Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Spirit Of Jefferson
Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
General R. E. Lee writes from Lexington, Va., on May 20, 1867, endorsing the completion of the Covington and Ohio Railroad, citing its feasibility, economic benefits, and advantages for trade between western rivers and the Atlantic.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
Letter from Gen. Lee.
The following letter from Gen. R. E. Lee, shows that he is not indifferent to the great public improvements of the day, designed for the development of the great natural resources of the State:
Lexington, Va., May 20th, 1867.
My Dear Sir—The documents relating to the Covington and Ohio Railroad which you had the kindness to send me, give the pleasing assurance, as far as I have been able to examine them, of the practicability of completing that great work. The cautious estimate of Mr. Whitcomb, Superintendent of the Virginia Central Railroad, gives the cost of finishing the road to the point of steamboat navigation on the Kanawha at $5,700,000—and he shows very satisfactorily from the steady increase of receipts which has attended every extension of the road that the company can undertake the work, and pay out of its net revenues the interest on the amount required for each additional stage of the road, besides the interest on its present debt.
When the road shall reach the point of communication with the steamers from the Ohio, there will be such a large and increasing business, that I think there can be no doubt that its completion will be ensured to any point desired; and with a maximum grade of less than thirty feet per mile, what mountains of merchandise can be transported from the western rivers to the waters of the Atlantic? Taking Cincinnati as the centre of this trade, the transportation by this route will not only be shorter in miles as stated in the reports than the more Northern routes, but will be the easiest, and will meet with the least interruption in winter, and the freight over the road can at all times be landed at points accessible to ocean steamers.
When these facts are known there will be, I hope, no difficulty in procuring the requisite funds, as capitalists can feel assured of the payment of their interest and principal.
Wishing every success to the road,
I am, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE.
Hon. John B. Baldwin.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Lexington, Va.
Event Date
May 20th, 1867
Key Persons
Outcome
endorsement of railroad completion with estimated cost of $5,700,000 and assurances of funding and economic viability.
Event Details
Gen. R. E. Lee expresses support for completing the Covington and Ohio Railroad based on documents received, citing Mr. Whitcomb's estimate of costs and revenues, potential for trade from Ohio and Kanawha rivers to the Atlantic via Cincinnati, advantages over northern routes, and confidence in securing funds.