Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-02-27

| Connellsville road is but 326 miles. We thus
obtain direct line under Baltimore and Pitts
burg influences, less so materially than the DIS
tance between Pittsburg aud Philadelphia.
We cannot only command this difference OF
twenty-niue miles, but with a line of superior
| grades. -H
Whilst the maximum grade OF the Pennsyl-
vania road is ninety-six feet 10 the mile, II is
expected that the Pttsburg and ConnellSvile
road viii be constructed with maximum grade
of but fifty feet to the mile. Ihusin the equa-
tion the distance will be further largely in ia
vor of the Connelsvile road. Pittsburg viii
thus obtain her shortest path 10 the sea, an ad-
vantage which must necessarily add to her pros
perity. The entire Northwest will participate
in this marked and practical advantage Of Sc
curing the shortest and cheapest outlet to the
ocean.
The Pittsburg and Connellsvlle road pre-
sents, in a national point of view, very i'm
portaut relation. The distance from Pittsburg
to Cumberland via Connellsville is l4S miles; ;
from Cumberland TO Point Of Rocks l09 miles /;
from the Point of Rocks TO Washington, by the
Metropolitan road. ~ miles, making the dis
tance from Pittsburg to Washington via Con-
nellsville road 299 miles. From Pittsburg TO
Washington via the Pennsylvania Central and
Harrisburg and Northern Central roads the dis
tance is 374 miles, making difference In favor
of the vast travel Of the Northwest, as well as
Of Western Pennsylvania, from PittSburg to
Washington of seventy-five miles when the
PittSburg and Connellsville, aud Metropolitan
roads are completed.
The Baltimore aud Ohio Company will be en-
Il Ii hrp VIA lp
Metropolitan road and the city Of Washington,
tn Baltimore-thus giving them the advantage
of visiting or seeing the national capitol en-
route and avoiding the curves on the present
line in the valley Of tine Patapsco, whilst, prac-
tically the new line can be thus used with e.
quail economy.
The community has not been asked for aid
heretofore in carrying ont many great improve
ments benef,ting largely the city Of Baltimore.
The Bremen line has been established without
other contribution than that afforded by the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad The capital for
the Liverpool line has been supplied exclusive
" hy the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. And
now. when our fellow-citizenS will be asked to
aid by subscriptions to the Winchester aud
Strasburg road to the extent Of four hundred
thousand dollars. and thus open line extend
ing one hundred miles from Harpers Ferry,
through the great Valley Of Virginia, and the
city of Baltimore is asked to cooperate in ar
rangements 10 secure the early construction OF
the Pittsburg and Connellsvile road it is trust
ed that such energy will be infused, and such
efforts made as will accomplish both results at
an early day.
Baltimore by these means, can be placed IN
a position to realize all ber geographical adj
vantages and thus prepare TO accomplish the
great commercial destiny that awaits her. Her
business and connections can be rapidly in
creased and developed, and in time her great
natural advantages, combined with proper en-
ergy and enterprise on the part of her citizens,
will cause her TO rank in the very first class oil
the commercial cities of the world.
The board has decided to aid the Orange
Alexandria and Manassas railroad in extend
ing its line from Strasburg TO Harrisonburg,
upon agreement for the working of that line
in connection with the Baltimore and Ohio road,
upon terms mutually satisfactory
The company has also authorized the sub
| scription Of S1O0.0 900 to the stock of the Win
chester and Strasburg road This road will be
nineteen miles 10 length, extending from Win
chester to Strasburg. The condition of the
subscription is that $500, 600 of stock must be
subscribed before any Of the subscriptions will
be binding. That amount is estimated to be
the cost Of the road BY the completion OF
this short link Of 10 miles, as the Baltimore and
Ohio Company now has permanent control OF
the Winchester and Potomac road, in connee-
ton with the agreement with the Orange Alex
andria and Manassas road, the merchants OF
/ Baltimore will hrve opened for them line ex-
tending from Harper's Ferry TO Harrisonburg
being 10l miles, through the fertile Valley OF
Virginia. Subscriptions in this case will not
be gratuities, rs it is expected the road will be
productive. II will doubtless be the policy Of
the Baltimore and Ohio Company, when the
Winchester and Strasburg road is constructed,
to lease the line and pay an interest upon its
costs. By immediate action on this subject,
the line being remarkably free from difficulties,
can be constructed in brief period so that
within twelve months the line through 70 Har-
risonburg can be in operation When this
road shall be opened, efforts can be properly
made for the extension Of the Valley line 10
connect with the Virginia and Tennessee road
in the vicinity Of Salem, and a route can be
thus obtained which will afford to the produc-
tive regions extending through to Louisiana
the advantages Of transacting their business
with Baltimore by an economical route.
- O.