The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-02-11
why VIC sheu,a have Rail Roads.

The last number ct the Railroad journal .
in forcible article arguing for cheap freight
railways says: 1t is assumed that fuel alone
would in little time afford three fourths Of
thc tonnage freight to pass by rail. The fuel
to-day for the people of the New England
States, New York, New Jersey, Maryland,
and the District of Columbia, costs them far
more than their bread-in many cases twice
as much. This may be startling to many
people, yet there is another fact more start
ling, and of great moment to our people. In
the last report from the United States Depart.
ment of Agriculture spresented avast amount
of information and statistics in regard to the
consumption of wood in our country and the
effects of the wholesale destruction Of our
forests, and conclusion is reached that
"7here sciM be an actual famine for good IN
this country acit7tin the neat thirty gears" In
New York State alone, from 1850 to 1860,
there we're reclaimed from the forests and
brought under cultivation 1867 ,433 acres Of
land. It is estimated that of the $1,000 900
acres of new land in the United States brought
under cultivation, two-ffths were timber land,
and in like ratio in 1870, the calculation will
be 100000, GOO acres reclaimed.
What are we coming to, and what is the
remedy The great mineralregion, composed
of Maryland, Pennsylvania, East and West
Virginia, is to be the future basis Of supply
of mineral, in lieu Of wood fuel Assuming
this to be correct, Congress should not hcsi-
tate to grant a net work Of charters which
have in the general result the benefit TO whole
communities; nor capitalists be slow in call
culating the chances Of success in the, enter
prise which develop the resources of these
vast mineral depostes. The time is not far
distant when the demand for ponderous freights
will be but feebly responded to, unless our
people have her selfprotection, more outlets
and facilities for cheap living. fal ~,
Added to this the great scarcity and con-
sequent high price of fuel in this section,
makes the extension of the G.. O. r R., as
well as the building Of the Valley r. R. Of
the utmost Importance, no wood and no coal /.
1t will be sad thing for our children to
suffer on our account 'e
RAILRoAD.-On Monday last, says the Rich
mond Dispatch, the ceremony of breaking
ground on the Norfolk and Great Western
railroad took place on the hill opposite Dan
vile on the north side of Dan river. A
large assembage of people Of the vicinage
was present. Colonel Flournoy made one of
his eloquent speeches, and was followed by
Colonel Blow. OF Norfolk, who made aspecch
to the audience, in which he drew an encour-
aging picture of the future of the Norfolk
and Great Western railroad and of Virginia.
The crowd then followed Colonel Flournoy,
the president of the road, to the point where
the work Of grading was to begin. There
the Colonel took the spade in hand, and with
that physical activity and force which they
who know him know he possesses in high de-
gree, he sent down the spade we'll to the
handle, and quickly displacing as much earth
as could be lifted by it, he raised it high and
flung it aside with flourish that we'll express
cd the vim and vigor with which he intends
to prosecute the great undertaking to which
he has put his heart and hand. Success to
him-true type, as he is, Of the spirit and
energy Of Virginia; never losing hope, never
ceasing to struggle braycly in every exigency.