The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-01-26


These were the opinions advanced in 1851
The policy of large business and low rates was
not at that time universally approved. Many
could not see how coal could be carried with o
profit at one cent and half per ton per mile,
when the $4,000 tons Of freight then carried
cost over two cents 1t became necessary to
publish pamphlet the coal tonnage Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, to prove th,.t he extra
half million of tons of coal could be carried at an
actual cost of only seven mills The assertion
that under liberal policy the tonnage of the
Pennsylvania railroad could be increased to
million of TONS was regarded as the ut.erance Of
a visionary enthusiast. But what are the facts !?
Instead of one million, the tonnage of the Penn
sylvania railroad now exceeds fos millions: and
if should state my impressions in regard to the
developments and prospective business Of your
line under the stimulus of liberal policy, low
rate and proper accommodated, my estimates
might again be regarded as extravagant and
visionary 1t is safe to assert, however, that at
any reasonable cost of construction. the interest
in the bonds and dividends on the stock would
be almost as certain as they have been the
Pennsylvania railroad. 1t is true that you have
not at present as large n local population per
mile but you have more rich limestone land,
much greater capacity for agricultural produc-
lions, more live stock more lumber, deposits of
iron ore vastly more extensive, and in addition
thereto, the gypsum. salt and marble, which the
Pennsylvania railroad never had, and which
alone may furnish nearly half the tonnage of the
road.
The Importance Of completing the first d.
vision, or that portion Of the road between
the Potomac river and Fishcrsville, in Au-
gusta county, is presented by Gen. Haupt, in
tho follnv;no A.tterinr terms.
1t is desirable that the first division of your
road, between the Potomac River and Fishers
Vile, should be completed without delay. This
division is important, not only from the large
amount of county and private subscriptions
which are dependent upon it, but also from its
great intrinsic value to the local interests to be
developed, and the important railway connec-
tions that will be thereby secured. The eastern
side of the valley, along which your road has
been located, is far richer, both in agricultural
and mineral resources, than any other portion.
The western base of the Blue Ridge is almost a
continuous bed of the hematite ores of the best
quality, furnishing equality of iron Of great te-
nacty The Shenandoah IRON Company have
now two furnaces in operation, and will proceed
at once to erect large rolling mill, when the
early completion of the road becomes certain !;
they will also make liberal subscription to the
stock The Abbott Iron Company, of Baltimore.
additions to their works Messrs. Cooper &
Hewitt, of New York, it is understood, pre-
pared to invest largely in new works, and these
constitute but very small part of the improve
ments that will result Immediately from the con-
struction of this first division, which must prove
remunerative, even IT no further extensions
should be made,
The Shenandoah valley has been settled to a
great extent by farmers from Cumberland,
York and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania,
and the inducements for this class to purchase
farms in the valley will be greatly increased by
the construction of the road. The agricultural
products are similar to those of the limestone
valleys of Pennsylvania but, as the winters
are lesA severe, and lands can be purchased at
orslhird the price, the profits of farming shonld
be greater. The valley of Virginia is particu-
larly noted for the number Of fat cattle which it
sends to market
In view of the facts stated, nc doubt can be
reasonably entertained that the first division Of
your line will yield very fair return upon the
capital invested in its construction; but the net
receipts upon this portion will be more than
quadrupled when the extension to Knoxville
shall have been completed.
| No other great line of railroad, connecting
the West with the East, will be able TO approx
mate to yours in the economy of operation. A
standard 1O-wheel freight engine, such as is
used on the Pennsylvania Railroad will carry
mia Railroad, eastward, l6 cars; on the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad, II cars; on the Vir
GINA and Tennessee, IA cars; on the Baltimore
and Ohio, 7 ears; and on The New York ane
Erie "A cars, in addition to the engine and ten
der.
In discussing the relative advantages Of
competing lines, the following observations
are furnished:
The first consideration to which reference will
be made is the through business. The valleys
extending from the Shenandoah to Knoxville
and Chattanooga, afford the most direct routes
which the topography of the country will ever
permit between Philadelphia New York, anG
other cities of the northeast, and Memphis New
Orleans and other cities of the southwest. With
these routes will be directly connected the South
ern Pacific Railroad, the construction of which
is only question of time. Knoxville and Chat
tanooga are almost in the direct line of these
great routes, and no necessity exists for the ex
tension of your line to Chattanooga, as origi
nally proposed, if as direct a through line car
be reached by striking existing roads east Of thai
point.
The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad termi-
mates at Bristol but at Lynehburg there is a
break of gauge, the roads north Of that point
having the Pennsylvania gauge of four feet eight
and half inches, and all west of that point, the
| tennessee gauge OIL HVe ieet, eAteHulHS LAC eH-
tire distance to Memphis and New Orleans
From Bristol, on the Virginia and Tennessee line,
the consolidated line Of the East Tennessee, Vir-
ginia and Georgia Railroad extends to Chattanoo-
ga but at Russelyile, the line coming east makes
detour to she south, losingsbetween that point
and Bristol about 20 miles over an air line.
This circumstance indicates point at or lear
Russellvine, as proper point of connection for
an air line route, provided the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia Railroad Company will
agree to carry passengers and freights at the
same rate per mile that may be charged on your
road,
To ascertain the views of this company, visi-
ted Knoxville, and in the absence of the Presi-
dent and e-President received the most graft
flying assurances from Major R. c. Jackson, the
intelligent Superintendent of the road who is al
so one of the largest stockholders, that all that
we desired would be most cheerfully accorded,
and at whatever rate your Company might be
disposed to receipt freight or passengers. their
Company would carry at the same rate per mile.
was also gratifed to learn from Major Jack
son, that the very route which l indicated to him
as one which / had found entirely practicable,
was that which he had drawn upon his maps az
the best possible air line between New York and
New Orleans, but feared that engineering diff
culties would prevent its construcuGtion. These
considerations indicate very clearly the western
terminus of your line should be at or near Rus
| lyi1