Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-09-20
LETTER FROM COM. M.F. MAURY,
TOP. B. B0RsT, ESQ.,,
Pres. Shenandoah Valley Railroad.
V. NJ. l.. LEXINGTON, Va.
September 9Th. 1870.


am constrained to send regrets, for it will
not be convenient to be present.
You are right in calling it Zone of the most
important roads on this contiuent;" for 1t is
capable of being made so. 1t is link which /
with others already in operation. soon to
be completed. at the other end. in Alabama,
will give us almost an airline from Mobile
and New Orleans tn Washington. Baltimore,
Philadelphia and New York. and become the
great throughfare between two important Sec
lions of the country-the Southwest and
Northwest.
This circumstance makes your road and its
connecting links work of public necessity
and national Importance.
The government of the United States is al
ready passing through great revolution. It
has abjured the doctrine of State Rights and
assumed all the powers, attributes and pre-
negatives of sovereign nation. IF | read
rightly the signs of the times, "the powers
that be" not only claim the right to consoli>
date different lines of railroads in the States,
but assert the power of Congress to grant
charters for the construction of works of in
ternal improvement in the States, as well as
in the Territories.
am not the exponent of this new doctrine,
nor the champion of its advocates. but l am
not blind to its logical sequence, which is, ma
tional control, right and power over railroads.
Just as the government of France. Russia and
others exercise. This prerogative is even
claimed by it's advocates under several clauses
Of the Constitution Cl to provide for the
common defense; ~ to promote the gener-
nl welfare {3) to regulate commerce, or (4
to establish post roads.
The late war, as we'll as that now raging in
! Europe shows railroads to he as a means of
2 DIS
of war and the government may build the
one rs vel! as the other.
Events that are Transporting here show that
it is tho intention of those that shaping the
destinics of the country to reg this people up
into a great nation. For US 10 shut our eyes
to this fac. and ignore it, would be about
| wise as it would he for the seaman. when
storms are brewing. ~ neglect tn prepare his
shin for the gale Storms will come and with
the vicissitndes of life. changes in the affairs
of men These have been forced upon US
and it becomes us to adjust ourselves to the
assumption the part of our rulers Of these
rev powers and attributes as best VIC NAV
Therefore | look forward TO the time. and ex-
pect its coming at distant day, when the
general government is to assume power over
railroads, At least to certain extent, and so
far as it may he necessary for the establish
multiple tracks. between the chief CONNER
ca business centres of the country along the
Atlantic board ~ one hand. and the in
land centres of trade, population aud produc-
ton on the other.
Pray examine a railway map of the United
States, and You will then the railroad
tracks from 4 sort of irregular network over
the face Of the country "a mighty maze
without plan that they have heen construct
cd without regard to any general plan or con-
certcd system. but they have been built from
time to time and from place t" place just as
chance and opportunity seemed to permit
Moreover what a spectacle in POLITICAL econ
omy is that now presented in the management
of these roads
Immense monopoles and overernwn cor
porati0ns exercising powers. and cXerting IN
fucnceS that are dangerous to the common
wealth.
Under these circumstances T expect to see
| moves made in Congress at an early day for
the encouragement of certain grand trunk
lines of irnn-ways between the Atlantic sea-
board and the inland centres of business Ell
Their by the grant of charters. when necessary.
| or by the consolidation Of existing lines over
| which the mails. munitions of war. government
| supplies troops and seamen shall he transport
! ed at certain fixed rates. the roads themselves
| with their equipment being held Mt all times
| subject to the government inspection. and Ii
| able 10 war to its orders, control and manage
| mcnt.
| In this view. there is no route of greater i'm
portancc than the line of which your road is
| to form link. Draw on the map straight
hne between New York and the mouth Of the
Mississippi you will be surprised to find that
| it passes through or hard by Philadelphia.
Baltimore and Washington-thati it intersects
the Va & Tenn. r Il very near the place
| where you propose to tap this road that it FOL
| lows thence the connecting links of yOur rOaa
| as nearly as the mountains and the Topographic
! cal features Of the country will allow. until it
| strikes the shore of the Gulf. Practically. II
! nav therefore be said when your road is built
| aDd Strengthened little here and there. to al
! ford the best and shortest route that the ma
tuTe Of the country admits nf between these
important cities in the North east and those
remote and productive regions Of the South
west After cutting of an elbow here aud
there the detour of this route from an air line
/ will be small.
| With my present typographical knowledge
/ am safe in saying. that there is other line
of roads either in esse or posse that will bring
, the remote South and Southwest corners of
the country in such direct and immediate con-
nection with its capital and the three great
cities of export and import Baltimore, Phil
adelphia and New York.
The Alleghauies stoop to give easy grades
and gentle curves to this line Of roads, aud
as soon as the main stem crosses The mO1D-
tains 1t uufoIds GU, like fan INTO roads run
uing right and left through Tennessee. Geor-
gia, Alabama. Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkan-
sas, and Texas New Mexico, Ari1oDa aud
the Pacific coas. by the road 'hither from
Memphis; trace it and you wiz see that no
grand trunk line of road can be projected in
IL, hot III no Tanned hy