Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-02-21
The Heart of the South.

The importance Of extended railroad facili-
ties through the South is daily developed. The
Lynchburg Nirginidn gives an account Of an
interview of O committee Of the directors of
the Lynchburg and Danville Railroad Company
with portion Of the Baltimore City Councils,
and with Mr.. Garrett, President of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company. The re-
ception Of the committee was pleasant and
encouraging as to aid from the energetic city Of
Baltimore, and they have returned with the
purpose of stirring up the people on the line OF
the road to further efforts in the way Of local
subscriptions.
Thus it is that men of enterprise are casting
about for sources of wealth, and the rich soil
Of Virginia, teeming with minerals, naturally
attracts them. Well may Mr.. Garrett be call
ed the Railroad King, for with the connection
above proposed and the road through the Val
ley from Staunton to Salem, and on to the
North Carolina line, immense results will be
achieved for the noble city of Baltimore.
May we not anticipate, from all these enter
prises, and from the completion rapidly matur-
ing, a considerable reduction in freights on all
the great thoroughfarcs
Upon this subject of Railroad connections,
the Baltimore Gazette says:
ave are perfectly well aware Of the great
value of our Pennsylvania connections. We
see daily the immense amount of freight which
the Northern Central carries from this city,
and we know that most Of the through travel
seeks this route, on which the passenger ac-
commodations are so much superior to those
offered by the Baltimore and Ohio Road. 1t
is the fact that we have two such rival COM
petitors which gives life aud activity to our
Western trade.
"But we are not disposed to cavil at the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad because it does not
underbid the Northern Central, or because it
has not yet placed more comfortable cars on
its route, as it has long intended to do, as soon
as it could do so advantageously and will do
shortly We look rather at the general policy
of the road, and see the great results which it
is achieving. We see it rebuilding and re-
tunnelng the ParkerSburg Branch, so as 10
admit the passage of our cars Of the largest de-
scription. Wesee it erecting two splendid and
costly bridges over the Ohio. We see 1t fur
nishing the money for rcballasting and relaying
the Marietta and Cincinnati Road. We see it
engineering and fnanciering the Cincinnati
and Baltimore Road, by the completion OF
which we finally offer to the West and the
Southwest the shortest and most direct unbro-
ken line of rail, Of one gauge and under one
control to the seaboard. We see it extending
its connections with Lake Erie. We see il
pushing forward the construction of the Pitts
burg and Connellsville Road, building its shops
and preparing for the traffic which will flow
over it. We see it completing the double track
on the Main Stem which is TO facilitate the
transportation Of new business. We see il
constructing the Strasburg aud Winchester link,
which is to enable US TO control the trade OF
the Valley, pushing forward the Metropolitan
Road. flushing upthe HagerStown Branch, and
fortifyng aud extending itself in every direc-
ton, and preparing for the immense additional
traffic which must flow over the road and Its
branches, probably within another year, when
we strike for the Northwest at Pittsburg, for
the South through the Valley, aud for the far
West by connections already formed at Gin
cinnati through the Indianapolis and Cncin-
natl and the Ohio and Mississippi Roads. The
day must soon come when the Baltimore and
Ohio line will be the first of the great trunk
lines which is struck by the trade Of large and
fertile regions in the West and Southwest, seek
ing an outlet at tidewater in the East.
at is to these great results that we should
look, and if we would only study their effect
upon the future, we would indulge less in the
chickering's and harpings and strife of to-day.
We do not pretend 10 say that the policy pur-
sued by the Baltimore and Ohio Railrord Com
pany is the most perfect policy which could
have been planned, but we do say that it is a
large policy, wise policy, a remunerative poll
cy. aud one that must shortly bear its fruits
and that we are rather disposed to admire the
man who persistently pursues his own convic'
tons in the development Of plans which art
the growth of long and carefully studied re-
flection. unheeding the attacks of those who
neither understand the immensity Of the work
which is being carried on, or who are incapa'
ble Of approaching the labor, the anxiety, the
energy and the constant watchfulness which
are required TO carry out grand and expensive
schemes, than TO cavil and fret because We dC
not realize results before the. maturity Of th'
plans which are indispensably necessary G
their achievement