Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-04-23
The Valley Railroad.


In its zeal to make great commercial centres
Of the cities Of Eastern Virginia, our aoie co,
temporary, the Richmond Wing, Is betrayed
into the advocacy of propositions at war Win
the plainest principles Of political economy
For weeks past there has been an lnoessant hre
from is columns against the city Of Baltimore
and The Baltir5fe & Ohio Railroad Company,
which we cannot but regard as ill-timed, m
i,,s.. and Inconsistent with the enlightened and
liberal views which our contemporary entertainS
and knows 50 well how to express upon al
other questions
Because Baltimore proposes to furnish means
70 build the Winchester and Strasolrg Ia
and thence up the Valley 10 Salem; the y "' y
raises the hue and CRY Of ruin to the cites VI
Virginia. and calls for some legislation l"
,bwart the design Il would persuade the peo-
ne Of the Valley that " State pride and pa
t,;o,;s,r - demand nj our hands the instant and
.o,,,rl ,e;ectiou Of the proffered assistance Of
Baltimore in the development Of our immense
-ssourcss. Il would erect Chinese wall at
the mouth Of the Nalley, sn high that IN ear OF
corn could not be Thrown over into the terri
tory Of our 8 ser state Of Maryland 1t woald
carry It's protective policy TO the point q alb
solu:e exclusion, isolate the Lower Valley
counties entirely, and give 10 the rich counties
south Of Us but a single road crossing the VAL
lev at right angles; and this incnnSiderable
advantage would not be accorded if the road
did not run 70 Richmond, or if it bad eonHee-
tons BY which any Of the products Of the State
could by possibility reach rival market be-
yond It's limits.
Our people heartily desire the prosperity Of
Richmond. Norfolk and Petersburg and would
doubtless trade with them, If the lawsof trade
and their geographical position did not make 1t
impossible. except At a rujnoUS sacrifice. Bal
timore and Alexandra are our natural markets,
ard an the wordsoft the Rockingham Register
'.the great bulk Of the trade Of this magnih-
cent Valley. from Staunton north, is rs sure 10
seek those martS as that water runsdown hill.
For thirty years the development Of the VAL
lev has been retarded and its material interests
sacrificed TO the short-sighted jealousy Of the
tide water Cities.
Our impoyerishmett has been and can be Of
no benefit to them On the contrary. we are
clearly Of the opinion that the road from this
point 20 Salem whether built under the au-
spices Of the r & o. r. R. Co, or not, will
put the Valley in position to. contribute vastly
more 10 the prosperity Of Eastern Virginia
than would otherwise be the case.
With a large portion Of the Valley the cues
ton is between a railroad or no railroad mar
ket or 10 market, and it is not probable that
the y Li7 can convince the people. whose in
terests are at stake that il is their duty tn re-
iect the friendly overtures Of city whose
whole-souled sympathy md lavish material as
sstauce in the time II direSt need. has placed
US under enduring obligations Our people
rejoice ia the prospect Of great benefits from
this Valley road, aud are likewise glad that 1t
will give them an opportunity to reciProcate
the good Offices Of Baltimore in our behalf.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ca. is pow
erful, wealthy. and admirably managed. and
is graSping for the rich trade Of Tire South and
West-aud with a fair prospect, too, of getting
it but for all this we cannot see why the
Wig should regard That corporation as q ter
riblc monster to be Stunned and avoided It's
schemes are legitimate its purposes tranSpa-
rent We know what it is doing and the OBJ
iect il has in view. By means Of its Steamship
lines % Liverpool and Brpren and its railway
lines 70 the great trade centres Of the interior.
IL is aiming % make Baltimore the most attract
i've market In the country. Are the people of
\ Southern city to be viGGed and denounced
for their honorable ambition and lauiabe en-
terprize in avaihng themselves Of the advau-
tages Of their geographical position? Are the
people OF Virginia to be urged to oppose a cor
pcrati0n whose schemes, If successfully car
ried out, viii double the wealth and popua-
ton OF the fairest and most productive portion
oF her territory, simply because Baltimore will
share is increased prosperity? No. she will
he fairly entitled to il. She proposes to build
a road which would not otherwise be built 10
plough the ground which otherwise would re-
main unplouched and shall she not reapa por-
ton Of the harvest
We regret that the Wing has revived con-
troversy between the people Of the Valley and
our Virginia cities which we had hoped was
settled. There never was any occasion Tor IT,.
and it is less opportune now than ever. There
Is no antagonjs,n between our interests andthe
Wing conuot make il appear 50. 1.-THE con-
troversy, therefore, bedtop0ed, orif continued,
let 1t he carried on in good temper. We hope
20 hear no more charges against the Valley Of
Generalization and lack If devotion Virginia
either from Gov. Wise or the Wbig and we
sincerely trust that all arguments drawn from
the " last refuge Of ScoundrclS will he aban-
doned 70 the Scallawags and trooly Toll who
are seeking in the livery Of LOYALTY the de-
structon Of every thing worth living for.
[ U'Wchester Timjs