Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-09
The Campaign Of the Railroad Kings
I'm Virginia.

line va the S6tAEO80 AtnES
I'm Virginia
The formal breaking Of ground at Front Roysl
yesterday for the Shenandoah Valley Railway
has considerable significance from the fact tina.
II develops plan of campaign by the Penn
sJlvania railroad men characterized by tina
same astute alertness that has Just now given
such complete and rapid victories TO the Prus-
sian aims. While Mr.. Garrett on the part of
TIE Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company il
ehane ing for county subscriptions, pro posrn 2
on the part of his company to subscribe equiva-
lent amoaL-ts for the construction or continue
ion OF what is called the VALLEY Road, NOW
finished to Hsrrisonburg) the Pennsylvania
men have quietly arranged to build the whole
road up the valleyfrom Shepherdstown to Salem.
where it strikes the Virginia and Tennessee
road The entire line, Z53 miles, las been sur
veyed and already put under contract; the
purpose being to complete it within two wears
Ii is designed to make it low grade road. the
minimum being IS feet TO the mile, and the
maximum 50; and though to secure thi, easv
grade Il Will be requisite to follow the water
courses, the general direction OF these IL 20
favorable that the deviation from strai Rht line
drawn from The terminus On the Potomac river
10 that on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
VIII not be more than i've miles.
Starting from the Potomac river at Shan
TO the confluence Of the two branches of the
Shenandoah river, near Front Royal. Here
the north branch is crossed, and the road keeps
along the main river for the most part 20 the
summit or divide, eighteen miles above Fishers
vile; thence ii passes over to the waters of the
South river OF the James, descending that
stream to its junction with the North river.
which is followed to its mouth Themes tn,
road follows the valley of the James river 20
buchanan, and thence curves along the tribu-
taries OF the Roanoke TO Big Lick, a station
on the Virginia and Tennessee railroad
The construction OF railroads in virginia has
heretofore been across the Shenandoah Valley.
and thus it happens that this road will cross in
succession the tracks Of the Baltimore and Ohio
road. the Winchester and Potomac, the Orange.
Alexandria and Manassas, the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroads, and will intersect with the yir-
gtnia and Tennessee railroad The projectors
Of this Valley road VIII doubtless count upon
making these five cross lines fee ders To their own
road, which they propose TO make q great North
and South line, extending on from the Potomac
river by direct course to Philadelphia and
New York. For the present, the connection
north VIII be made by way of Shepherdstown
and a link connecting that point with Ha-
gerstOwn, whence the course will be by the
Cumberland Valley Railroad AMI other existing
lines Of railroad northward; but the grand
project proposed to be carried out without dalav
~ for the construction Of an inner route con-
Meeting the Valley route at the Potomac by
nearly an air line with Philadelphia and New
York. Starting from Berlin, On the Potomac,
this side of Harper's Ferry, this road viii prob
ably proceed By way Of Frederick city and
Westminster, crossing the Susquehanna at
Castlefen or Peach Bottom, thence on to Chris,
tians, in Pennsylvania. striking the Phila-
delrhia and Columbia railroad at that point.
and following that road to Downingtown, thence
on to Philadelphia and New York
glance at the map will serve to show the
great directness Of this grand scheme for great
north and south line Ordinarily, project of
such dimensions would be considered an affair
TO be discussed and hammered upon for a quar-
ter Of century, but Ii would appear that the
SCOTS, the McClures and Others of the Penn
sylyania Central Railroad and PENNSYLVANIA
Central Improvement Company have taken
hold Of IT with the idea Of finishing il up of
hand. They do not even seem disposed to stop
TO invite subscriptions. but propose to build the
road on their own account, taking the
chances that il will pay. Ii was stated uuite
positively by the speakers on behalf OF the
Pennsylvania interests, at Front Royal yester-
day, that no subscriptions would be solicited:
that the money to build the road would be
forthcoming, and all that was asked was liberal
treatment IN the matter OF right OF WAY IL
should he added that these declarations were
received BY the valley people with a feryency
OF applause that Indicated their satisfaction
with the prospect Of being able to get the
desired railroad facilities without being
called upon TO load themselves down
with q burdensome amount of Indebtedness.
The rival company, the "yalley Railroad Com
PaDy," failed lately TO secure the subscription
zEaAE 70
OF that road from Harrisonburg in the direction
of Salem, and at the late meeting OF the COM
1any Gen Robert L. Lee was elected its presi-
dent, with the hope that his influence would
secure the desired subscriptions; but, now that
the pennsylvania men propose - build a road
along the same line without county subscrip-
tons, il Is doubtful II even Lees potent name
will invoke the required Contributions for the
construction of another road Offering only the
came facilities
From appearances II would seem that the
Pennsylvania railroad men have not only out
mareuvered Mr.. Garret on the shore line OF
Southern connections via the Baltimore and
Potomac Road, the Long Bridge and the new
road from Afxandria to Fredericksburg, but
have also nanked him in the Valley on the
inland route. It Is Understood that Mr.. CARAT
holds that the value Of the Southern and South-
western railroad connections have been greatly
over estimated, and he has devoted himself
mainly to building up the Western connectionsof
his road, where Its great interests lie He Ia. ga
gacity md experience to guide him, and NAV
be right, but these railroad men Of Pennsvl,a.
MIA are generally supposed TO know what thev
are about. At any rate, they have labored a.
siduously TO secure the franchises for these
southern connections, and now they are pro-
ceeding TO use their sdvsntages In Q vay hat
looks like business
IT should be added that the charter Of this
Shenandoah Valley railroad allows the compnnv
to build number Of branches, one Of which is
the Piedmont and Potomac road, from Front
Royal 70 Washington via Rectortown, Arcola.
Gum Spring, Thornton, and Falls Church.
The distance BY air line Is s. miles, but Q
portion Of the Manassas Gap road could be used
from Front Royal to Rectortown making but q
short link Of connection between the latter and
Washington.
GOOD MoyB-No Pet Nanes or Nick Ysnss
TIE Pubffc lScAoots-ftf lar vAara In ann. -