Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-04-27


and develop in few years large bust
ness forthe Road in live stock and thepro-
ducts of the soil A still heavier tom
mage, however, will be thrown upon the
Road by the development of the min
eral resources of the county. Beds of
the richest hematite ores extend over
many miles. Anthracite coal can be
brought down over the Cumberland
Valley Railroad; and ore blooms and
PIG metal returned, thus furnishing
loading for ears in both directions, and
yielding large profit to the Company
even at very low rates of transporta-
ton. BituminouS coal aud coke can
also be brought from the line of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
The success of railroad enterprise
where circumstances have been far less
favorable for the development of trade
and travel, affords a guarantee that,
with the large through and local re
sources of the Shenandoah Valley r.
r., the line between the Potomac River
and Staunton, even without further ex-
tension, will not only pay the interest
ON its bonded debt, but also, in areason-
able time, fair dividends upon its stock.
SOUTHWESTERN EXTENSION.
Although the Shenandoah Valley
portion OF the line. for reasons previous
" stated, cannot fail to be remunera-
tive. vet it is the southwestern extern
sion from JacksonS Run, Virginia, to
Russelville, Tennessee, that will throw
upon the Road by far the greatest vol
ume of trade AMI travel, by developing
valuable resources and establishing
through connections with the lines run
ming to Mobile, Jackson, Memphis and
New Orleans.
The Chief Engineer General Haupt,
has completed Al experimental sur
yey and submitted an approximate est
mate of cost, which confirms the results
of the reconnaissance of the previous
wear. The distance from Jackson's Run
to RuSSclyille is found To be 233 miles,
of which nearly POO miles approximate
to a surface line; and the heavy work
will not exceed altogether 40 miles, the
heaviest being on the Allegheny diviS-
ion. between JacksOns Run and New
River. and consisting of II miles on
Potts Creek and 9 miles on Big Stony
Creck-in all 20 miles. General uaupt
reports that the cost of grading and
bridging this whole division (Gl niles
will not exceed one third the cost OF
the corresponding division of the Ches-
apcake and Ohio II. II. CA miles,
The line is unusually free from tun-
nels and bridges, the ruling maximum
gradient ascending eastward, will he
thirty feet to the mile, using assistant
engines only at two points, viz. four
miles at the summit at the head of the
Holstin River, and ten miles ascending
from New River. The line trayerses,
or is in close proximity, to Limestone
Valleys throughout It's entire extent.
1t passes through the whole length,
fifteen miles Of the Gypsum deposit Of
Southwest Virginia, the only one Of
GREAT extent in the United States, and
also for twenty miles through the depos-
it of yariegated marble Of East Tenn
cssce. 1t passes the salt works of
Saltyilc, the capacity of which is est
mated ten millions ofbushelsper annum;
non ores of high grade abound on the
line; the lumber is Of superior quality
and of every variety, and the live
stock business must be very large. The
coal is reached by q branch leaving the
main line either at Rocky Gap or the
mouth of Wolf Greek.
In view Of the importance Of this
Southwest extension the Board recon-
mend that active measures he taken TO
procure the right Of way and grounds
! for shops and depots and also county,
and local subscriptions, and they trust
that the people OF that section of the
State will act in such a liberal spirit as
to insure It's early completion.
Bv order Of the Board
THOMAS \. SCOTT,
President
+ gag" CurNrY NEwS.-We clip the