Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-12-03
NUMBER 10.
For the Spectator.
The Washington. Cincinnati and st. Louis
Narrow-Guage Railroad.
MESSRS EDITORs:-

MESsRs EDITORs:-
The race of doubling Thomases are
not all dead. We have scores of them in the
region through which this road will run. The
nduct of those connected with the extension
| OF the Valley Railroad served TO increase the
brood. SO skeptical have they become in re-
gard to all railroads, that along the route of
this road, from Harrisouburg through North
| River Gap to Monterey, although Col. Richard
| H. o borne, perhaps the most intelligent en-
| gioeer in the United States who is convert
| to the narrow-gusge. has for three months been
engaged in it's location, do not believe in it
S1me of them, called men of intelligence also,
cannot tell you the name of the road, where it
begins, or is proposed to terminate. Never
thelesS the construction of the road is fixed
tact, if these aforesaid doub;iDs Thomases and
their acQual0ances ard friends will do their
du'y to It. Col. Osborne has surmoun'ed rhe
the obstacles thar were regarded the most for
midable on the whOie line, In N1rh River Gap.
He has reached the top OF shenandoah noun
tain, with line of unequalled character on any
other road constructed uD to this time, across
'he Alleghanles, or yet to be constructed. This
may be regarded strong language. lt has been
Carefully weighed, and the facts will sustain 1t.
This survey Is made with SO much care as 70
amount to a location, and his curves are of 600
feet radius, and his grades, in favor of the
Western trade, do not exceed so feet to the
mile. and OF the trade and travel to the West
OF S77 feet These are mn;cinlun fgursS not
erceetted 0nychere For chedpness of construc-
zion over such region this line will astonlsh
any one From Br!dgewater to Shavers, at
North River Gap, two lines have been run
one via Sangersvie up the North River, Full
LY the other up Messy creek via Forrer's
Works, Kyle's Mill and Mt. Soon, partially.
The hrst, though little longer, will be cheap
er Of construction. Notwithstanding two bridges
over N. River The Messy Greek route pos
sesses advantages of which these are the more
prominent, viz: lis unequalled water power
there being now three merchant and three saw
mills, and there we're lately iron works. inclu-
ding furnace and forge, aud the Messy creek
paper mill. Besides the richest agricultural re-
gion for It's extent in the Valley, It's underlaid
every8here with red hematite ore of the finest
quality. manganese, marble and the finest lime
stone IN the State. Again, if the road takes
this route, 1t Is entirely accessible to the Naked
Creek, Long Glade, Parnassus, Jenning' Gap,
and Augusta Springs sections OF country.
VIII any one doubt that the entire line of the
road from the top OF the Shenandoah mountain
ria this route to Bridgewater, will be lighted up
by continuous furnaces, f0rges, rolling mills,
nail factories, machine and car-shops? When
this occurs market will be built up for not on
y al! the surplus agricultural products of this
township, but for large section Of the Pas
lures, and of Bath, Highland, Pendleton and
Rockingham.
This being so, what man is there, not alone
near the line of the road, but anywhere in this
township, who will hesitate to take one or a
half d z,n shares Of stock In it?
IGdeed. it becomes a serious question wheth-
er the best interests Of North River township
will not be subServed by subscription on the
part OF the township If HarrisoDburg and
Bridgewater can subscribe, this township can
we'll do SO. Will the people think of it? 'Tis
exceedingly important that prompt speedy, lib
eral, energetic action be taken by all interested.
II the private and public subscriptions and
right OF way be obtained at once the road can
be put to contract from Bridgewater TO Mon
terey. this side Of the first OF January.
This road besides spanning the Aiieghanies
at point where nature has cut them d0wn fer
the purpose, so that the difficulties are insgnif-
icant compared with those through the N nth
Mountain, will span he continent also for Dem
yer wilt be connected With St. L ui. by mar
row guage. before his reaches IL. Chicago is
looking with deep interest upon the enterprise
and Is 10 frequent correspondence with its Pres
ldent, on the subject. Many intermediate
points between ST.. Louis and this, are regard
ing 1t as work OF importance TO them, aud
among them the great iron region about Iron
| ron and GailiDol,s, Ohio, are not the least in
Inherent. I ct IN the face of facts like these,
will our own penple be skeptical? Let them
arouse to is mporance, and In less than three
| years. If they choose, they can take a seat in a
car here, aud not be disturbed 10 break of
guage, either to San Diego or the Citv of Nex-
leo. DENVER.