Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-09-03
Our Valley PrOspeotsI


The editor Of the Winchester Times, on
recent sCjOurn at Berkeley Springs, has had
full aud free conversation with Mr. james L.
Randolph, chief engineer of the B. l. o. r.
R., as to the prospective railroad system of
our glorious Valley. Neither Mr.. Randolph,
nor the intelligent editor of the Times, have
by any means Overdrawn the picture and its
contamination is but shortly distant in the fu-
ture. We have been expecting for some
weeks to present series Of articles from one
Of. our most intelligent aud best Uniformed cit
liens on this very subject, and the magni~
tude Of the enterprise and the incalculable
advantages resulting to our people, will star
tie in wOnderment even tho most sanguine.
Our friend, no less than the best informed
whom We have heard speak of the matter, re-
CARDS Harper's Ferry as the very eatrepOt of
this vast enterprise, which Is to unite by iron
bands, the shores of the Mississippi with the
sea.beaten beaches of the Atlantic. AS
to the sanguine hopes OF Mr.. Randolph
for the early realization of the great work,
the Times says
Mr.. r. informed us that the Washington
County Rail Road will be completed to Kee-
dysville by the LIST of September, on which
day the trains will commence running regu>
larly to that point, and by the LIST of October
to HagerstOwn, where it will connect with the
Cumberland ValIy Rail Road. The engineers
and contractors have displayed great energy
in hurryiug up the work in order that the road
might be ready to transport the present crop
of Washington county to BaltimOre-and in
time, also, for the dedication. of the Antietam
Cemetery, which takes place on the 18th Of
September. The road crosses the Antietam
about two miles from the battle. ground.
The completion of this road will establish
communication by rail via WeVerton, Har-
per's Ferry and Winchester between the Cum.
berland and Shenandoah Valleys, and facili-
tate, trade and intercourse of mutual bene-
fit to their inhabitants. The time from Win
chester to Hagerstown will be about five
hours.
As soon as the terms of sale are agreed up.
on and the Winchester and Potomac road
passes into the hands of the b. & o. R. r.
Co., the construction of the Winchester g. Sa-
lem Rail road will be begun. The preIimi-
nary surveys have made, satisfactory charters
obtained aud everything is ready, waiting the
fiat OF President Graaett.
The great valley which stretches from near
| New York in a sOuthwesterly course through
the Cumberland aud Shenandoah Valleys to
North Alabama embraces the richest agricul-
tural soil in the United States and is destined,
with such development of it's inexhaustlbIe
resources as the projected line of railroads
will bring about, to exert greater influence
upon trade and commerce than any similar
area in the world. The products OF the soil
and the local trade of this great valley are
alone sufficient to sustain two roads, independ.
ent of the fact that the Valley route being
the most direct between the great centres of
New York and New Orleans, it will eventu>
ally become the highway for transportation,
commercial aud social intercourse between the
North aud far South
This road will be built in obedience to the
natural law Of trade and without reference to
State lines the interests Of particular cities,
which was the great defect Of the old Vir>
GINA system. Running through the very
heart to the extremes of the Union this road
will do more for the reconstruction of the
| Southern States and the revival of friendly
intercourse and feeling between tie North
aud South than all the legislation Of Congress
1t will make a continuous village of our
Valley, with here aud there a magnificent
interior city, with choice of markets and
trade connections North, South, East and
| West; it will develop our agricultural and
mineral resources which now lie comparatively
dormant and bring into requisition the eligible
sites and waterpOWer for manufactures of all
kinds which abound throughout the whole
length of the proposed route. The energies
of our people will be quickened and as
matter of course their wealth and business
greatly augmented. When President Garrett
realizes this vision his name will rank higher
than that of Dewitt Clinton, and his reputa.
ton will go down to future ages as 6eue-
factor of his country.
The immediate good effect of the compile
ton of the Washington county road will be
realized in the fall of the price of coal, which
we hope will give and impetus to the manu-
featuring interests of Winchester.