Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-03-22
From the Dispatch.
Another "Straight-Shoot. "

The problem is to find that location for rail
road from Clifton Forge, in Allegheny, to Rich
mond affording the lowest grades, the longes
curves. and shortest line. with the least cost il
money and time to build it, and the creates
benefit to its stockholders and the community
The location ria Lynchburg to Richmond
along the tortuous valley of the James as il
struggles through he round. rocky gorges ofthe
mountain may furnish possibly favorable grades
and curves, but necessarily at high cost to ac-
compll-h them. Every foot Of this entire line
must yet De built, and will encounter and inter
fere with rival companies and cana
throughout
The straight shoe" uia Lexington, Amherst.
&c, crosses tlansversely the long, interlocke ed
ridges In the Valley, the Blue Ridge and its
buttresses on both sides, and must also yet be
built entire and encounter rival lines already in
existence.
Now, the map shows that an airline from
Clifton Forge to the Blue Ridge tunnel at Rock
fi-h gap thence via Charlottesville direct to
Richmond is shorter than the route uid Lynch
burg, and not materially, if any, longer than
the Lexington ''straight-shoot. :"
This Rock6sh Gap route must afford most
favorable grades and curves, running, as it does.
with the direction of the ridges and streams in
the Valley. and, from the peculiar formation of
gap, admitting an approach by most easy
grade to the very mouth OF the tunnel thence
eastward the grade is all descending with the
direction of the valley Of the Rivanna and James
to Richmond.
This route from Richmond has already been
tested by the engineers instruments, by the
surveys, for the short track" to Charlottesville
by the construction of the railroad nop In opera
tion from thence through the mountain. aud
from thence, by surveys tor the Valley railroad,
to aud beyond Lexington than three
fourths of the whole and found to be peculiar
ly favorable in all requisite characteristics.
This location, moreover, passes In all its
length through a rich marginal country now
without proper facilities to market, and capable
an itself of supporting railroad; and thus, too,
it interferes with no other or rival line wherein
the State and citizens have already vested in
terests.
Less time and less money UiU be required to
construct this lme The Blue Ridge is already
tunneled to hand-at immense cost Of both
time and money large per cent. of the line
eastward Is already an operation Ito shadwell
depot J and the short track has virtually re-
ceived subscription from Richmond city Of
$1,000, 900 enough to build 1t /; and the Che>a-
peake and Ohio Railroad Company is compell-
ed to build it in any event. Thus more than
half the distance, more thnn half the time, and
much more than half the entire cost, ofa short
road from Rchn.ond to Clifton Forge is airendy
orercome by this route, uhite not eUen pre-
iimina,y surrey IS get made on any other.
This location, it built on by the Chesapeake
and Ohio Company, lnterferes with no other.
The Southside can still have the route from
Lynchburg to Clifton Forge available as ever
for it's service the Valley railroads can connect
earlier with this trunk line the Orange and
Alexandria will be relieved of any serious
marginal competition.
Details of distance and other characteristics
will be given in a second number.
ROCKFISH GAP