its accreting principle iDever
changed.
WESTWARD, Hol
Westward. ho!n was the motto, and
the Ohio river was the goal of the road
from the beginning, and though cOnten-
lions frequently arose as TO the exact route
% be pursued which were calculated to
discourage the enterprise, this original. OBJ
Jet was never devisted from.
vITAIIZISG TIE MAIN ARTERY.
The policy Of the company was TO tho
roughly vitahze the main artery by extend
,1slt to termini and making connections
that would afford it an unfailing source of
health and strength, and then impart this
v.alization 10 the territory along its line
O. the end Of steadily and permanently de-
yeouug It.
The first condition has been accomplish
ti. the second is in process of rapid and
certain contamination.
The present substantial upbuilding Of
towns and development of mineral and
other resources on the Chesapeake and
O.., and the certain continued progress
90 these directions constitute striking
indication Of the wisdom of one thing at
aGme.
The results ofto-day disarm the criticism
4 Yesterday, and forecast as the ultimate
AMI Inevitable outcome of the long period
u perseverance referred TO future. pros
ptriiy IN the roads domain infinitely De-
yo1dtAe most highly-colored anticipatlons
o. Its projectors-forecast benefits 10 Nir-
gina infinitely greater than were predicted
b. the most confident orators that ever
spoke al a meeting Of the stockholders OF
'l-o old Louisa or Virginia Central railroad,
when such meetings were not occasions
q Try details. but when spreadeagleism
Sa, the rule rather than the exception.
scRus on EARLY HISTORY,
Tie Chesapeake and Ohio railway Is
tls old Louisa railroad grown from weak
ald crawling infant 70 stridIng giant
tt-obbing with active life and vigor. The
Louisa road was commenced about 1881,
snd was practically a branch OF the hich-
M0ud and Fredericksburg railroad, Dy
which II was leased and operated for sew
g'al years. IL was built IN pieces. First,
tam the junction 20 Fredericks Hall,
thence 70 Louisa, and thence to Gordons-
vie. The purpose was that the next
Ink should be 20 Harrisonburg, and then
tit~ud IL TO the Ohio river. Along
About the middle Of the forties the
people Of Albemarle and Augusta counties
began 70 agitate the question OF making
htauutOn the objective point west OF the
Blue Ridge and striking for the Ohio by a
southern route. The Rockingham people
aatcouized this proposition IN favor OF
tls ORIGINAL projection and extension 70
Petersburg, and Governor william
smith. II We mistake not, advocated the
northwest route In g message 20 the Gene
IAl Assembly. Several surveys over the
b.ue Ridge were made. tho two Princlpai
49, otihk CU DNiil nun Attli w lA1AsA
pug and ROckfish Gap 20 Staunton:
~. William Kuper, then chief engineer OF
tle road favored the koektiSh Gap extern
hon as the most feasible, and upon at
Hmpts being made 10 secure subscriptions
ioi the two routes, that for the southern
S1lenslOn was the larger a most exciting
usuale over the sNuation occurred IN the
annual meeting Of the company. and finally
Vas determined TO take the biaunton
iygie, and the road was put under contract
Ivy Depot
gHE Blue RIDGE ROAD.
10 1913 the State OF Virginia sppropri-
tied $4,000 to build the Blue Ridge. road
noin the eastern foot OF the Blue Ridge to
,he western foot NJ Waynesb0rouRh. IN
fudlng The Blue Ridge tunnel, l.26Q feet
~%1P. This work was engineered by
S9.onei Clsudius Crozet French engi-
hsef who had been with Napoleon az Mos
~, And for that period war most daring
Sgldsrtsking. Colonel Crozet established
IItschuinls river as the eastern foot oi tbs
Due Ridge. The tunnel was completed
1913 aud this link OF th9road cost about
Si,,VTOs. About l6sg the Louisa road got
'aso controversy with the kichnond and