The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-10-23
The Great Chesapeake D OAis Rea1 Enter.
DFSoe,

their own exertions ;and these exertiofs must,
in our age, be combined with wise and judi
cious public policy. This is unquestionably |
an age Of material progress, and every Com
monwealth that has advanced in property,
wealth, population and power, within the broad
limits Of the q. s. Of America, has succeeded
only by its own exertions. We may have
every advantage which the bounty Of nature
can bestow ); agenial climate, fruitful soil,
unlimited and valuable mineral resources, but
unless we determine, as people, to avail our
selves of these advantages, our Commonwealth
will slumber for all time, in incidence and apa-
thy whilst on each side Of us, other popula-
tions will laugh at our apathy and, compre-
bending the secrets Of success, stretch forth
their arms and grasp the empire of wealth,
prosperity and power, which should have been
ours, but from which we will forever be de-
barred, by the pursuit of narrow and con-
tracted public policy:
To make the Commonwealth great, its peo-
pie must possess courage, boldness, fortitude
and energy, and they must, above all, possess
enterprise. To the people Of Virginia, is DOW
presented measure Of greater public impor-
lance than ever before engaged the attention
Of her public men. It is a measure which has
received the approval, and has inspired the
confidence Of her greatest statesmen. Every
distinguished man in the State Of Virginia is
an advocate of the plan proposed for the con-
struction of the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad.
Its merits have been discussed in our legisla-
tive hallsand it has received the universal as
sent and approval of our statesmen and think
ers. 1t has rivetted the attention Of the great
est inteliectsin North America, outside as well
as within, the State Of Virginia. Thirty years
ago Dewitt Clinton, the father Of the York &
Erie Canal the father Of the commercial great
ness of New York, pronounced the Virginia
line of communication, the line Of the North
american Continent The celebrated Engi-
ncer, McAlpine, whose bold genius carried
into execution the York & Erie railroad. said
that the line Of impr ovements through Viz
GINA, to connect with the western waters,
would be unrivalled These gentlemen saw
but the geographical advantages oftheS tate
buthad they known that the Alleghanies bow
ed down their ridges to enable line, almost
without grades, to pass their SUBMITS, what
would they say as to the advantages Of our line
of communication with the western waters?
In favor of this projected measure, We have
the opinions Of men, whose unerring judg-
ment has laid the foundations Of, we might al
most say the imperial greatness Of their own
States. If they have pointed out its results,
will you, the bene6ciaries, the men of this
State at this day, will you, after all this, with
experience admonishing you from every quar-
ter of this Republic, will you defeat this meas
ure of great public utility-the only measure
under heaven that will resuscitate our State ;
that will develope our mineral resources 1--WE
vitality to our agriculture and create COM
merce on our tide waters, which will outrival
New York? If you are determined to do
this great injury. vote down the appropriation
to the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad; but, if,
on the contrary, you are alive to your own in
terests; if you feel some solicitude in the pros
perity of the State (; if you want the dropping
energies of great people enkindled; if you
want your State to become rich, prosperous
and powerful, lend your assistance to single
measure, which will effect this great result !;
and posterity will bless and appreciate the
people, who had the courage. the wisdom, the
magnanimity and the enterprise, to lend them
selves to SO great policy.
If the testimony Of the scientific men Of this
continent is not sufficient evidence to you Of
the consequences to be derived from this great
work, cast your eyes for moment over the
map of the u S. Between the. two great
States Of Pennsylvania and Virginia, you see
the little State of Maryland appearance
she is geographical abortion. Her chief
city, Baltimore, at the head Of the Chesapeake
Bay, 200 miles from the Sea Coast, her boun-
ding line with Virginia devious and broken;
her area comparatively Insignificant; her wes-
tern boundaries separated by mountain bar
riers of an almost impregnable character from
the rest Of the State. Let us now, after direct
ing our attention to this little State, ask what
her people have accomplished, under the pres
sure of embarrassing financial and great natu-
raj difficulties, and we will answer: s'this peo-
pie, with all the odds against them, have &C.
complished the grand task of connecting the
West with the Chesapeake" We will tell
you ''that they accomplished. this result when
Tie stock ofthe Bait T. Ohio Railroad Com
pany was worth from 25 to 80 cents in the
dollar, and when the stock Of the State of
Maryland was low indeed" They undertook
and finished line Of railway from Cumber-
land to Wheeling, costing Is millions Of dol
lars. The City of Baltimore gave the Com
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