Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-09-17
Y, NJ, l., LExlNsTos, Va,

Seplcmoct Otl, fofVs
SRI have received your polite invitation
10 participate in the ceremonies aEteudng the
inauguration Of your Railroad eE the Sth inst,
near Front Royal.
/ apl Constra med 10 send regrets, for Il will
not be convenient TO be present.
You are right IN calling 1t lone OF the most
important roads on this continent ~ for it is
capable Of hciug made so. 1t is a link which
with others already IN operation, or soon 10 be
completed at the other end, in Alabama, will
f;ire Us almost an airline from Mobile, and
New Orleans TO " ashington, Baltimore, Phil
adelPhIs and New York, and become The great
thoroughfare between two important sections
Of the couatry-the Southwest and North
west,
This circumstance makes your road and ito
connecting links work OF public necessity and
national importance.
The government OF the United States is al
ready passing through great revolution. 1t
has ablured the doctrine Of State Rights and
assumed all the powers, attributes and prerog-
atiyes of a sovereign nation. II read rightly
the signs Of the times, "the powers that be" not
only claim the right 10 consolidate different
lines Of railroads IN the States, but Assert the
power of Congress 10 grant charters for the
construction of works Of internal improvement
i'll the States, as we'll as 10 the Territories.
am nut btlS ca POHCAh W WIS uC" NONhlAOi
nor the champion of It's advocates, but | am
not blind to It's logical sequence, which is, ma
tIonal control, right and power over railroads,
inst as the government of France, Russia and
others exercise. This prerogative is even
claimed by It's advocates under several clauses
of the Constitution % to provide for the
common defense (2) to promote the general
welfare : (3) TO regulate commerce, or (4) TO
establish poSt-roads.
The late war, as well as that now wsging in
Europe, shows railroads TO be as means OF de-
fence as necessary and important as ships Of
war; and the government may build the Que as
well as the other.
Events that are transporting here show that il
IS the intention Of those that shaping the
destnes Of the country to rigg this people up
into a great nation. For US 10 81 Ut our eyes to
this fact aud ignore il, would be about as wise
as it would be for the seaman, when storms are
brewing, TO neglect to prepare his ship for lhc
gale Storms will come and with the vlcisSi-
tudes of life, changes 10 the affairs OF men.
These have bsen forced upon US and it becomes
US TO adjust ourselves 10 the assumption on the
part Of our Sulers Of these new powers and at
tTIbWtes as best we may. Therefore look lof-
ward 10 the time, and expect its coming at no
distant day, when the general government 10 to
assume power over railroads, al least 10 GER
tain eXtcHt, and so far as II may be necessary
for tie establishment Of great trunk lines, with
double or multiple tracks, betweeh the chiet
commercial business centres o! the country
along the Atlantic sea-board on one hand, ard
the inland centres of trade, population and pro-
ductlOn on the other.
Pray examine a railway map Of the United
States aud YOU will then see the railroad tracks
form j sort Of irregular network over The lace
of the country ga mighty maze" without
D constructed without
regard to any general plan or concerted system,
but they have been built from time to time and
from place TO place just as chance and oppor'
tuuty seemed TO permit.
Moreover what spectacle in political econ
Cray Is that now presented IN the management
OF these roads:
Immense mouoroles and oyergrown corpora
tiors exercising powers, and e1SrtIHg ihhu-
cncrs that are dangerous to the commonwealth
Under these circumstances | expect To see
moves made 10 Congress at au early day, for
the encouragement OF certain graHd trunk lines
oT iron. WAYS between The Atlantic sea-ooard,
md the inland ccutrcs Of business, either oy the
GRANT Of charters, when necessary, or by the
consolidation Of existing lines over which The
mails munitions OF war, government supplies,
troon, and seaman shall be transported ST GER
tain fixed rates the roads themselves with their
,cuipment being held ~ all times subject to tho
Government ius peclon, and liable IL war 70 i's
orders, control and management.
In this view, there is no route OF greater iS-
,,rt,rre than the line OF which your road 10 to
form Ink. Draw on the map straight inc
bc,veeo New York and the mouth of the MIS-
si..inDi. you Will be surprised 10 ind that 1t
rss.rs through or hard by Philadelphia, Balt;-
moro and " ashingtOo-thAi IT lniersecs the
u y Tenn. Il. r. very near the place where
,,,I, nroro.e TO tap this road that II follows
,,c,ce Inc connecting links Of yonr road az
n,.,rIy "a the mountains and the Typographical
features of the country will allow ,unui itATikes
Tie shore of the Gulf. Practcahy, IL may
therefore be said when your road Is oulIt ana
sirairhtrncd a little here and there, TO AFFORD
tEo 49,. and shor,es; route that the nature of
the country admits ofbetween these important
c,,;es in the North est and those remote and
rrolurtjye REGIONS Of the Southwest. After
r,,,t,p- off an elbow here and there the detour
of this route from an airline will be small.
with nv present Typographical knowledge
am safe in saving that there IS no other llhe oil
roads either IN e,se or posse that Will bring me
remote South and Southwest corners Cl We
country in such direct and immediate cUnnec-
ton with its capital and the three great ciues OF
export and import-Balumore, fhlIadeiphls
ard New OK.
The Alleghsnes stoop TO give easy grades
and gentle curves 10 lhl> line VI lodue' gu
soop as the main stem crosses the mountains IL
uuro,ds out like fan INTO roads running right
and left through Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama,
mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas;
Nv Mexico, Arizona and the Pacific ceast by
tho road thilher from Memphis; trace II and
Won will see that no grand trunk line OF road
can be projected in any part OF the country
that will be tapped by so many and such m
rurtant feeders NOR can any road be construct
ed that will bring such vast and productive
region If country in more direct commuDlcs-
ton with the great sea port towns Of We A"an-
t.. of,bo cot
Wheat from Tennessee, and much oil the cot
TON Of Arkansas DOW find their way by ran 10
Now York;-se see what clrcuItous rOu'e 'hese
staples must take TO get there compare 'ne
saving which this chain ofroads leading through
Virginia will effect, and you may Then perhaps
DE able to form some faint idea oil mo vast
amount of trade, t!aYeI aud traffic thai Is Id
store for US.
What ycu want from Congress to enable you
TO complete this line Of road at once and make
II What the necessities Of the country require
n TO be. encouragement, not grants o! iahu or
money. for most of the links in your line areas
| have said, already built and IN operation
What you want il legislative ENCOURAGEMENT
and contracts for service 10 be rendered.
The bars at the mouth Of the Mississippi;
tie DELAYS which wsrd bound ships meet,
NEAR the Ba.iZe and the dangers OF the FLORIDA
Pass on one hand, with the improvements IN
railway transportation, on the other, all con-
sDire TO divert commerce more and more from