Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-04-25
Another Railroad Project.
THE "TAPE WORN"


projects converging towards or ceDteriag at
Hagerstown, mentioned in our last general ar
ticle, it would be difficult to make any addi-
tons: and yet we have to lay before our read
ers to-day another and an entirely distinct
road which, in importance, viii take place
scarcely secondary to any one. From source
entirely worthy of credence-a gentleman
largely interested in business and intimately
connected with the railroad interests of our
yalley-we learn that the Reading Railroad
Company have directed their attention to the
Haserstown connection and are about TO make
a move which will open up to their road, and
enable il to participate in, the vast and rapidly
increasing trade of the Southern States through
the natural avenue which the Virginia Valley
affords.
The Reading Railroad has got to be one of
the Iron Monsters of the land, aud, like the
Pennsylvania Central, the great New York
Corporations and the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road, is striking at once for power and for
trade. The shortest line from Hagerstown-
the center Of the narrowest portion OF the great
Appalachian Valley in Maryland and topo-
graphically the Railroad center in this section
Of the Union--to the city Of New York, would
be through Reading and along the line Of the
Reading Railway. Hence, the shortest line
from New York and all parts north, to the
South Western States and the Gulf of Mexico,
would be over the Reading Road. Coming
South. that road crosses the Pennsylvania
Central west of the city of Lancaster, and ex-
tends to the SuSquehanna at Columbia. Cross
ing the river at that place, the road has reach
ed York, Pa, where it now terminates. To
get to Gettysburg from York, it is necessary to
pass over the Northern Central Railway to
Hanover junction and thence by another rail-
road to Gettysburg.
From our informant we learn that when the
Reading Railroad moves in this matter it will
be with view TO the building of a line entirely
under its own control What the specific plans
of the company are we do not know, but
glance at the map tells US that the construction
of few miles of independent road from York
to the Hanover and Gettysburg Road-which
may for aught we know be now under way
will bring the Reading Railroad to Gettysburg
There twill have the celebrated Tape Worm"
which was commenced with the view of reach
ing Hagerstown, and which now lies in an I'M
finished state between Gettysburg and the
Maryland line on the top of the mountain.-
Coming out Of Gettysburg the greater portion
Of the road is finished and one-half of the tun-
nel which was the heaviest part of the job, is
completed 0urrecollectiou is that about three
fourthS or two-thirds of the grading between
Gettysburg and the line was done when the
work stopped. This is most important con-
sideration. To the question asked our infor-
nant: whether the company expected to make
use of the Western Maryland Road the reply
was: NO, not by any means the Company
is able to build its own extensions and designs
this for a through line" From Hagerstowu
the design is to connect with the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad by the way of the Antietam
Iron Works, Charlestown and the Luray VAL
ley. Hence it is that we see so many Penn
sylvanians partici pating in the organization Of
the Shenandoah Valley Railroad Company
That company, which has now n charter from
both the Virginia and Maryland Legislature,
for road as far north as Hagerstown, has now,
we understand, upwards of million Of dollars
subscribed. When the proprietors of the An
tietam Iron Works-themSslv men of great
weath-and others interested in our State
come to add their subscriptions, fund will
have been obtainedto Justify the commencement
of the work-and this we hope TO see done this
Summer. This latter line from Reading, by
the way of Columbia, York and Gettysburg 20
Hagerstown, whore il will unite with the Shen-
andoah Valley Railroad ria SharpSburg, the
Iron Works aud Shepherdstown, or as near to
those places as possible, to Charlestown and
thence through the Luray Valley, will be a
competing line with the Cumberland Valley
and MartinSburg and Potomac Roads from
Harrisburg via Chambersburg to Hagerstown
and thence by Powell's Bend and Martnsburg
to Winchester The Reading Railroad Com
pany is quite as able to build the one as the
Cumberland Valley Railroad Company is to
build the other.
In connection with the Cumberland Coal
trade, we have recently been advised of a fact
Of much importance. IT is that the demand
for that coal is not adequate to the capacity of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to supply it,
Such we are told is the fact, and that the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad can furnish coal at
Hagerstown to other companies on most desi-
rable terms. If we are correctly advised, the
completion Of these various roads to liagers-
town will add greatly to the consumption of
Cumberland Coal and really be promotive of
the interests Of all the companies centering at
Hagerstown.
The Reading Railroad Company proposes TO
act Of course under the Free Railroad Law
which has been enacted by our Legislature.
Hlgerstern Nal.