Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-04-30
tally developed.

Of way is not only freely granted, but. in ad-
dition. the counties along the line have taxed
themselves nearly million Of dollars to aid
in the construction Of the road, thus secu-
ring strong permanent local interest in its
behalf. These local subscriptions possess a
significance beyond the mere pecuniary aid
| afforded. The home interest thus established
will protect the company from unreasonable
damage along the line and from hostile OF
prcjudicial legislation on the part of the
State
1t may be proper to urge u few reasons
bearing upon the Importance of the Valley
Railroad as link in the general railroad
system Of the country, in addition to those
that have been SO well stated by Colonel
Randolph in his report This road connect
ing Harrisonburg with Salem on the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad, will complete tho
last link in tho great chain from the North
ern cities to the South and Southwest
From Salem to New York, Philadelphia and
Baltimore, by the Valley route, the distance
is as short as by any route that is or can be
constructed. and when this line is completed
it will afford direct and favorite means Of
communication between the above named
cities and Memphis, Vioksburg, New Orleans
and other points in the Southwest.
This link, when filled, will establish a
continuous route from the Southwest TO the
Northeast. which will interseot nearly al
the main lines running from the West to
the East. Starting from Salem. on the line
from Memphis to Norfolk. it will cross the
James River and KanaMAa canal at Buch-
! anan and Lexington. the Chesapeake Il Ohio
Railroad at Staunton, (136 miles West Of
Richmond. ) the Manassas Gap and Loudoun
and Hampshire Railroad at Strasburg and
Winchester (about 80 miles from Washing
ton. } and hereby would constitute Baltimore
formidable competitor for the trade and
travel of the great country which these West
and East routes command.
The route will afford the shortest line Of
travel from the large and populous portions
of the North to much of the best part of tho
South. Such an intermediary line Of road
cannot fail to yield paying stock.
So far, the Valley Railroad has been &c
garded simply as through line. Our pur-
pose however, is rather to call the attention
Of Baltimore to the less known but scarcely
less important local trade from the counties
through which the road will pass. 1t runs
,hrouge five Of the most fertile counties in
the Valley of Virginia-a valley which. in
climate, soil, minerals, and distributed
and continuous water power. is believed not
to be excelled in native wealth by any region
Of equal extent on this continent. The
counties referred to are Rockingham, Au-
gusta, Rockbridge, Botetourt and Roanoke.
Four of these counties (omitting the county
Of Rockingham. only half Of which the road
crosses) had population Of "a. 81. accord
ing to the census of 1860, which is now
somewhat increased. They contain an area
of improved farms Of 1913, 1856 acres. and
uniimproucd, 500. 562 acres. This does not
include the wild or mountain lands. Their
gross products in 1860, estimated at the pre-
sent price, would be worth So. 2O9 ,557.
whilst at present the purchases from outside
markets are estimated to amount to 50, 150-
600. This last estimate is probably greatly
short of the real sum, since individual OF
mere personal purchases are not included.
The Valley Railroad would bring the city
of Baltimore directly within the circle Of
competition, as seller Of these imports and
as a purchaser of the surplus.
An inexhaustable supply Of iron ore lies
buried along the western base of the Blue
Ridge and the eastern base of the North
gS ik|1lfl 70 thai sas6ah a fotss
of original growth covers the entire moun.
tains. Charcoal iron of the best quality
could be manufactured from these materials
almost without limit Manganese. marble
and other minerals exist in large quantities
and are only undeveloped from want Of ar
outlet to market. The numerous minera
springs, the public institutions Of Staunton
| the literary institutions Of Lexington anc
Salem. the famous Natural Bridge Of Rock.
bridge, and Weycrs cave Of Augusta, the
healthtulness Of the climate and the pictu'
resqueness Of the scenery, must always com
mand large pleasurc-seeking travel wher
the country rendered accessible by rail
road.
Such is the brief and unexaggerated state
ment of some Of the characteristics of thu
the counties which the Valley Railroad woule
traverse. With the tide of emigration nov
tending towards Virginia, should this region
SO favored by nature, be brought in direc
connection with such market as Baltimore
it is almost impossible to over-estimate thu
wealth few years would produce.
Whether the Valley Railroad be consider
ed as link in the great chain uniting tht
Southwest with the Northeast, or mere 10
cal line sustained by the country which i
travcrses, the stoek-should Baltimore sub
scribe. and thus give it assistance and pat
ronage-will, without doubt, in short time
equal, in value the stock Of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. whilst at the same time
the trade and profit that would DO brought
to the city of Baltimore, must greatly in.
crease it, wealth and prosperity.
r. e. LEE, Chairman.
On the conclusion Of the reading of the
memorial, Gen. Lee was again greeted with
cheer after cheer. which we're given with the
greatest enthusiasm.
Mayor Banks then introduced Judge H
W. Shefsy, who spoke. in substance. as fol,
lows:
Had been aware last evening Of the char.
acter of the audience before whom | should
appear to-day, certainly should have de.
cliaed 80 difficult duty. bad imagined
that | was to address set Of very respecta-
bic, but dry, praetiea! business gentlemen,
who had the fate of mere business opera
ton in their hande, and must confess that,
despite the presence Of such an array Of
| sweet faces, l shall be able to do but little
| more. | stand here the unworthy represen-
| tatiye Of large delegation from the great
Valley Of Virginia, who have cone Aere for
the purpose Of setting in plain array before
you the project Of a great improvement which
we know will be Of great benefit to our