The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-06-19
river just. above Purgatory creek, and
nassad tn thu town of Buchanan

u !
passed to the town of Buchanan.
The result Of the survey between the
head Of the Shenandoah river, and Buch-
anan, was 30 much more unfavorable than
was expected thatit rendered apparentthe
superiority Of the great natural route be
tween these points, that is, following the
Rivers. In view Of the possibility Of dis.
,pensing with the necessity Of passing
through Lexington, and Of adopting this
route, line Of survey was carried down
the River from Buchanan, over the most
difficult portion of it, for the purpose Of
ascertaining the character and extent Of
the work necessary this extended over
three great bends Of the river, involving
the construction Of six bridges. but short
ening the distance one half; all the mate
rial necessary for the construction of these
bridges being very convenientef access.
and having water transportation, by canal
and River, to the site Of each, they can be
built at moderate cost
From Buchanan to Salem there is nc
alternate route, the line must pass be-
tween the Blue Ridge spurs and the series
Of mountains to the West, beginning with
Tinker Mountain, here is the head Of
Tinker creek, flowing into the Roanoke
near Big Lick, and at the same place head
Mil, and Loomis' creeks, fowingsinto the
james, short distance above Buchanan ;
the line follows this stream, LOOMS Greek,
and yeaches its head with a continuous
grade Of So feet per mile, passing along
the McAadmized road, two miles east Of
Amsterdam, then following for some dis
lance one Of the prongs Of Tinker creek
with the 81 feet grade, passes the old
Glover Dale furnace, then keeping on the
high ground, which rises gently towards
the mountain on the west, it passes near
the Botetourt Springs and crossing Ma
sons Creek with the McAdamized road,
runs with il Salem.
1t is probable that q better line can be
had BY following the slopes.sof Tinker
Greek, and intersecting the Virginia &
Tennessee Railroad about three miles east
of Salem \ as'l1 y .''5' 2 "
This Road, when completed, will open a
comparatively new country to the Balti-
more market, and would have the advan-
tage Of all other roads in this part Of the
State, as they cross while this would pass
through the whole length Of the Great
Valley. The business Of this valley alone
would justify the building of the road,
but when one considers the Valley CON
tributions to the business of the road as
mere local trade and looks beyond Salem
to the through trade from the fertile re-
gion Of East Kentucky and Tennessee, and
from the Cotton region Of North and
West Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi,
and even from New Orleans, they must
conclude that this route will equal the
main stem of the B. go. Railroad in i'm
portance to Baltimore and as an invest
ment, for instead Of passing through near
ly 200 miles Of country with little or no
local trade, as the B. 4 0. Railroad does
before it reaches the valley Of the Ohio,
this road would pass through country,
the local trade Of which will pay expen-
SEES from the day it is opened and connect
with system Of roads which drain as
rich and extensive country as the main
stem of the B. & O. Railroad now does,
the product of which, if not now, will in
a few years equal it in value. The six
counties through which the road would
pass between Strasburg and Salem, Shen-
sandoah, Rockingham, Augusta, Rock
bridge, Botetourt and Roanoke, had, ac-
cording' to the last census, 775, 726 acres of
land under cultivation, the cash value Of
which was estimated to be s35, 274, 54S.
The value of live stock, 81, 0s1,274. Value
Of Products of Orchard, $36, 500. Value Of
Manufactures, $99, 300. Value of slaughtered
animals, $905,746. Value of Agricultural I'M
plements and Machinery. $905, 100
THE PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL. PRODUCTS.
1855, 400 bushels of Wheat; 1873, 500 bush
els Of Rye; 2,231 ,194 bushels of Iudian Corn;
691, 1928 bushels Of Oats; 1875, $50 pounds Of
Wool; 145, $50 bushels Irish Potatoes ,444
bushels Of Buckwheat; ], 4O2, 526 pounds of
Butter 81. 400 tons of Hay; 1888 pounds Of
Cheese; 28,600 bushels Glover and other Seeds
and $4,000 pounds of Honey.
This product, when stimulated by direct
connection with such amarketas Baltimore
could be increased to an extent which on
" those who are familiar with the coun-
try can appreciate.
The rich soil, which literally rewards
the industry Of those who tillsit, together
with the fine climate, will attract large
emigration from other States, as well as
from foreign countries, when greater ia
cilities for reaching this country are pro-
vided. The communication between the
new corners and those they left behind
will aid in keeping up the local passenger
travel to paying extent. But it is use
less for me to dwell on the Agricultural
resources of the Valley Of Virginia, the
attention of the whole world has been at
tracted to it in the last few years. The
mineral resources Of the region through
which the Valley Railroad will pass. as
now developed. give promise Of a large
trade, and from reliable indications Of the
presence of valuable ores, it is thought
that no country, within reasonable dis
lance Of Baltimore, can exceed it in this
source of Wealth and Trade. During the
last year 1890 Tons Of Salt have been
transported on the Virginia and Tennes-
see Railroad, from the Salt Works near
that line, during, former year as much
as 1000 Tons have been shipped from
the same place, also 1417 tons Of Plaster
and l $50 tons ef Pig Iron.
s The Iron made in this region is Of SUI
perior quality. The Blue Ridge and Al
leghany mountains furnish an abundance
Of charcoal and in the event Of this being
exhausted, am informed that there are
mines convenient which yield coal equal
in purity to charcoal.