Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-11-25
The Shenandoah gerald.
TuBLIsHID WEEKLY BIZ
TROUT g. ABlLL.
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA.
Morning, November %, 1863
we HAVE been watching, with a degree

Il
NE HAVE been watching, with degree
Of solicitude, the result of the proposed
scheme fer building a Railroad through
that section of the Valley of Virginia
known as the Page Valley and, al
though, Page county has, by almost
an unanimous vote, agreed to tax herself
TO the amount of two hundred thousand
dollars. with the hope that the other coun
ties along the proposed line would take
like action, yet the probability of fail
ure Of the scheme is now threatened from
tho inability to enlist the attention and
capiFal of Rail-zoad- e'epsenis. and the
whole burthen of the construction of such
road is left entirely upon the people. We
copy the following from the i'age KaHey
Couier:
Major Borst returned to Luray on The 10th
inst, and from information obtained, is firm
ly pursusded in his own mind that if the
counties along the contemplated route will do
their duty III making subscriptions and grant
1ag right of way the road can be made, but
here is fact that must be understood at once,
that the Virginia people must make the road
30 Rail Road Company has agreed to make it
hut after the proper amount has been obtain
Cd by subscription and the right of way
guaranteed sufficient amount of mat erial
aid can be obtained to complete it.
We should rejoice to see this fertile lit
tie Valley. whose bordering mountains
are so rich in their great wealth of miner
ais and lumber, have the facilities of a
railroad, which would be Of equal ad :
vantage to every section Of the great Val
ley, by afforaiug competing communica-
tions with the different Northern mar
kcts. We do not see that this enterprise
should be abandoned entirely, at this time,
on account of the manifest indifference Of
Northern Railroad corporations. That,
through the Valley of Virginia the great
through connecting routes are to be built
with the Southern Pacific, connecting
with the northern roads communicating
with the northern sea boards, can not be
denied. Already over ten millions of dol
lars have been secured for the completion
of this Southern Pacific, which, expert
ence has proven, has superior advantages
over other and more northern routes, and
a single glance at the map of the country
will show that the main, direct trunk
leading north, must pass through the Val
ley of Virginia, when the Northern Rail
Load corporations. who are jealousy
watching each other for these through
connections, will throw out their branch
Is, like the arms of the Devil Fish, to
draw every species of trade to the mar
kets which they may represent. Besides,
even if this was not the nearest and most
direct route, as they are in the interest of
these different northern cities, they would
seek this connection, and by competing
tariffs of freight would endeavor to divert
the trade from the Piedmont routes The
Winchester and Sirasburg Road would
never have been contracted for if it had
not been for this idea and whenever the
advantageous moment presents itself, Phil
adelphia and New York and the Rail-
roads representing their interest will not
be slow to undertake any road proposed
through the Valley of Virginia, and Law
iohly invest their capital to connect with
any branch road from Little Rock, in
Arkansas thereby insuring direct
through line from the Pacific to the At
lantic coast. 1t is true, Norfolk will be
The nearest port on the Atlantic coast. in
Virginia, but this route will continue to
the National Capitol and to Philadelphia
and New York, the direct route of which
will pass through the Valley Of Virginia.
The construction of these roads through
the Valley will be but a mattor of time,
and one road, unless it be triple tracked,
will he insufficient Further, the roads
now partly constructed are not suitable for
an immense freight, on acc 1unt of their
grades and sharp curves.
But. Notwithstanding these railroads
will be an absolute necessity for the
great travel and freight requiring quick
transit, yet, the great Valley needs
cheaper mode of transportation for the
heavy products Of the vast mines and
forest, which can only be afforded by wa
ter facilities, the feasibility of which we
will discuss, for the first time, in another
article, wherein we will endeavor to show
the great advantage in this mode of trans
portation over any other, together with the
plan of its construction, practicabllity,
aud ultimate advantage.
FALL OF METEoRIc STONE On the
Cd instant meteoric stone fell in the