Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-02-10
Railroad Interests.

We have seen in the proceedings Of Con-
gress that the Hon. Ben. Eggleston, of Ohio,
has reported bill, in the H. of r., concerning
railroad from Washington city to Cincinnati,
which is ordered to be printed and referred to
the Committee on Commerce. Mr.. lngersoll,
Of H., has also bill, before the same House,
contemplating a STEM Of the Alex, i. & Fl.
r. R. into Washington.
By glance at any correct map of the y. S.
it will be seen that a railway line from Wash
ington, by Leesburg, Winchester, the South
Branch Valley Upshur 9. H., Lctart's Falls,
will be very direct to Cincinnati, and thence to
San Francisco, on the Pacific.
The argument for adopting the Alex, j.. &
II. r. r. line to the Valley of the South
Branch Of the Potomac, presents two most
important leading points
/. The Alex, i. & H. R. r. was designed
for a coal road to connect the Great Cumber
land Coal Field with the Potomac cities and
ports Incorporation Of this road in sour
principal line from the Metropolis Of the u. S.
to the Mississippi Valley, and thence to the
Pacific, by the Great Pacific railroad, will COM
plete the Coal road to within 20 miles Of the
coal fields, and thus ensure Immediate tonnage
for the road, on its eastern branch. This road
connects with the B. & 0. r. r., at New
creek station, % miles west Of Cumberland,
Nd
9. In the counties of Grant, Pen1lcton or
Highland it is asccrtainablc that the most
eligible railroad route, on the continent, across
the Alleghanies, does actually exist With
the fine port OF Alexandria just below Wash
ington, the diminished distance and better
passage of the Alleghanies, this seems to be
the best. most direct and altogether most desl
rabIe railroad rolte across the continent, from
the Atlantic Scaboard to the Bay of San Fran
cisco. - South Branch MteZligencer.
JACOBS WELL There has never been
doubt entertained by the most skeptical or crit
ical traveller regarding the authenticity of this
well. Beyond all question, it is the one at
which our Saviour rested as he journryed along
the route which travellers generally follow from
Jerusalem to Galilec. Every feature of the
landscape starts into life as We read the nara
tive of his memorable conversation with the
woman of Samaria The plain of corn6elds
which were then as now whitening to the har
vest the mountain rising above, on which the
Samaritan temple was built; the neighboring
town of Sechem; the Samaritans worshipping,
as they still do, toward this mountain" and
there only all are evidences Of its truth,
apart from the common and unbroken tradition
This well is, indeed, a. holy spot. One is
glad that a mcrcilul Providence has preserved
untouched and open to the eye of heaven, such
spots as the Mount of Olives, 'ovcr against
the Temple, and, above all, Jacobs we'll 1t
is now said, however that the Greek Church
have purchased it, as the site of a church, for
10000 piasters.
SILENCE IN NATURE.-It is remarkable
and very instructive fact, that many Of the
most important operations of nature are carried
on in unbroken silence There is no rushing
sound when the broad tide of sunlight breaks
on dark world and floods it with glory, as one
bright wave oyer another falls from the foun-
tain, millions of millions of miles away. There
is no creaking of heavy axles or grooming Of
cumbrous machinery az the solid earth wheel,
on its way, and every planet and system per-
forms its revolutions. The great trees bring
forth their boughs and shadow the earth be-
meath them-the plants cover themselves with
buds, and the buds burst into flowers but the
whole transaction is unheard. The change
from snow and winter winds to blossoms and
fruit and the Sunshine of summer,is seen in its
slow developement, but there is scarcely a
sound ia tell of the mighty Transformation