The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-09
VIRGINIA NEWS.
Correspondence OF the Richm ond Dispatch.
LETTER FROM LEXINGTON.
IMPORTANT RAILROAD MFETING-RoCK-
RICHMOND AND ONE TO LYNCHBURG.

LEXINGTON, Va, February :, 1870.
To-day Was our regular monthly court
day, and large number of citizens of
the county were in town. The chief mat
ter of interest was railroad meeting held
in the court house at o'clock.
S. F. Jordan, Esq, was called to the
chair. and u. William Jones appointed
secretary. The meeting was composed of
our most substantial citizens from different
sections of the county, and their action may
be considered a fair exponent of the senti-
ment of Rockbridge on this most important
matter.
Colonel F. t. Anderson briefly but clearly
explained the object of the meeting.
There are toar railroad schemes talked Of,
in which the people of RockhridSe are
deeply Interested. He considered the VAL
ley railroad, 10 which the county had sub
scribed toW hundred thousand dollars, q
forlorn hope. He had no idea that it
would ever come nearer us than Staunton.
He thought that the Shenandoah Valley
railroad would be built. But he regarded
the Lynchburg and Clifton Forge line and
the Richmond and Clifton Forge straight
SuoOt aS " .dI HioIc ILL poIttlSS ~ liuSh-
bridge and the State at large than either Of
the others. He did not think that there
was any real conflict between these two
lust-named routes, and he was most cordi-
ally in favor of both. He offered the fol-
lowing resolutions, which had been agreed
upon in q conference OF gentlemen interest
ed in the matter:
"Whereas several railroads are proposed
to the people Of the county of Rockbridge,
and among them two contemplating conncc-
ton with the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road at Clifton Forgc-viz., one between
Lynchburg and Clifton Forge, and the
other On Il direct line from Richmond to
Clifton Forge: and whereas the people of
Rockbridge are heartily in favor of all of
these roads, and believe that there is no me-
ccssary Conflict between them; therefore
81. LteSolred, That the people of the
county will contribute literally to the first
Of said railroads which shall be con-
structed through the centre of the county.
90. That the Legislature be requested
to charter company to construct direct
railroad between Richmond and Clifton
Forge by the route found most advan-
tageous, and that said company have au-
thoritv to consolidate with the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad.
80. That the Legislature be also re-
Quested to adapt, so far as necessary, the
charter of the Southside railroad to juno
ture with the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
at such point as the Southside road may
prefer; and tllut should such junction be
promptly effected at or near Lexington it
will be literally aided by the people OF the
county.
"a. That this county regards with lively
satisfaction the prospect Of an early COM
rletion of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road from Covington to the mouth OF Big
travel on said road may necessitate the con-
s.ruction of Il double-track railroad for
freight from Clifton Forge to the seaboard."
General F. II. Smith warmly seconded
the resolutions. He thought that they ad-
mirably halmonized conflicting views. He
should be glad to have a railroad from Bal
timore or anywhere else, but he greatly
preferred connections with our own Virgil
MIA cities.
Major j. b. DOrman warmly endorsed
the resolutions-especially the one which
went for common trunk line from Clifton
Forge to Lexington. lie thought it clearly
to the interests OF the railroads as well as
to those of Rockbridgc that this common
trunk should be built. And from this COM
mon centre let Us then stretch right arm to
Norfolk and help make her our great sea-
port, and q left arm to Richmond to help
make her Our great manufacturing mctropo-
lis.
Colonel ]. W. Massey heartily approved
of the general character of the resolutions.
The great want of Rockbridge is railroad,
and ne should earnestly 60 for that one
which We can get first and best located.
He would say to all railroad companies pro-
iected through the county: "Locate your
roads and tell us when they will be built"
and he would go for the county's giving its
money to the first one that can be built.
At the same time he had always been a
free charter man Especially if the compa-
mics bring their own money!, and would 60
for cha1tering all, and showing hostility to
none.
Major J. &. Paxton, one of the directors
of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, said
that the resolutions met with his almost en-
tire concurrence. He thought the best
chance for Rockbridgc to get railroad was
through the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.
lie gave all interesting sketch of their
plans and bright picture Of their pros
poets. He thought that this company
would certainly build the short line from
Clifton Forge to Richmond, and would
make no objection to having their road
tapped at. Lexington either by road up
the Valley or one from Lynchburg. This
company had no hostility to either of the
other lines, and would give them fair
show. He desired to call attention to the
fact that Richmond is the best grain mar
ket on the continent, and that she could
make it to the interest of this whole region
to trade there.
General Moore endorsed the resolutions.
He would 60 for the road that came first
but II we give our money to companies con-
trolled by foreign capital we must see to it
that they do not make DETERMINATIONS