Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-03-05
Baltimore and the Virginia valley
Railroad Connections.

In view of the appeal now made TO the clti-
Gems Of Baltimore for subscriptions to the stock
of the Winchester and Strasburg Railroad Com
pany. we would again call the attention Of the
community to the great importance OF that en-
terprise to the interests of this city.
The valley Of Virginia, which Is designed 70
be penetrated by this rad, is, as We have be-
fore said. one of the most productive aud health
full on this continent. The fact that 1t recov-
cred sooner than any other portion OF Virginia
or probably Of the whole South, from the raw
aces of the warts sufficient evidence OF the Ter
tiity of the soil and the enterprise OF the peo-
ple. The counties of Frederick, Shenandoah,
Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbndge, Botetourt
and Roanoke. which, in the order IN which
they are named, constitute the lne which the
road will traverse from Winchester to Salem,
are the garden spot of Virginia. Their miner
al wealth is not surpassed, II equallec, IN ex-
tent and variety in the Atlantic States, ana 10
the production Of the cerialS the valley is look
ed upon as the granary OF that commonwealth.
The extension of this road will also, by Its con-
nection with the Virginia railroads, afford Ia
cilites for travel TO some OF the Virginia water
ing places which are now reached with delay
and difficulty
The great advantage Of the proposed line OF
improvement is its communication with various
Virginia railroads designed TO link Virginia
with the West and South.
This article is from the Baltimore Sun, which
paper enters into some details to show the
number, extent and advantages Of the Railroad
connections with the West the distance being
much less between the Atlantic and Pacific
by more Northern routes. ltquotes from
Hunts Magazine and says:
The authority before us proceeds to predict
that the line within Virginia must become one
of the great through lines Of the continent, with
its interior connections, commanding the I'M
mense trade Of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers,
and ultimately sharing in the rich traffic that
will be opened up by the completion Of the
! Union Pacific railroad.
Ii is with this great system OF roads that
Baltimore has an opportunity of connecting it.
self by a subscription of $500 900 to the Win
chester and Strasburs Railroad Company,
which has been incorporated by the Lcgisa-
ture Of Virginia. The Importance OF this en-
! terprise needs no comment 1t has been long
desired by the people Of the Valley of Virginia,
who have no railroad outlet to the Northern
markets, aud among whom the expenditure re-
quired by the improvement would be, under
their present circumstances, of no small adyan-
tage. The whole subject, so far as the inter-
ests of Virginia are 10 be effected by it, was
thoroughly discussed in the debate in the Vir-
GINA Legislature on the act incorporating the
ROAD, and it is fair to infer from the passage of
! the act that it was a scheme which consulting
the interests Of all sections of the State, the
/ Legislature did not feel itself at liberty to re-
ject The existing improvements Of Virginia
cannot be injured 10y measure which will give
a new impulse TO local prosperity and to the
! development Of the resources in tho West and
/ Southwest, which will he more THAI sufficient
for all lines Of transportation to the great mar
ketS of the country.