The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-03-25
Baltimore, gained 100 miles by land, 70

OdItliHoAc, SdiAou loO mllcS Wy lduu, ~
miles by water-l7O miles.
This difference in distance alone insnres
monopoly to the Staunton route. But Bal
more's Briarean arm don't reach Cincin-
natti, nor Louisville when it reaches Sa-
lem, and your terminus at the Falls of
Kanawha even reaches the trade of both.
If Baltimore does reach Salem, she will
tap far South Of the centre of trade of the
Ohio Valley-she will tap Memphis, sand
if she turn some Memphis trade at the an
gle of Salem, it may we'll be calculated
that some of it, if so turned, will be bro't
to Staunton, and Staunton is a sspoint de
appui" for both Richmond and Baltimore,
and she will have the markets of both or
choice Of either. But, I repeat, whilst
the Salem Road will NOT harm you, it will
probably benefit you and will not compete
with your Covington line, get ii ,uiH not get
yoa any trade FROM Cincinnati and Louis
vi1le, nor from the Ohio Pulley esrtre, and
that is the main point for yop-to get to
the Ohio Valley centre is all in all for
your interests, and no competition can be
started with you but one, (which I will
tough before I am done, for that Supreme
prize. If you will let her, Baltimore will
run far around you, cross the Ohio at Par
kersburg and reach Cincinnati by the Ma
rietta Railroad, and then she will run
through you to Salem, and take you, if you
will, along with her 24O miles out Of your
way to the outlet Of foreign commerce !;
but that soiW not get you any trade miA
Irans- .ANeghany Virginia, especially the
KanapAa Valley, nor with the Centre of
the Ohio Valley nor smth the North West
It will abandon all trade and it's profits to
Baltimore, and leave, ingloriously leave
her monopolist Of internal commerce with
the Chesapeake. She can never compete
with your line, if you will only construct
it. Hersprofts now will be yours then,
and every line she constructs across your
line will only be rill to swell your food
Of trade from the Great West You can
command the most Of that trade, and help
to forward it.
It so happens that / have studied the
plan of the route from Richmond to Lynch
burg, and from Lynchburg up the James
to Covington. | have n9 expectation that
Lynchburg will ever undertake the work
in my time, if ever. I myself have tried
to urge her and Richmond to begin it, and
now I have no hope of Central line to
the Ohio but by the Va. Central Railroad.
Richmond has already made her subscrip-
ton to the line through Staunton, and she
can do no more. This is not the first
time that I have implorcd our people to
unite in Central line to the Ohio. l
urged it whilst Governor of the State;
have presented it to foreign and domestic
capitalists; I have presented it urgently upon
the Agricultural interests of the State and
here repeat what have written in connec
ton with the construction of the Newport
News and Richmond Railroad
If this, and amply much more can be said
OF this great central line from Virginia's sea
board to the Ohio Valley centre, then I ask
you viii you let Lynchburg or Baltimore
bear the palm and pocket the profits, whilst
you have all the vantage ground in fact to take
both from all competitors, and to make all
competition, with each other and with you.
so clash, as to contribute Inevitably to your
strength and wealth? If after you, not 9TH
ers, have completed the Chesa peake 4 Ohio
connection.
IfLynehburg and Baltimore desires the CON
nection at Covlngton, my advice is to let her
have it. 1t will but enhance your profits, if
you hare the control. There will be more
than trade and freights enough for you both
You both will soon require double tracks -
Each branch will be an advantage to the 9th
er in attracting freights to the main trunk
west Of Covington, and that trunk aoiU Be
yours for whatever part you contribute But,
what if Lynchburg and Richmond shall CON
tinue to construct a direct line from the latter,
via the former, to Covington ? and you shall
take no adequate part in constructing the
main trunk west of Covington, and have no
control over its management? The trade will
be drawn from you, and your shorter line
eastward by % miles gill be in vain, and never
be constructed and your whole connection will
be to you broken promise and faded hopes.
But this brings me to another more fearful
and more certain apprehension Of danger to
your permanent and perpetual interests. |
haye said not only to your interests, but to
your entire relations and your honor l have
suufed this danger in the tainted brcezes Of
these disastrous times. The theme may be
doubtful one to touch upon, but venture to
tread its topics at whatever hazard, for your
sake and more for my own. have had and
endured all sorts Of evil dreams, all sorts Of
dreaded Thoughts upon the issues and the
fates of these days of dire disaster and dismay.
| had thought that the worst had come to tie
worst for Virginia, but the suspicion of aneth-
er disnacmberment Of her sacred domain had
never entered my mind until late signs (Which
| don't mistake, | Think appeared to me in
my earnest and anxious inquiries about this
Central line Of the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail-
road, in connection and contrast with the mann
moth means and potent policy of the Ba1ti
more &, 0. Co., Is that aspiring company
ceasing to be more commercial and trans
porting company becoming to be powerful
political machine Is there a plan to block
back all considerable ,cestern trade from ev-
cry port or place for port South Of Bali
more on the shores Of the Chesapeake Bay !?
Can any plan do it? If any, what? Here
is one, and but enc which can do it, and that
is already colared ont on the latest map pub
lished by the Baltimore u Ohio Company 1t
paints and shades the KuNey pith West Isr-
gin'a! Why? Is there a CO. piracy ii
Baltimore to bribe the Valley of Virginia, by
all her works, to consent to Union with West
Virginia which is already in the grasp of Bal
timore? II there be, it is a contemplated
ane moro shameful than tho fraud If nrao