Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-04-13

| FROM THE nALTIMoRE AMERICAN.
The Route Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad.
The Richmond Enquirer contains, un-
der the signature of Shenandoah, some
speculations as 10 the probable route OF
this work, and the policy of Virginia,
should the company deem it expedient,
under all circumstances, to extend the
road through the Great Valley ofVirgin-
ia. After stating why it may be difficult
to carry the road along the north side of
the Potomac, from the interference ofthe
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and the OBJ
jections to conducting by other routes to
certain points determination Oh the Ohio
the writer concludes the route through
the Valley, terminating on the Ohio at
the mouth of the Great Kanawha. TO
possess such manifest advantages that
the Company must, he thinks, give it
the preference. Should this be the case
he deems it the unquestionable policy OF
Virginia to promote this desirable result,
by removing in the first place, the res
friction imposed by her act Of 1927, and
also by contributing share of the requi-
site funds, say to the amount OF three
millions of dollars, by convenient install
ments. The Company, he remarks,
cannot with propriety even undertake
to examine the Valley route, till the road
is clear before them to its termination
on the navigable waters of the
! West.
The benefits of road penetrating the
heart of the State for go miles, through
fertile and extensive regions which have
long ianguished for the want of such an
improvement, and only on that account.
are obvious and decided. The mere
expenditure of the large sums required
for the construction, would be matter
of importance; while the State, as
stakeholder, would be reimbursed for her
advances. "There is the greatest rea-
son" says the writer, "for believing
that the stock must be profitable. On
that part of the road already completed
the traffic increases daily, and would be
four times greater than it is, ifthe Com.
pany had wagons ready to transport the
produce offered. The directors are
increasing their stock, and in few
months will have enough for every de-
mand. have it from the highest au-
thority, that the receipts ofthe road are
now upwards of $4,000 per week, and it
is confidently anticipated that when the
arrangements referred to are completed,
the receipts will be at least $1,000 per
day, on the present line of the road"
Besides this, the Baltimore Company. he
adds, would undertake to make $50
miles of road on route which the State
OF Virginia has herself determined TO
improve, and which she cannot improve
for less than three millions of dollars.
1 he route indicated would benefit equal
ly the northeastern and south eastern
portions of the State; and the branch
roads which might be extended from
the main stem, penetrating the at pre-
sent inaccessible parts of her territory.
would give to Virginia the prosperity |
to which she is entitled from her local |
situation, mild climate, fertile SOIL vari !
ed surface, and rich and rare pro-
ducts.
This scheme would be so far from in.
terfering with the improvements medi{
tated along the James River, that IN
will secure the construction of 1907
miles of its road. On the score of its
tending to withdraw the trade of the
West from the Virginia towns, it is ar
gued that there would be sufficient for
all parties, and tits very Literally remark
ed that this. at any rate, would be no ar
gument for shutting out large extent
Of agricultural country from a profitable
trade. Baltimore and the District, as
the only markets for considerable por-
ton of the State, are to this effect Vir-
ginia emporiums, in whose prosperity
that State has an obvious interest, though
they are without her territorial limits.
These views demonstrate what i'm
Portance is attached by our intelligent
neighbors to the objects and progress of
our enterprise. That importance is not
overvalued; and when we consider the
wide interests concerned in its compile
ton, we can hardly doubt of united ef
fort, should that be necessary to carry i'll
to its destination.