Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-01-18
For the Spectator.
VaIlsy Railroad.
THE TRADE OF PENDLETON. HIGHLAND AND
BATH

THE TRADE OF PENDLEroN, HIGHLAND AND
BATH
To those familiar with the topography of
these three counties, and their relative posi-
ton. to the paralelogram OF the North side, |
need not consume time in demonstrating that
the trade of fully the half of the county of
Pendlefon will be brought thro' North River
and Dry River Gaps, and emptied upon this
Valley road at either Dayton, Bridgewater,
Mt. Scion or Parnassus Depots, or the nearest
Depots on the Long Glade route.
TOWNS, VILLAGES, &C ON NORTH AND SOUTH
SIDE.
On the Northern route of this road, are the
towns of Dayton, Bridgewater, Rushville and
Ottobine in Rockingham. and Centervlle, For
rers' Iron Works, Sangersville. nit. Scion, Mos
COW, Parnassus. Spring Hi Churchville, Mer-
cersburg and Horntown In Augusta. With the
stimulus which this road will give to improve
ment, We may reasonably anticipate rapid
growth iD each one There are eight stores in
those in Rockingham, and eleven In Augusta
which will furnish no small item In freights to
the road.
On the South side are the villages of Mt
Crawford, Burkes Mill. Mt Sidney and Will
low Pump directly on the McAdamized road,
and all are Indifferent to the construction of
the Railroad, because of the comfort of such
fine common road. This is especially true of
Mt Sidney, which as Marryatt said of Fred
ericksburg. may be called finished town. Off
from the Valley turnpike are Mt. Meridian and
New Hope. There are niue stores In all the
South side region.
Highland county will send much the greater
part Of its trade through North River and Jen-
ming S Gap, and connect with the nearest De-
pots at Nit. Solon Parnassus or Shutterey's
and Bath, through that part lying along the
Harrisonburg aud Warm Springs turnpike as
far back as the Warm Springs, will send her
trade out through Jennings Gap, as will all
the Northeastern part OF the county up to the
Highland line, near Willlansve. Examine
into the character of that trade. First, it's
thousands of heads of cattle, horses. sheep and
hogs. Then It's wheat and buckwheat -four,
bacon, lard, butter, honey, beeswax, dried fruit,
brandy, whlskey, ginseng. chestnuts, feathers,
furs, maple sugar and molasses, hax-seed,
home made cloth, cheese, shingles, seneca.
snake root bark, &c By the present almost
impossible roads, thro' the Gaps named, this
trade will seek an outlet, but spirit of enter
prize will soon lead to an improvement Of these
roads, and the opening up OF new ones.
REIMBURSEMENT OF DAMAGES, sUBsCRIP
TIONs, &C.
From Harrisonburg via Dayton, &C., to
Staunton on the North side, there is general
disposition to rehnqush damages and liber-
aity that will prompt subscri ptioDs in the same
spirit, to the stock OF the road. This is the
opposite Of the course that, it is alleged will,
be pursued on the South side. The large ma
jority of its voters were unwilling to tax them
selves to build the road.
We have shown that it will be far more ex-
pensive to make the road On that side and that
it is destitute Of timber and stone, two essen
tials TO cheap road. It's grades are heavier
and it cannot enter Saunton by tloo males and
u half 1t cannot contribute 1.-THE of the
freights to put on the road, In the coal! iron,
stone lumber &c, which the North side can
furnish itself, apart from the trade OF the coun-
| ties named 1t possesses DO watering place sx-
cept Payne Rum away up gorge in the Blue
Ridge, so remote that it can reach Waynes-
boro' easier than the Valley road. It has a
| number of mills, but for the most part too re-
| more from the Raroad to benefit it. 1t is des
titute of timber and seeks much of its plank
and shingles in the direction Of the North
| Mountain, for It's own consumption. Portions
of it have good soil, but will not compare in
general fertility with the North side.
| To sum up the advantages OF extending the
road by the North side route, 1t presents
cheaper road bed, less cutting and filing, fewer
bridges, no tunnels, easier grades an abundance
of timber and stone, and ten times the freights
and travel to put on the road, and liue peo-
pie along the route who will renquish DANA
ages, and subscribe liberally to the stock of the
road We hatter ourselves that in a spirit of
candor and fairness, we have presented stub
born facts as arguments in behalf of the North
side route, AMI that they will induce reflection.
and cause those who may be charged with its
location to examine carefully every foot of the
way, and be unnfuenced by any extranecus or
outside pressure, but act for the best interests
of the present and future generations