Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-20
MIR. DECATUR AXTELL.
First Vice.

bridges were light and propped up by
al sorts of cobble work: the small, iron
rails were Old worn. and ragged. and.
as a rule. insecurity held together by
decayed ties; it's excavations and en-
bankments were narrow by action or
years of weather: side-tracks. wholly in
sufficient in number for the small bust
ness then done on the road. were unskil-
fully located; some of it's long tunnels
were still in an incomplete condition,
with roofs tumbling in, and delaying
trains every few days. 1t was not an
infrequent thing that passengers were
obliged to climb the mountains. trans
ferring from one train on one side TO an
other at the other end of some tun-
mel High trestles. built as temporary
matter years before. were still in use,
and their condition source of the
eravest concern TO the management and
such OF the public as knew of them. The
stations at all the points on the road
we're dilapidated. and totally insufficient
for handling the local business.
SERIES OF HEAVY GRADES.
With IL all the road was made up of
"a series of the heaviest grades known TO
an east and west line. with exception
Of the Baltimore and Ohio. There were
thirteen SUBMITS between Richmond and
clifton Forge-1S2 miles-and TO surmount
nearly all OF them trains had to pass
over grades ranging from GO TO 100 feet
10 the mile. Such conditions explained
the frequency of accidents to trains
sometimes for weeks dtrailments were
daily experience. The morale OF the men
on the busiest sections of the road was
on par with the physical condition
OF the property: and no wonder Many
Of them were excellent railway men. but
their best efforts seemed to amount to
nothing in the general demoralized physi-
cal condition OF the property. Intern
perance and inesficiency prevailed ~ a
large extent. 1t must not be supposed,
however. that there were not many splen-
did men upon the road-men of skill and
ability. and of sterling character
The road began at Newport News and
terminated at Huntington. with a con-
nection to Lexington. KY, and thence by
100 miles of another road running at
right angles. Cincinnati was reached.
The Richmond passenger going TO Cincin-
natl and the West did not then go by
the Chesapeake and Ohio. but by one OF
its great northern competitors. The
freight and passenger traffic was wholly
local. consisting only Of the movement
OF ne produce along the line, principally
coal and timber Some grain came to
Richmond from the West. and there was
small and precariOus movement from
the West TO Newport News; but the con
ditons were not favorable TO it. and
there was no growth, or prospect OF
growth.
A GREAT TRUNK LINE.
Such was the condition OF the road
when Mr.. ingalls, formed his plan. and
submitted TO the New York capitalists
his scheme OF purchase and reorganiza-
ton. and the building up of "a great
trunk line. one OF the first steps was
10 insure the completion OF the river
line from Huntington 30 Cincinnati.
where connection was made with his own
great system of roads Ohe Big Four,
reaching all the important cities of the
Northwest. His next step was the ac-
quirement OF the Richmond and Ale
ghany railroad. following down the valley
Of the James river from Clifton Forge 10
Richmond. substituting for the thirteen
SUBMITS and accompanying grades men,
toned above Water-leVel route. the only
grade OF which is the slight decline
OF the river itself With this improve
ment. from the Ohio river TO tidewater
at Richmond. there were no grades Of
any consequence opposed TO traffic. this
fact giving the Chesapeake and Ohio an
advantage over all of the trunk lines.
an advantage which will remain with il
forever. there being no possibility of
finding across the Allegheny mountains
any other such light-grade route
contract was made with the Virginia
Midland road, by which the Chesapeake
and Ohio obtained entrance via Cor
louisville into Washington, the Chesa-
peake and Ohio having the same rights
upon that railway that the owners OF
the road have.
THE ROAD REVOLUTIONlZED
While acquiring these lines and open
ing up the whole United States TO busi-
ness 10 and from the hitherto bottled
I'D Chesapeake and ohio the physical