Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-20
Remarks of Jno w. Garrett.

The regular monthly meeting ofthe Board Eof
Directors Of the Bait. g. Ohio r. r Company
took place in Baltimore on Wednesday Last
Jno. w. Garrett, President of the Bait. & Ohio
r. r. Company in the Chair:
After the transaction of other general business
the Chair referred, as follows, to the Virginia
Valley and Lynchburg and Danville Railways:
There are two subjects in connection with rail-
way improvements ef~vitaE Importance TO this
community which will be presented at early
day in manner that will attract great public at
teiitlon. The aid ofthe Baltimore and Ohio Com
pany to the Winchester and Stras burg Road will
effect the opening ofthe line to Harrisonburg dur
ing the next autumn. There will then be gap
of but l3 miles from Harrisonburg to Salem
the construction of which will not only open the
business of the magnificent " alley OF Virginia,
but also open under the most favoraole ausplces
and influences great lneto New Orleans, which
will largely command the traffic OF the vast IN
termedlte territory A second gap of but sixty
miles exists between Iynchburg and DanVllle,
the filling of which will connect the Orange ana
Alexandria Road with another highly important
system of Southern railways, by which an enor-
nous business will necessarily be directed to
Baltimore which now goes to the coast. The lead
ing citizens in these sections are extremely anX-
iors to get these roads constructed They want,
in view of The advantages to regions, enlarg-
ed commercial intercourse with Baltimore 1hey
are wiling to contribute largely for the work
themselves. The counties upon the Valley line
ask the city OF Baltimore to subscribe a million
to their stock. The Lynchburg and Danville M
terests propose to supply all that will be requisite
but half a million. This sum they wish to OBJ
tain from the city of Baltimore. Under these
circumstances large delegations of the most emil
nent citizens in Virginia. Messrs Hartman, Bar
bour, Stuart, Baldwin, Pendleton, General Il. E..
Lee and others of equal prominence u influence,
1T is expected will visit Baltimore about the list
of this month, to confer with the authorities and
wi ha a mo
railroad question that the Baltimore and Ohio
Company has but little interest in these extern
sions, whilst incalcuable benefits would result
from their construction to the business interests
of Baltimore. As this Company is now engaged
in enterprises for the prosecution of which all its
resources are required, those connected with it
can only aid as citizens and cooperate to secure
the requisite capital 1t has been found hereto
fore impossible to obtain the large necessary
for such works from individuals. Therefore, the
only practicable plan appears to be for the city
to render the necessary assistance 1t is ejudg-
ment of many who have carefully considered the
subject that if the city of Baltimore can, by sub
scrlbing $l,000,O00 to the Valley line and
$685. 900 to the Lynehburg and Danville line,
secure their construction and thus open these di-
rect and irst-class avenues TO Baltimore that this
community will absolutely gain IN advantages
and net profits on the vast business that will be
thus commanded not less than the aggregate
amount Isl, 500O0O) in ca III and every year after
their completion In that judgment the Chair
fully aceords 1t is stated that 800 delegates will
visit Baltimore IF, when those gentlemen arrive,
full cooperation is extended, and the facts and
interests connected with these great subjects be
presented understood in the community and in
the City Council and aid be granted, it will un-
doubtedly lead to results in the commercial pro-
gress of Baltimore as important and valuable, In
connection with the Southern trade, the de-
veopments and extensions of the Baltimore and
Ohio Road are bringing about with the trade of
The West Northwest and the Southwest asThe
Chair feels that the Importance and magnitudeof
the interests involved in these enterprises can
not be too earnestly urged.