Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-03-21
CONCLUSION.
The Shenandoah Valley Road.

The Richmond Enquirer which is supposed
to reflect the views Of the Pennsylvania Cen.
tTal COMPANY In relation to ats Virginia
schemes, speaks As follows Of the s. V. Rail-
road:
The importance of this road to our people
can hardly be OvCrestirusted From the Poro
mac TO the Tennessee liue it traverses a sec,
ton of the Safe, rich, beyond CONF pure. ia all
that Is calculated Ia make State wealthy and
powerful, whether we consider the fertility of
the soil, or tho vast aud inex exhaus,ibe sources
Of mineral treasure. The engineer who recon.
noirered the country 10 establish n proper
route. in referring TO the deposit Of irou, says,
'Peunsy!vanis. rich as she is, is poor in iron
ores as compared with Virginia Besides
iron, there are coal. sal; and gypsum, without
limit, and other minerals. These arc some
OF the local inducements to complete this road,
and tic people along its line should spare no
effort to leud certain, prompt aud apprecia-
Bile aid towards its construction
The traffic, local to the line, az tho mines
become developed, and the productions of the
soil are stimulated aud increased by reason Of
trst-cisss railway facilities aud the true policy
OF large business carried at low rPtes must
necessarily. in a very short time be fruitful
Of large benefits both 20 the road aud to the
people. But when the through traffic and
travel are considered, and Il u remembered
that the valley extendin: from the Sheuau-
doah to Knoxville and Chattanooga afford tho
most direcr rDu;e which the Typography of the
country will ever permit between Philadelphia
New ! OTk and other cities of the Northeast
and Memphis, New Orleans and other cities
ot the southwest and that these routes will
be directly connected with the Southern
Pacific road the magnitude Of the trade and
travel that must pass over its line II expressed
IN hgures might seem extTavagaut and vain
The necessities Of our own people demand
and obtained Of the Legislature charter to
construct this road, but paralysed by the issue
of ruinous war the cOrporators were driven
to seek aid from other quarters. They np>
piled first TO various railroad interests and were
rePulsed there was no hope Of relief from the
Baltimore and Ohio road, which was then pur.
sulngits own, and rival schemes down the Val.
ley, and there was noEe other which could
help except the Pennsylvania road. This
company received the application With but
little favor, but yielded at last so far as to
promise their aid, if favorable report should
be made Of the project By its own officers
Here commenced the connection Of the Penn.
sylvania Company with that of the Sheuau.
dolh Valley Company.
The reports both OF the Engineer and Geol.
ogist concurring in favor OF the construction
OF the road, the Pennsylvania company agreed
tn back up the Shenandoah Valley company
with the necessary funds, and the work on the
road has been continued by, and will be car
ried through on the shoulders of. the Penn
syIvania company. Tho necessities of the
country along its line. the demands Of trade
and travel beyond the State, seeking transit
through her territory. its future connection
with the Southern Pacific Road, all concur to
render certain tho construction Of this road
and IS the advantages have attracted the arten
ton OF the Pennsylvania company aud enlist.
ed ITS favor, It Is eutirey reasonable to believe
that It will be completed at an early day"