Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-07-11
Stauntolt Spettator,
Tuesday, JatIy II. 1871.
An Oversight.


We have often been surprised that our intel
ligent Richmond contemporaries should mani
fest so little practical interest in the PROPOSE
tion to construct Railroad from Shadwel
Mills to Richmond. If we have been rightly
informed, such road would shorten the dis
lance, by Railway, between those points about
80 miles. 1t would, moreover, furnish an out
let to market for portions of Albemarle, Louisa,
Fluvanna and Goochland which have row no
convenient means Of access to Richmond.
The Richmond papers dwell with great earn
estness and ability on the necessity of air-lines
to Lynchburg and Clifton Forge, but rarely
have word to say in favor Of an airline to
Charlottesville, which, in our judgment, is not
only much more practicable. but more impor-
tant to Richmond than either of the others
The Chesapeake & Ohio Road, which is des-
tined, with proper management, to throw into
Richmond an amount Of tonnage which will
give new life to the city, and tax the energies
of her business population to their full extent,
is rapidly advancing to completion. To COM
pei this enormous freight to travel the rounda-
bout way, by Gordonsville, is unreasonable
We had almost said impossible. IF it be COM
PEELED to go Northward instead of Eastward
from Charlottesville, it will soon seek more
convenient outlet at Alexandria, Washington
and Baltimore or at some new shipping point
on York River 1t would be quite an easy
thing to make Road from the Fredericksburg
junction, or Hanover G. H., to West Point, or
some port'a little lower down the York. Rich
mond should not be too confident in the
strength of her position. She must use enter
prise and industry to fortify herself against
flank movements as we'll as against direct as
saults
The extension of the Valley r. r. from
Harrisonburg to Stanton, where it will tap
the Chesapeake & Ohio r. r., may now be re-
garded as fixed fact We believe it is almost
equally certain that, in few years, the Shen-
andoah Valley r. R., of which Mr.. Thomas
Scott is now President, will be constructed to
Staunton, or some point near it.
The construction Of these two rival Roads,
one under the auspices of the Baltimore &
Ohio R. R., and the other, as we believe, I'M
der the wing Of the Pennsylvania Central r.
r., is, in our judgment. well calculated to
arouse Richmond to vigilance and activity.
Stanton will, most probably, be the point
from which these three great Roads will d.
verge Northward, and Eastward. The compe-
tItion for freight and passengers will be earnest
and energetic The distance from Baltimore
to Staunton is not SO much greater, than from
Richmond to Staunton, as to preclude success
full competition.
Both the Baltimore & Ohio and the Penn
sylyania Central are immensely rich corpora
tions, backed by large commercial cities
Those roads are run, not SO much IN the inter-
ests Of stockholders, as Of commerce. They
will, therefore, be disposed to put down
freights to minimum rates, to command trade
The Chesapeake & Ohio Road On the other
hand, is owned by foreign stockholders. They
look to dividends on stock, exclusively. They
have no interest In the commerce, manufac-
lures, or general prosperity Of Richmond, ex-
cept SO far as they may tend to enhance the
profits On their stock, and its value in the
market.
In this view Of the case it is easy to see, that
both these roads may become dangerous COM
petitors for freights East of Staunton. 1t be-
hooves Richmond, therefore, to be up and do
ing She must leave no stone unturned to Sc
cure the trade Of the great West. IF she loses
that, her prospects in the future will be fatal
ly injured.
In our judgment, the surest means by which
she can protect herself from the two dangers,
Of the diversion of the trade to York River,
and the rivalry of the Baltimore & Ohio and
Pennsylvania Central r. R., is by constructing
the short line to which we have referred. -
When that is done, the distance from Staunton
to Richmond will be but little more than 100
miles, while the distance to Baltimore will be
200 miles. If, with 100 miles of distance in
her favor, she cannot control the heavy trade
of the west, she does not deserve to have it.
Again, by making this line, the heavy freight
will be compelled to go through or very near
Richmond for she will be on the short line from
Charlottesville to West Point.
We have seen many articles in the Rich
mond papers speaking Of an air line to Lynch
burg. Suppose that Road were made, what
would be the advantage of it to Richmond P
Could it compete with the Canal for heavy
tonnage? could it divert the lighter tonnage
from Gen. Mahone's consolidated line, which
takes all its freights through Petersburg and
Portsmouth to the holds Of the N. Y. Steam
ships, which are lying at the Portsmouth
wharf, steam up, ready to carry it to the great
Northern commercial Metropolis.
We have, also, seen some beautiful articles
in favor Of an airline from Clifton Forge to
Richmond. IF the intermediate country were
a continuous plain, presenting no serious phys
ical obstacles, this would be very desirable
thing to Richmond and to the State. But we
are bound to presume that the writer's Of those
articles, have very little acquaintance with the
topography of the country, through which they
propose to build this Road. We apprehend
that if they were to undertake to pass over it
with theodolite in hand, we should hear little
more of this air line. AS far as our knowledge
of the country extends, as we'll as from infor-
nation derived from others, we are satisfied
this route is impracticable.
Nay, we are inclined to go farther Though
upon this point we do not profess to speak
with confdence) and to say that we have grave
doubts, whether the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail
road Company will, after proper surveys have
been made, find it practicable, at any reason
able cost to make the low ORG e-routa from