Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-02-10
NO. *.

and Alexandria road to the town of Woodstock
in Shenandoah county. A large portion of the
{ grading &C., has also bsen done between Wood
stock and Harrisonburg, the southwestern ter
minus of the road q distance of thirtyeigbt miles.
When this road is completed it will furnish
the outlet for the production of the large, fertile
and populous counties of the valley which it
penetrates. 1t now seeks aid at the hands of
the General Assembly, to render available the
large sums which the State has already invested
in it.
The Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire rail-
road seeks connexion with the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad near Piedmont, in the heart of
the great Potomac coal region, passing through
the rich and populous counties of Loudoun, JEFF
terson, Clarke, Frederick and Hampshire, which
abound in mineral wealth. The counties of
Clarke and Hampshire have already made coun-
| ty subscription to this road to the amount OF
100000 each and the town ofWinchester also
heavy subscription. None of those subscrip-
tions can De made without further State aid.
This road will be the means of developing
large and valuable trade in Cumberland coal,
and of stimulating the manufacture OF iron; and
will connect the city Of Alexandria with the
system of railroads penetrating the Mississippi
Valley, and thus reduce by more than fifty miles
the distance to Washington city. 1t will also
bring the whole of Northwestern Virginia,
which has no means of communication through
the State with the Eastern part oft, and is
wholly tributary to Baltimore, into direct con-
nection with a Virginia seaport, with a saving
in distance of nearly forty miles, The grading
and masonry of this road has been nearly forty
miles, through the wealthy and densely popula-
ted county of Loudoun. A small appropriation
now will enable this company to 60 on with its
work, and tend to render the States interest in
it productive.
The grading of the Richmond and York River
railroad has been nearly completed. This road
was projected to afford facilities for the conveyance
to the deep waters of York river, OF the pro-
duce which may be brought to Richmond by
the various railroads, which concentrate at that
point 1t will secure to the city of Richmond
a good port readily accessible and thereby re-
eve its trade from the embarrassments to which
it is subjected by the circuitous and difficult
navigation of James river. This work appeals
strongly to the general Assembly for assistance
to enable It to fulfil the purposes for which 1t
was undertaken.
The Richmond and Danville railroad has been
completed according to the plan originally pro-
ected and is now ful6llingin its career OF useful
ness, the most sanguine anticipations OF It's
friends. 1t is proposed to extend it some dis
tance south and west of Danville, to accommodate
the trade of the counties of Henry and Patrick,
and the other counties west of them, and also
to command the commerce of the Valley OF the
Yadkin, in North Carolina, and ultimately to
seek connection with the system OF railroads
contemplated by that State.
Besides these interests In unfinished roads,
the State also owns larger amounts OF stock IN
other roads, some of which have been recently
finished. The State is o stockbolder in the
South-side road to the amount OF $SO3, 1000 and
creditor to the amount of near million OF
dollars now. This road has been completed
within few years past, and sufficient time has
not yet elapsed for fair experiment OF its val
ue.
The amount invested in the stock OF the
Lynchburg and Tennessee road is $780, O,0OO.-
| This road has also been recently completed to
the Tennessee line, where it connects with
road already finished with the exception OF
twenty-five miles now under contract and to be
completed in May nexD from the Virginia line
to Memphis.
Although these roads are classed among the
completed works, it would be unfair to estimate
their utility or profit from the results of the
brief fexperments;which have been made We
must await the further development Of the re-
sources of the country through which they pass
and the filling up of the chasms in the great
systems of improvements, of which they consti-
tute important parts.
No part of the Covngton and Ohio road has
been finished, though much expensive work
has been done upon it, The tunnel has pene-
trated the Allegheny mountains, and many 9TH
er serious obstacles have been overcome. An
appropriation is now asked to put it into opera
I ton from Covington to the valley OF Greenbrer
river. This section can be advantageousy used
in connection with the Central road, and will
afford important facilities to the trade of the
counties of Greenbrier and Monroe, and accom-
modate the large number of persons who annu-
ally resort to the mineral springs of Virginia,
situated in that portion of the state.
!, The Richmond and Fredericksburg road,
which has been in operation for about twenty
five years, and which is the only railroad in the
Commonwealth, which in the just sense of the
term. can be regarded as finished, because all its
connections have been supplied, furnishes stri-
king evidence of the value and profit Of well
conducted road. From statement obtained
from the officers of that company, and which is
appended to this report, it will be seen that lt
has. within the period of twenty-five years, re-
imbursed to the State the whole amount of its
subscription, S276,000 in cash, bonds of the
| Company, and permanent additions to the value
of the road, and the Commonwealth still retains
its interest in the road which there is good rea.
son to believe will continue to yield large divi-
dends to the treasury.
Your committee think it would be advisable
to respond favorably, as far as practicable, to
these several appeals for assistance A million
or two of dollars now judicously expended, Will
give vitality to the twelve millions OF dollars
which the State has already invested in these
, works, and will convert that which. is now
dead capital into living and productive stocks.
To give effect to the above recommendations,
your committe respectfully suggest the following
appropriations:
To the Covington and Ohio road ..ss00,000
/ Orange and Alexandria, la,.......... 100000
York River 100000
Norfolk and Petersburg .............2 .250,000
Manassas GAP .250,000
!, Alex. Loudon and Hampshire 100000