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

Augusta, hOcKlnSnam anu solhe VI '"o io"'
er counties are deeply and Immediately in
tcrested, partial synopsis of the report of
the Chief Engineer of the Shenandoah Val
lev Railroad In taking control of the VIR
aINIAN, we announced, in the salutatory,
that there was no necessary antagouism be-
tween this great improvement and the Val
ley Railroad; that the true interests of the
county and the Valley demanded the con-
struction of both. We may further remark,
that these are not the only improvements
which are destined to contribute to the de-
velopmcnt of the vast slumberipg wealth of
g this great Valley, and make it the richest
and most desirable section Of our country
The day is not far distant. when the stimu-
lus given to enterprise by the completion of
these routes, will neeessitate the construction
of railroads from Harrisonburg to Covington
from some point on the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad, near Grafton, the intersection of
the Petersburg branch with the main steam
of that vast improvement, to Staunton. to
communicate with the sea board at Norfolk
and from the Potomac at some point near
Washington, either to Staunton or Harri.
sonburg. The completion Of one great line
of Railroad, through rich mineral and ag-
ricultural country, will be speedily followed
by the construction of others-al seeking to
divert the ah1uent trade thus disemboweled
from the earth to different points on the sea-
board, This stupendous revolution in the
commercial importance of the valley, as the
great Channel through which the trade of
nearly the entire Union, as we'll as that of
the world, is destined to flow, will be accom-
plished in less than two decades, and this
Valley, so commanding in its geographical
positon-so aff1uent in natural resources, and
SO attractive in climatic advantages, become
the abode of teeming millions of people, who
will flock here to share in the immense wealth
that must spring into existence. This is no
school boys dream. If any one will take
the trouble to examine the census returns,
and ascertain the arena of uncultivated lands
the number of acres in cultivation invcs-
tigate geological reports upon the vast min
ers wealth CT the Valley its agricultural
capacities shen the lands are brought up to
tho highest productive condition its won
derful water power; its timber; and then
remember tho comparatively meagre popula-
tion which inhabit this highly favored Sec
ton, the truth which we have Just stated
cannot fail to present itself in stately impor-
tauce to the mind. Furnaces and colieries
factories of every description workshops, to
meet the demands of these busy enterprises
and towns of no insignificant import, will
issue into life.
Previous to the war, the railroad system Of
the State. upon which millions upon mil.
lions of the peoples money were lavishlv
squandered, was governed by little petty To-
cal interests, and was inaugurated with no
comprehensive idea of the future; no states
man like conception Of our connection with
the outer world, and an imperfect knowledge
of the great internal resources of the State.
As result no line of railroad was construct
ed with reference to any other route, con.
templating national communication, and
looking to grand continental thorough-farc
The guages never harmonzed, SO that no
speedy through travel and transportation
could be effected. There is scarcely ter
minus to any road in the State, where tran
shipment is not required in consequence of a
want of uniformity in guages. 1t is only
now, when the popular mind has become
awakened to the continental importance OF
our geographical position-to our immense
natural wealth-to the superior advantages
of our seaports-that the contracted .penny
wise and pound foolish policy of our people in
the past, becomes apparent The intellect of the
State is being diverted from the beaten paths
Of politics to the more important, command
ing and essential work of material prospect
ty. The great intellects which were hereto
fore devoted to an elimination of the doctrine
of the resolutions of "'98-'99" and the tor.
nation of platforms upon which to erect
party superstructures. have broken through
those conventional trammels, have advanced
to an enlarged theatre of intellectual exercise,
and sweptaway the cobwebs that distracted
and circumscribed the powers of the mind
The fact sjust beginning to break upon them,
that substa ntial State influence and power
are to be measured and attained by compre
hensive material development-th to chain
the mind down to local influences and politi
cal sophstries, is to contribute to our mate
rial insigni6cance and individual poverty, and
to throw away world of wealth for the graf
i6oatiou of an ambition that any cross roads
politician might aspire to.
It is in this view that VIC take in and re-
gard the new era that is dawning upon US in
material progress. 1t is for these reasons
that we favor, not only the Shenandoah Val
ley Railroad and the Valley Railroad but all
other improvements that will contribute to
tho grand march of Old Virginia in the path
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