Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-08-17
G. v. RAILROAD EXTENSION.
lis Route up the Valley.

through the Virginia aLey, " Iho
and Tennessee Railroad, at or near Salen'
some discussion has sprung up as to the route
the road should pursue after crossing the Fo-
tomac riyer-whethcr through the counties oil
Berkeley and Frederick, by way OF "lnches.
ter, or through Jefferson county, by way OF
Charlcstown. In considering the relative
merits OF thcse routes, it is necessary first to
determine the route to be pursued through the
appcr part of the Valley Of Virginia. we
think this question which nature and Cir
oumstances have combined to decide. 1t must
run east of the Massanutton mountain, thro
Page county. The western part of the Valley
Of Virginia, is already occupied by the Bal
timore & Ohio Railroad, (and its tributaries,
the Winchester and Strasburg Railroad, and
the Manassa Gap Railroad both of which are
now substantially branches of the Baltimore
Il Ohio Railroad, being entirely under its con-
troll. And even if this were not the case, the
Page Valley is richer in agricultural pro-
ducts, and in addition, abounds in the richest
mineral deposits-especially OF iron. 10 en-
ter the Page Valley, the road must pass at, or
near Front Royal, whether its course is To-
Gated through Winchester or Charlestown.-
Phc real question then is, which is the best
route from Hagerstown to Front Royal. 1t
seems to US that no reasonable doubt can pre-
sent itself as 10 which Of these routes is most
eligible with any one acquainted with their
respective claims. In determining the route
to be pursued, four considerations should be
allowed to have their weight.
Flrst-Thc Shortest Route.
An examination of the map will show at
once that the route from HaSerstown to Front
Royal, through Jefferson county, is direct
and straight line, while the route by Win
chester would defect very much eastward, at
some point near that town. The route thro'
Jefferson county, would evidently be very
considerably shorter than the route through
Winchester.
iSccondLy- OCcr rhich Routc could a RGH>
road be made Cheapest.
The route through Jefferson county would
much sooner strike the Shenandoah river, up
which railroad could be much more easily
the residue Of the route, so far at least as it
passes through Jefferson county, we are salts
fed could be constructed at a moderate cost,
the country being very favorable for making
railroad. The other route, By MartinsburG
and Winchester, would not follow the course
of the streams, and would bo much more diff
cult of construction. We venture to assert
that when the two routes are surveyed, that
it will be found, not only that the route thro'
Jefferson is many miles shorter, but that it
will cost less per mile, and be over much
easier grades.
THTdIy-1rAich Route ,rouzd come into tie
Direct Competition aoih tie BaAtntor=
and Ohio RaRroud
1t would evidently be the interest of the
road to be constructed, as far as possible, so
as to avoid direct competition, on an equal
footing, with the Baltimore & Chic Railroad,
for when such competition exists, the new road
could not expect to command more than one
half of the trade and travel. IF the route
by NIartinsburg and Winchester is pursued.
the new road at both these points would in
branches. These points are tho county seats
respectively of BERKELEY and Frederick coun-
ties, and the new road could not expect to
command more than half of the trade and
travel of these two counties. If however,
the route by CEarlestoUn is adopted, the new
road would i1tcrsect the Baltimore i Ohio
Railroad, at or near Dufields Depot and
near CharlestoWn-points not more than six
miles apart-thus practically equivalent to
one intersection. The new road could there
fore reasonably expect to command half the
trade and travel of jefferson county, and the
whole trade and travel of Clarke. Again,
the route by Winchester would intersect the
Winchester and Potomac Railroad at an acute
angle; while the route through Jefferson
would intcrscct the general line of the Win
chester and Potomac Railroad nearly at right
angles, and thus more rapidly separate from
it, producing less direct competition.
Fourtt!y-trhich Route 1cOuld pass through
the Richest Counties dnd Command
tie most Trade and TraUcI.
In 1859, the counties of Berkeley aud
Frederick raised AS, 394 bushels of wheat
and sos sos bushels of corn, in all COS, 800
bushels, and as VIC have seen, the new road
could command not more than half the trade
and travel of these counties on account OF It's
direct competition, on equal footing, with the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. The new road
by Winchester would command the trade and
travel of portions Of Frederick and Berkeley,
which raise 499,449 bushels of wheat and
corn annually.
In 1859, Jefferson county raised 4lii,4S3
bushels of wheat and 34S, 927 bushels Of corn,