The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-11-25
Our Railway Connections.

iety to the construction of railroad from
the Potomac along the entire. length Of the
Valley to Salcaa- Too poor to build it them.
selves, they have appealed to Baltimore and
the Northern States for assistance From
the fact that Baltimore had continuous
line from that city to Harper's Ferry, and
thence through Winchester, Strasburg and
Woodstock to Harrisonburg, (within rs miles
of us) we naturally looked first, and with
most hope to Baltimore. We thought it so
obviously to the interest of Baltimore, to Ell
up: promptly, the gap of 25 miles, between
Harrisonburg and Staunton, and afterwards.
to supply the only deficient link (between.
Staunton and Salem in her lines Of commu-
nicatioa with the West and Southwest, that
we could not permit ourselves to doubt, that
an enlightened sclfinterest would prompt
her to do So We have however, thus far,
looked in vain. Doubt and hesitation have
ruled her counssls, and it would seem as if
she were about to let the golden opportuni
ty, to command the trade of the Valley and
to compete for that Of the West and South
west, pass by, unimprovcd. $751; ss7-sssa
But if Baltimore is blind or Indifferent
TO tie agricultural and mineral productions
of this favored region, we are grati6ed to
fud that other cities and corporations cherish
lively sense of their Importance. 4o.s
P trI<, d., 20 Co,,t,,1 u sDo,ooc,,
a company Of vast wealth and enterprise,
with broader views than those which
seem to have governed the leading men
Of Baltimore, are now earnestly turning
their attention to the trade of the Valley.
A number Of ;Pennsylvaniaps have settled in
the Valley of Virginia Among them is
Mr. Mines, our member elect to Congress.
These gentlemen have made themselves ia
miiar with the agricultural aud mineral re-
sources Of the Valley, and they have made
the facts known to their friends in Pennsyl-
vania. In several public addresses, (and
among others in his address at our Agricultu-
raj fair on the 18th, ult., Mr. Mines said,
that there was iron ore enough, in the Page
Valley alone, to keep 100 furnaces aat work
for 500 years go -
Facts ike these, could not fail to attract
the attention Of the iron-men of Pennsylva-
MIA. But we beg to add, to Mr.. Mines state
ment, that the ores of the North Mountain,
are still more abundant, and Of quite as good
quality, as those Of the Page Valley.
The effect of the information thus commu.
Gated to the iron masters of Pennsylvania
has been, to stimulate strong desire among
them to see these vast sources'of wealth prop
erly developed 3s.1,ss.
,Thc first stepin the enterprise, is, to open
railway communication with the sections in
which they abound ss p 7aA
Accordingly, we find, that charter has
been obtained fora railroad from the Poto.
mac extending through the Page Wiley, in
the neighborhood Of the iron deposits Of
that region The ultimate destination Of
that road is still uncertain. Whether it will
come up the Valleys of the Shenandoah
Middle River and Lewis Greek to Stauuton
and thence to some point or the Virginia and
Tennessee Road, or pursue. the Valley of the
South River, has not yet been determined.
That this road will be made, we think is re-
duced almost to certainty. Surveys are
now IN progress, and we believe portions Of
the connecting links, North of the Potomac,
are in process Of construction. Mr. Scott,
the President of the Pennsylvania Central,
is a man Of enlarged views. The means at
his control are. ample He, is no Woutter
Van Twiller. He is not addicted to doubts
and hesitation He will not "dilly daily"
with the great work before him. Nor will
he wait to drive hard bargains with the i'm
poverished people of the Valley. He takes
enlightened and statesmanlike views of the
advantages of this road, not merely to the
people of Pennsylvania, who reside in the
State, but to those who may be disposed to
migrate to Virginia, to build up their fortunes
here aep t4of 9afA@ 7s1
we are prepared, then, to extend the right
hand Of fellowship and hearty "God speed"
to the Pennsylvania Central, in its great and
bene6cent enterprise. - s.aa
When this work shall have been completed,
and when the vast trade of the. Valley which
has, for years past, been knocking, in vain, at
the doors of Baltimore Tor admission shall
have been diverted to other cities, then she
will see the error Of her policy, and Of that Of
her great corporation, the Baltimore & Ohio.
Railroad 56 .a.f 81 s..sts5 .-st......t 1
We must confess that Baltimore was our
first love. To her we therefore made our
first overtures of commercial union To her
we sent our COMMITTEES to propose an alliance.
We delegated some of our most intelligent
and enterprizing citizens to make our propo-
sails. These proposals have not been accept
ed. We may say our suit has been reject
ed Having no Partially for commercial
isolation or celibicy, VIC are inclined, now, to
turn our attention III another direction, and
to accept the, first good offer Of union that
presents itself! When Mr.. Scott comes
along with his proposition for union, the
yy.nor III. l.1.,,l;nr r,oidnp will ;nol;na