The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-05-13
The Valley Railroad.

The delegation to Baltimore to ask the
subscription of 100000 to the stock of
the Valley Railroad was received with the
utmost cordiality and hospitality by that city.
We have already described the formal prescn-
tation of this memorial, through the chair
man of the delegation Gen. Robert L. Lee
to the Mayor and city councils, in presence
of an immense throng of citizens, who GER
tainly manifested much good will to the
scheme and eheercd Gen. Lee to the echo;
subsequently formal audience before the
city councils, assembled in joint convention,
was given to the delegation, who then pre-
secuted also memorial signed by some two
thousand of the leading business men of
Baltimore earnestly recommending" the
councils to grant the aid asked, and Messrs.
Col. Pendlcton, Of Botetourt, Col. Christian,
Judge Shelley, Col. Hartman of Augusta,
by request of the delegation addressed the
Councils at length. Col. Bolivar Christian,
following Col. Pendleton) said
They had come this evening to second the
memorial Of the merchants and other busi-
ness men of Baltimore, earnestly urging the
City Councils, as their representatives, to
grant the aid asked by this delegation for
the Valley Railroad. This memorial was
signed impromptu. on the mere request of
personal strangers, and all within few hours
by the solid men of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
men who have built up your city, and who
are willing on their judgment to meet taxes
necessary for the end proposed, and whose
interests depend on the future of this city.
We are not here to solicit a gratuity but
knowing as we do the great benefits which
must accrue from this Valley Railroad as
well to Baltimore as to ourselyes-we come
in this apparently persistent manner to ask
Your aid and friendly cooperation in build
ing it. Even if it should not pay you in d.
yidends on the stock. at once, it will pay q
thousand times over in the increased trade
it will give to the city. Your predecessors,
whose portraits adorn these walls, wisely ex-
pended large sums in erecting monumenrs-
providing parks, &C., which have paid we'll,
not in dividends bus in making the city at
tractive; they taxed the then small city some
S4,OO0000 to build.the Bait. & Ohio Road
through comparatively sterile country over
rough mountains, and the result is you have
got back the tax spent for stock in that road
and the premium on it now gives you 81 ,000,-
600 clear-besides, the city has quadrupled
in population, and more than quadrupled in
wealth il consequence of. that tax.
The Valley Railroad is not an adventure
in a new and sterile region, but through ono
of the richest sections of the whole country
The marginal production is sufficient of it.
self to support railroad, and it is SO fenced
in on each side by mountains that it has nc
competition to fear. 1t is to supply miss.
ing link in the great chain of railroads
stretching from North to South--to the
great cotton region, the exporting materia
to supply freights to your line of Ocean
Steamers already success. The Engineer
of the B. & O. company who made the recent
survey Of this route, reports officially to his
President that this Valley Railroad would
from its superior advantages, become virtu-
ally the main stem Of the B. & 0. R. R.
1t is historical fact that the soil and eli
mate of this Valley is not unsurpassed any.
where During the late war the order te
the Federal General commanding there was
to devastate and destroy until not even q
crow would fly over the Valley without carry.
ing its rations," and the order was carried
out only too faithfully; the country was swept
MS with the bosom of destruction. This was
ordered because the Valley was the granary
which fed the Confederate army. But its
fertile soil which rcnews itself ever, and its
climate which braces and gives energy to its
people, have restored plenty again. 1t only
wants way to market for its surplus produce
to rebuild its burnt barns, and mills, and add
yet thousand fold to its former productive
ness. Baltimore has now the first chance
and if this is not seized it will perhaps prove
the last chance for her to help to build this
road develope this inexhaustible region
Forty years ago Baltimore begged and was
refused by Virginia the privileges of build
ing this very road, not only all at her own
COST but offered besides to pay annually into
the Virginia Treasury bonus of SO cents
on every passenger and ton of freight pass
ing over it forever. This bonus would now
amount-judging by similar roads-to some
100000. Virginia has now, in sympa-
thy for the losses and suAerings of the Val
ley and in the necessity Of giving every op-
sportunity to develope the wealth of the
State, granted this privilege gratis. but il
not at once secured, the charter itself may
be repealed by the next Legislature, as pow
erful influences are already at work and
growing up against it.
You have the legal power to aid, and Bal
timore has the aid now too. of some sentimen.
isna to co operate. The sympathies of the
people are warmly grateful to Baltimore for
her generous aid throughout the late war
Formerly it was denounced as anti Virgiuian
to trade in Baltimore and this had become a
a hereditary feeling; it was alluded to by a
speaker at recent Valley Railroad meeting
in one Of the Court houses Of the Valley
when one in reply to this sentiment referred
to the fact at that very moment, the noble
women Of Baltimore were working night and
day to feed the hungry and clothe the baked
of the South, as there was scarcely mar
= present whose son, or SELF or family but had
felt the kindness of Baltimore people-there
was scarcely dry eye in the whole house.
With all the advantages offered to Baltimore
if she fails to secure this opportunity, she
will deserve to lose it forever.
Judge Shelley followed he said:
Hc had been relieved Of great part Of
what he int ended to say by those who prcce
ded him. Considering the magnitude o.