Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-10-12
RAILROAD MEETING.


andoah Valley Railroad with the Cumber-
land Valley Railroad, &C., the committees APP
pointed for the counties of Jefferson, Clarke,
Warren, Page, Rockingham and Augusta,
met at the American Hotel in Harrisonburg,
on the 9th instant. The commissioners named,
in the charter of the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad company, who had been requested
to meet the committee, were not all present.
The Committee was called to order by Hon.
VIM. Mines, chairman of the former meet
ing; and, on his motion, P. B. Borst, Esq,
of Page, was chosen chairman, and B. F.
Beall and R. d. Cushen appointed secreta-
ries. On taking the chair, Mr.. Borst made
an appropriate and able speech in favor of the
extension of the Cumberland Valley to the
Virginia line, and the construction of the
Shenandoah Valley road from that point
through the fertile region watered by the
Shenandoah. He said the people of his
county were in earnest in their efforts to Sc
cure the construction of this road, and would
no doubt vote for the proposed subscription
of 100000 to aid in building it through the
county.
The proceedings of the former meeting
were read by one of the secretaries.
1t was moved that all gentlemen present
from East Rockingham and Page county be
invited to participate in the proceedings of
the meeting
The name of Mr.. John R. Rust was SUBJ
stituted for that of DR.. Samuel Buck, on the
Warren committee.
Wr. Travers, of Jefferson, then delivered
an able and interesting address relative to the
proposed road, its great importance, and the
prospect of its speedy construction. He gave
an interesting account of the efforts that had
been made in its behalf, which we are sorry
we cannot report at length.
James E. Stewart, Esq, of Page, also made
a spirited address in favor of the construc-
ton of the proposed road. He said this
route, with its Northern and Southern con-
nections, would be the great thoroughfare for
trade and travel between New York and New
Orleans. 1twould be the most direct and
expeditions channel of communication be-
tween the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic
Ocean.
Hon A. R. Boteler made forcible speech
in favor of the Page Valley route, and show
ed that it was the most practicable, direct and
important in every point of visw.
On motion of Mr.. Travers, a committee
was appointed, to consist of one from each
county represented, to prepare resolutions for
the action of the meeting. Whereupon the
chair appointed said committee, with the
mover as chairman. After brief consuta-
ton, the committee, through their chairman,
Mr.. Trayers, reported the following pream-
BILE and resolutions, which were adopted =
WHEREAS, The route of the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad, from the Potomac river to the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad at Salem, Va,
through the counties OF Jefferson Clarke. Warren,
Page. Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, BOte
tourt and Roanoke, and which is known as the Lu-
ray Valley route, presents combination of advan-
tages for favorable location OF the road possessed
by no other route that has been suggested be
obtained-being the shortest, most direct, with the
the cheapest in it's first cost the least expensive
in its maintenance af1ording more needed iacili-
ties for travel and trade to greater portion of the
people, and promising more profit on the invest
ment-running through nine of the richcst
ties of Virginia. the wheat crops of which alone this
els, whilst the inexhaustibe mineral wealth along
the route referred to (which is now undeveoPcd for
the want of transportati0n) would in itself make the
road remunerative, therefore,
l. RESOLVED, That efforts be made at once to or
ganize the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. With the
view OF its con nection with the Cumberland Valley
road at the Potomac river, and that il is the opinion
of this convention that the most practicable route
for the said road is through Jefferson, Clarke and
Warren counties. into and through the Lurny VAL
ley TO Salem, on the Virginia and Tennessee rail-
road.
2 RESOLVED, That the chairman of this commit
tee appoint committee of five, whose duty it shall
be TO confer personally with the President and Di
rectorR of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Compa-
ny in reference to the objects of this meeting.
,. Resolved, That we recommend to the coun-
ties interested in the Luray Valley route, TO make
appropriations possible for the purpose of
dcfraying the expenses of preliminary surveye OF
the line we propose.
4. RESOLVED. That if the route we propose be
adopted, we will do everything in our power to ia
cilitate the construction Of the road. and that
ieel authorized to make similar pledge for the peo
pie of the counties we respectively represent.
S. RESOLVED, That there be appointed by the
chairman committee of six from each of the coun
ties along the line of the proposed route of the Shen
andoah railroad, to collect funds TO defray the
penses of each county for the survey of the of
the said road through the same and that engineers
be employed by said committee to make such sur
6. RESOLVED. That the committee named in the
foregoing resolution wait on the citizens along the
line surveyed TO ure the most favorable terms
release OF damages, from the property holders q f.
fected by the location of the said road
7. RESOLVED, That the commissioners named in
from Clarke, Warren Page, Rockingham, Angus
ia. Rockbridge, Botetourt and Roanoke counties be
scripion to the stock of the road and that they be
requested to report monthly to the Hon. VIM. Mines
the said subscriptions shall reach the sum of $780,
600 proper steps shall be taken for organization
of the said company.
g. RESOLVED, That the foregoing preamble and
resolutions be published in the Valley newspapers,
and that copies of the came be sent by the chairman
to the Presiden nd Directors of the Cumberland
Valley and Pennsylvania Central railroad company.
1t was also
RESOLVED, That competent Mineralogist be EN-
Poyed to examine the country along the line of the
proposed route of the road.
The chair appointed the following gentle-
men a committee to confer with the President
and Directors of the Cumberland Valley Rail-
road, as required by the I'd resolution
w: II. Travers, A. R. Boteler, W. Mines, jr.,
J. ID. Stewart; and, on motion, the chairman,
P. B.Borst, was added to the committee.
The following committee, consisting of six
from each county along the line, was appointed
by the chair, under the 5th resolution, to coll
lect funds to defray the expenses of each
county for survey of the route of the said