Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-12-22
Proposal to Build a Railroad through the
VALLEY of Virginia.


Valley of Virginia.
At the annual meeting Of the stockholders
/ of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Compa-
ny, held in Baltimore last Wednesdays prop
osition was made to build railroad from
Harper's Ferry to connect with the Virgin
ia and Tennessee railroad in the Upper Val
ley President Garrett, in his report, says:
lin the new era that has opened, another
subject Of the greatest Importance to the
country, and especially to the people Of Viz
ginia and Maryland, has been presented -
Many Of the most distinguished citizens Of
Virginia have expressed their anxiety for the
early construction Of line Of railway leading
from Harper's Ferry, through Winchester
and Strasburg, to connect with the great Vir-
ginia and Tennessee road, in the southwest
ern part Of the State, and thus open direct
and effective line of communication from Bal
timore to New Orleans, presenting to the
States Of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, AL
ALBANIA, Mississippi and Louisiana an admit
rable, economical and direct line to the ma
tional capital and the great seat Of commerce
at the head Of the Chesapeake The Valley
of Virginia fertile, rich in mineral resources
with fine water power, with most beautiful
climate-posscsses a region Of wonderful at
tractivncss and characteristics for great pop
ulations and extensive development. The
entire region through Virginia, Tennessee
and the connecting States presents the great
est advantages for emigration, and these ad-
! u
Of prosperity and wealth
During the existence Of slavery in Vir-
ginia, jealousy existed of any line leading to
| the free States, by which slave property be-
came less safe. That obstacle having been
removed, all jealousies appear also to have
ceased, and | have been called upon by MANY
Of the most eminent and sagacious citizens Of
that great State, who urge that the attention
of the people Of Baltimore and the managers
Of the Baltimore and Ohio road should be
directed to this subject. Their region has
been desolated, their capital has been almost
destroyed, and now they are most anxious
that the enterprise and capital of this COM
munity shall be thrown to their aid in ac-
conplishing objects which whilst vastly ben
citing them, will also yield rich fruijion in
increasing fraternity and commercial pros
perity. Such a link will accomplish much
in the restoration Of kindly feeling, and as
sure mutual interests and the best and great
est commercial advantages, and will aid in
binding in iron bands those great common
weaths to the union of our fathers.
x natural route, full Of local and gener-
al advantages, is thus presented. til true,
that whilst portion of traffic which now
comes up the Ohio river, and is received by
Western railways from the Southwest-thus
passing over the whole three hundred and
seyenty-nine miles Of the Baltimore and Ohio
road, would, through valley line, pass over
but eighty miles Of the main stem vet, in
view Of the great objects to be achieved for
those interests and securing direct commu-
nication to Washington, and adding vastly
to the commercial strength and Importance
of Baltimore I do not hesitate to commend
to the most earnest and favorable consilera-
ton Of this community and to this board this
interesting subject. u
1.-The Baltimore and Ohio road has built
up the region of Virginia through which it
passes. 1T has aided largely in the construc-
ton and Of the Parkersburg road, which has
cost more than seven millions ofdollars and
whilst it has enormously increased business
and prosperity upon that line and made mil.
lionaries Of the owners of oil lands, and large
~ advanced the values Of all properties in
that region, that road has thus far failed di-
rectly in paying any interest upon the invest
ment; yet in the future it is believed that re-
enumeration can be secured, whilst the gcner-
al commerce Of Baltimore has been benefited,
and that region so specially improved. Like
difficulties may embarrass the enterprise pro-
posed, but its results in the future will JUST
fy every effort in its behalf"
OF the ability Of the Company to construct
the road, our readers, who, we fear, have
never paid much attention to this mammoth
corporation, will be able to Judge from the
following statistics. President Garrett says ::
1.-THE Baltimore and Ohio Company has
increased it's equipment to about three hun
dred locomotives and four thousand cars
Its capacity for business is now far beyond
the ability Of lines working in connection
with it to dispose of the vast quantities Of
freight it brings to our city. At this time
more than seventy-fve trains daily Of passen.
gers and freight pass over the main stem Of
the Baltimore and Ohio road upon the Bal
timore division. The power Of the Company,
by it's large additions eff double track. and in
crease Of facilities and equipment, with its
additional branches, will be constantly en-
larged The direct outlets for this vast ac-
cumulvtion Of traffic must follow"
Think Of that, reader Three hundred
locomotives, four thousand cars, seventy-fye
daily trains. And all this, besides the bu-
siness done on that branch of the same read
which extends from Washington to Balti-
more.
4 Colony CeM1Ne FROM SCOTLAND. We