Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-10-13
gplrlt If getferson,
LGCAL MISCELLANY.

Valley Railroads.
The railroad improvements, now in opera.
tion and in process of construction, in the
Valley of Virginia are attracting the atten-
tion of the press and capitalists in and out of
the Slate of Virginia. The immense agri-
cultural products of our great Valley, as yet
but partially developed, are exciting interest,
and inviting competition in the way of rail-
road facilities, and soon the markets of Bal
timorc, Alexandria aud Washington, will be
easily accessible to the trade of the entire
Valley. On this subject, the Baltimore Sun
of Saturday last has the following article:
The papers i'll Alexandria and the Valley
of Virginia announce with much satisfaction
the progress of the Manassas branch OF the
Orange, Alexandria and Manassas ruilroad-
This railroad was, before the war, an indie
pendent railroad extending from its since IA.
nous Manassas junction with the Orange and
Alexandra railroad, TO Strasburg, Shenan-
doah county, county adjoining Frederick
county, in which, at Winchester, the railroad
from Hurpcr's Ferry, (worked ny and in con-
nect;on with the Baltimore l. Ohio road) ter
inmates, short extension of which would
unite it with the Manassas. Since then the
road has become branch of the Orange and
Alexaudria railroad, a road which unltes Al
G cambria and Lynchburg and connects with
the Virginia and Tennessee road aud through
it with the whole network oil Southwestern
railroads The Manassas branch OF the Or-
auge and Alexandria railroad pursues a course
somewhat northwcstwarly from MANASSAS
Junction, crossing the Blue Ridge at Manassas
Gan. aud traversiny Warren county, and
L. - almost
at right angles near Sirusburg, aud thence
proceeds enthusiastically almost through the
centre of the famous Virginia Valley. The
cars on this road ale running TO Mount
jackson. in Shenandoah county. and the road
is expected to reach Ilarrisumburs, the county
seat of Rockiu.h am county. by the first OF
December This place is twenty-five miles
northeast Of the Huuri>hing town OF Staunton,
the county-seat of Augusta. The valley re-
rion penetrated by this Improvement Is Que
of the most fertile in this country The farm
in. in il has always been ecnmumical aud Ju"
dicious. 1t was largely settled at an carly
period of our history by Germans from Penn
sylrani,l, and by Scotch Irish, both industrious
and thrifty races. The opening OF the road
10 HarriSouburg is to be appropriately cele'
= hra;cd by the people OF that place, WI" nave
also extended an invitation to cItzcns "f Al
exandrIa to participate IN the lcS'lE'''c' VI '''o
day The Alexandria Gazette antIpateS great
C numerical advantages from throwing tue
bulk of the trade of SO fertile and Favored Il
region into the shipping port of Alexandria,
a CITY which has naturally very time harh"r,
the river opposite to the town being nearly Il
mile in breadth. with Il good depth i'll the
ship chanuel. which washes the shore. The
opening of this road, however-as must be the
case with all other roads Into the Virginia
Valley-cannot but be Of more or less hene>
fit to BALTIMORE Besides the road from liar
rer's Ferry. by which further connection is
to he secured down the Valley, Alexandria
itself has that direc. railroad connection wnh
our city which will give the benefit OF this
market to rcople gu the new line Of road soon
10 be opened.