The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-04-21
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.
Thursday, 800 April 81, 1870.
THE PAGE OR SHENANDOAH VALLEY
RAILROAD.


RAILROAD.
Our people have heretofore regarded this
enterprise as shadowy myth-a thing rath
err to be talked of, than executed. But it
begins to look as if there was some substance
in it. Two parties Of Engineers are now &C
lively engaged in surveying the route from
Front Royal TO some point on the Lynchburg
4 Tennessee R. r. at or near Salem. One
party commenced operations at Front Roy
al, and will proceed to survey the route. with
all practicable dispatch up to Port Republic.
These two points seem to be established to
moral certainty. The second party will sur
vey the road from Port Republic to the South
ern terminus The line of the road from
Port Republic to the Tennessee Road is yet
undetermined. Three routes are spoken of,
viz,
LIST. The Eastern route up the Valley of
the South River, by way of Wayncsborough
along the pine fats South of Greenville to
the interlock between the head waters of the
South River of Augusta and the South River
of Rock brid ge-thence along the Valley OF
the latter stream to its confluence with North
River-and thence along the valleys of North
River and Buffalo Creek or James River Gas
may be found most expedieut) to Buchanan
2. The middle route which would CON-
n,ence at Port Republic and follow the Valley
of Middle River for short distance and then
diverse from 1t and pass west of New Hope
on to Fishersyille, and thence by the most
practicable route to Rockbridge.
s. The Western Route along the Valleys
of Middle River and Lewis Greek to Staun-
ton, and thence by the easiest grades to Rock
bridge.
We understand that each of these routes
will be carefully surveyed, and the decision
of the Board in regard to the route to be
adopted will be governed by the developments
of their comparative merits which may he
made by the actual application Of the instru
ments.
From what we hear it is the purpose Of
the company to seek the route which shall be
found to possess in the highest degree the fol-
lowing important requisles-l shortness OF
distance Ease of grades and absence Of
short curves
There will Of course be much anxiety felt
by the people along the several routes, as tc
the ultimate decision of the Board. AS for
ourselves we cannot pretend to say which
route is best. The compass the chain and
the Thcodolte alone can furnish the data or
which an intelligent judgment can be found
ed OF course we hope the ROAD may come
to Staunton, but we shall not be so unreason
able as to wish that the company should
make sacrifice vf their important interests
for local accommodations. Let it take which
route it may, it will be an important matte
for our county, and SO viewing it, we shall
rejoice to see it constructed But we thinl
the interests of the majority would be bes
subserved, if it can be conveniently brough
to Staunton. The junction of the two road
at that point Ito say nothing of the Vale,
Road) will very soon cause Our town to grow
to such dimensions as to afford home mar
ket for much the larger portion of the pro
ducts of our farms and thus the people of al
sections would be benefited
The Engineers engaged in the survey, ar
gentlemen Of character and professional ski
and in all respects worthy Of the favorable
regard of our people, and we hope they will
in their transit through our county, receive
all those attentions and Inequalities which
they doubtless deserve. It would be we'll i
the intelligent gentlemen in each ueighbor
hood would ride with them, and give then
full information in regard to the topograph,
of their respective neighborhoods. Mucl
useful knowledge may thus be impaired, ant
we would be gratifed if the opportunit
could be afforded to these intelligent strang
ers to understand something of the DISPOSE
= ton and character Of our people as we'll q
of the Typographical features Of our nobl'
Valley