Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-06-25
LURAY, Va,

w. T.. HUBERT, Esq, CuiuI ho'"
pke Times, Salem, Vs.,-Dear Sir -
Your letter Of The 5Ih inst. reached here
during my absence al Philadelphia, and
since my return. only few days ago. my
time has been so much occupied with my
business thsil have not had The leisure
10 reply satisfactorily 10 your interesting
inquiries Till this moment. | am much
grsufed at The evidence which your letter
affords Of The fairness with which you are
disposed to deal with the imporlan, enter
prise in which the S v. Railroad Com.
psny is engaged. In order tbs, your in
quires may be fully understood. and that
my reply may be seen and properly sp-
preciaIed, Il take it you design 10 publish
BOTH have determined TO make my re-
Ply as foil and succInct as possible.
1T, The Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Company has the ability to complete Its
road but we desire local aid and county
subscriptions 10 a liniIed extent. and the
right of way. This we deem important
in order that we may secure the friendly
feeling and support Of the people OF The
ctuuues along the line Of the proposed
road, and protect the company against fu-
lure hostile legislation.
2nd. am no, able al present TO inform
YOU whether Salem will be the terminus
Of TIE road or not ~. Ths, will depend
entirely upon The result Of the survey 10
be completed in few dsys, and the aid
given TO our road By the town OF Slem
and The county OF Roanoke.
3 d. The Shenandoah Valley Railroad
will be built regardless Of the constitute
lion OF any other road and there is no
contingency in which it will be abandon
ed IN favor OF the Valley Railroad Com.
pany. We have fixed purpose and de-
termination to build The road. We will
not use the track OF The Valley Riiirosd
after leaving Stanton. in the event il be
built before The s. V. r. R., which event,
however. do not anticipate We interd
to construct through line from the Poto-
<nsc TO the Va. g. Tenn. X. r., and in
no event TO construct a road slmply from
abe Potomac 10 the Chesapeake & Ohio
Railroad. We intend the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad 10 be the short through
line from the North 10 the South and
SOu,hRest, which con ummailon We can
accomplish fully and easily with friendly
northern railroad lines. and The favorable
connection We will DC able TO make with
the Atlantic. Mississippi and Ohio Road
under the management and control OF
General Malone. Now sir, permit me
TO say, in addition 10 the above answers
toy your inquiries, that we have prosecuted
our plans and purposes quietly, but with
gres, industry. The survey was COM
menced the FIRST CT May. and three corps
OF experienced and accomplished engi-
neers were placed in the field. comprising
thirty men 10 all, all of whom have been
promptly paid ou, Of funds other than
those subscribed by citizens and counties
slone The line Of the road.
The entire survey Of our road includ.
ing The brsncbes 10 Hsrrisonburg and
Lexington, will be completed by the ff,I
day OF July next. So lar as The survey
has been completed it is Of the mos, salts
factory character. The line is almost
straight, the grade very low. for the nine.
tenihs Of the entire distance it does no,
exceed 80 feet to the mile. and no grade
exceeds SO feet. Ii will not vary from
the Potomac 10 the Va. & Tenn. road
Ave miles from perfec, straight line in
distance Of 220 miles. The character Of
the country through which i. passes is un'
surpassed in The rich and broad valleys
Of The Potomac. the Shenandoah and the
lanes, and their abundant agricultural
products of every description are too
~ell known 10 need any extended re-
mark Of them here. And along the VIII ole
line OF the road continuous and most ex-
tea.iye veins Of iron ore o! most super.
,or quality and unsurpassed by any on
,his continent sbound. Numerous furn'
ace. Of high grade already exi., along the
Inc Of the road, where this ore has been
fuly and thoroughly tested. Whilst
mueh transportation OF profitable char
sc,er 10 the road will be furnished in sg.
riculursl products. all this will dwinds
INTO utter insigni6csnce when compared
u,th the heavy freighis furnished BY the
transportation OF mineral products. inciu-
ding iron ore, manufactured iron and coal.
] think ( can safely say. from my own
personal knowledge. tina. the mineral pro-
due,. will furnish twenty. fold moro trans.
por,s,ion 10 the road than all the agricul-
iuIs, products Of the great Shenandoah
Valley. from the Potomac 10 Salem For
instance one Iron Company situated 10
the county OF Page. will erect a rolling
mill, in addition 10 their present works
Immediately and guarantee freight TO the
road, 10 the smoun, Of one hundred thou
sand dollars per snnum. And am clear.
ly Of the opinion in tho brief period OF
i've years the mineral tonnage 10 The rosd
will amounr,o 81 100000 per annum.