Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-09-20
Campaign Of the Railroad Kings in
Virginia.

the Washington Star, from the fact that it
develops plan of campaign by the Pennsyl
vania railroad men characterized by the same
astute alertness that has just now given such
complete and rapid victories to the Prussian
arms. While Mr. Garrett on the part of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company is
chafering for county subscriptions, proposing
on the part of his Company to subscribe
equivalent amounts for the construction or
continuation of what is called the VALLEY
Road" (now finished to Harrisonburg,) the
Pennsylvania men have quietly arranged to
build the whole road up the Valley from
Shepherdstown to Salem, where il strikes the
Virginia and Tennessee Road. The entire
line, 233 miles, has been surveyed and already
put under contract, the purpose being to COM
plete it within two years 1t is designed to
make it low grade road. the minimum being
35 feet to the mile. and the maximum 53. and
though to secure this easy grade it will be re.
quisite to follow the water courses. the general
direction Of these is so favorable that the de
Walton from straight line drawn from the
terminus on the Potomac river to that on the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad will not be
more than FIVE miles.
Starting from the Potomac river at Shep-
herdstown. the road runs by way "f Charles
town to the confluence of the two branches Of
the Shenandoah river. near Front Royal
Here the North branch is crossed. aud the
road keeps along the main river for the most
part for the summit or divide eighteen miles
above Fishersvile thence it passes over The
waters of the South river of the James, de-
scending that stream TO it's junction with the
North river which il followed to IFS innuth.
Thence the road follows the valley Of the
James river to Buchanan, and thence curves
along the tributaries nt the roanoke to Big
Lick. station on the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad.
The construction of railroads in Virginia,
says the STIR. has heretofore been across the
Shenandoah Valley. and thus it happens that
this road will cross in succession the tracks Of
the Baltimore and Ohm Road. the Winchcs-
ter and Potomac the Grunge, the Alexandra
and Manassas. the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
roads. and will intersect with the Virgin ia and
Tennessee Railroad The projectors Of this
Valley road will doubtless count upon making
these five cross lines feeders TO their own road,
which they propose to make great North and
South line, extending on from the Potomac
river to direct course to Philadelphia and
New York. For the present the connection
North will be made by way of Snepherd.tOwn
and link connecting that point with iiagers
town. whence the c0nrse will be by the Cum
berland Valley Railroad aud other existing
lines of railroad northward but the grand
project proposed to be carried out without de
lay is for the construction of IN ihner route
connecting the Valley route at the Po.omac
by nearly an air line with PHILADELPHIA ami
New York Starting from Brrlia, on the Pc
tomac, this side of EIarpeT's Ferry, this road
will probably proceed by way Of Frederick
city and Westminster. crossing tho Susquc
hanna at Casteten or Peach Button. thence
on to Chrstiana. in Pennsylvania, striking the
Philadelphia and CVlumbia Railroad at tina,
point, and following that road 10 Dowlne'own,
thence on to Philadelphia aud New York.
A glance at the map will serve to show the
great directness Of this grand scheme for
great North and South line Ordinarily.
project of such dimensions would he con-
sidered an affair TO be discussed and hammered
upon for quarter of a century. bur it would
appear that the Scotts, the Mct'lures and
others of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad
and Pennsylvania Central Improvement Com
pany have taken hold of it with the idea Of
finishing it up off baud. They do no, even
seem disposed to stop to invite subscriptions,
but propose to build the road on their own &C.
count, taking the chances that it will pay
1t was stated quite positively by the speakers
on behalf Of the Pennsylvania interests. at
Front Royal yesterday, that no subscriptions
would be solicited; that the money to build
the road would be forthcoming, and all that
was asked was liberal treatment in the matter
of right Of way 1t should he added that
! these declarations were received by the Valley
people with fervency of applause that in
Dictated their satisfaction with the prospect of
being able to get the desired railroad facilities
without being called upon to load themselves
down with a hurdcnsome amount Of indebted
uess The rival Company. the Valley Rail-
road Company failed lately 10 secure the
Subscription asked from Augusta county for
the continuation of that road from Harrison
burg in the direction Of Salem and at the late
meeting of the Company General Robert +
Lee was elected its President. with the hope
that his influence wnnld secure the desired
subscriptions; but now that the Pennsylvania
men propose to build road along the same
line without county Subscriptions. il is doubt
full if even Lees potent Dame will invoke the
required contributions for the construction ct
another road Offering only the same facilties.
From appearances it would seem that the
Pennsylvania railroad men have not only out
manGuyrcd Mr.. Garrett on the shore line of
! Southern connections ria the Baltimore aud
! Potomac Road, the Long Bridge and the new
road from Alexandria to Fredericksburg, but
have also lanked him in the Valley oD the in
land route 1t is understood that MIR. Garrett
holds that the value Of the southern and
Southwestern railroad connections have been
greatly over estimated, and he has devoted
himself mainly to building up the Western
connections of his road, where its great inter-
ests lie. He has sagacity and experience TO
guide him, and may be right, but these rail-
road men of Pennsylvania are generally sup
| posed to know what they are about. Al any
rate, they have labored assiduonsly to secnre
the franchises for these Southern connections
and now they are proceeding to use their ad-