Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-02-07
Valley Railroad Manassas Gap Rail-
rOad--Page Valley Railroad, &c.

the Valley counties the facilities of rail-
road transportation. 1t is conceded that
the Manassas Gap Company, IN con-
sequence of the destruction Of its property
during the war, and its inability to pro-
vide for the payment of the liabilities ne
eessarily incurred in constructing and
equipping the road, ean.nt command the
means necessary to put the road in run
ming order again, at .eass Cor several years
to come. We sincerely regret to see this
company thus situated and we will here
take occasion to say, In behalf Of the Pre-
sident and Directors of that road, that we
do not attach the least blame to them for
its dilapidated and hopeless condition; for,
during the war it was taken from their
control, and went under with the s'lost
cause" fthe South.
First. then, is the Valley Railroad
scheme, by which it is proposed ''to Sc
cure the construction and equipments Of a
continuous line from its terminal point on
or near the Virginia and Tennessee rail
road, through the main Shenandoah Val
ley, and by or near the towns of New Mar
ket and Woodstock, in Shenandoah eoan-
ty, and Winchester, in Frederick county,"
and that said company be authorized to
purchase, lease, manage and work any
railroad along such fine, chartered under
the laws Of this commonwealth, subject to
the provisions and restrictions contained
In the charter Of such railroads, so far as
the same are applicable and not Inconsist-
ent with the provisions of this act And
in order that the railroad so purchased,
leased, managed and worked may be made
effective, the said Valley railread isautho-
rized to equip the same And the Sd
section of the bill authorizes any company
along the line to sell or lease its road to
the Valley railroad, land for this purpose,
if need be, said Valley railroad company
shall have authority to subscribe for stock
in any such company as a stakeholder
therein" The 9TH section also provides
"that said Valley railroad company, when
ever, by any such contract Of purchase or
lease it shall have acquired the privilege
Of extending the improvement to she town
of Winchester, shall thcregpen have au-
thority to construct one or more railroads
from said town of Winchester, in Frcelcr-
lex county in the direction of and to the
Potomac river" The It'll and 9Th sec
tlons of the bill provide for taking vote
of the frceholders of the counties through
which the road shall pass upon the qucs-
ton whether such counties "may pay all
just and proper taxes which may be i'm
posed for State purposes on said railroad
and the capital invested therein, and upon
the property of said Valley railroad eom-
pany, and the capital stock thereof, and
of any railroad company whose railroad
may be purchased leased managed Or
worked by said Valley railroad compa-
ny. as aforesaid, such taxes shall be
borne and paid ratably by such counties
80 conserving, in proportion to the assess
ed value of the lands therein respectively,
and shall be apportioncd among and char
ged upon the lands of such couhties re-
spectively in proportion TO the assessed
value thereof" &C. Unless some good
reason can be given for levying this tax,
the landholders of the counties named will
most likely decline to pay it. Under OK
listing circumstances, we think it at least
of doubtful propriety.'
The second scheme, and next in impor.
lance to the Valley. is the proposition to-
transfer the franchises vested in the Manas.
Gap Railroad Company to the Orange &
Alexandra Railroad Company. Prcsi-
dent Marshall offers to sell to the latter,
as we are informed by reliable authority,
provided the NJ. G. Railroad be made
up the Valley to Harrisonburg within a
short time; and Mr. Barbour, Presi lent
of the O. & A. Railroad is very anxious
to purchase, provided the Legislature will
grant him the privilege; and bill has
been framed for that purpose"
The Page Valley Railroad is the next
scheme of Importance, though not as i'm
portant to the main Valley as those we
have just referred to.
Some general bill, Ey way Of compro-
mise, may be deduced from these schemes,
which may succeed.
We will discuss the merits of these sew
erai propositions at the proper time.