Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-06-01
Shenandoah Valley Railroad.

Shenandoah Valley Railroad.
We called the attention of our read
ers to this road few weeks ago, believ-
inc it to be an an important one to the
citizens of our town and country and
especial to those who live along the line
of country from to Bakersville, Sharps-
burg and Shepherdstown. For some
time the enterprise was regarded as
chiefly talk and il was then thought the
road was not seriously contemplated.
But it has come a fixed fact on the
other side of the Potomac and the work
is going on theoretically from Shep-
herdstown. through Jefferson County,
southwark. The Virginia line up
through the beautiful valley of Luray Is
under contract, and the people of that
country, although their substance has
been destroyed and wasted, are turning
their attention to this new enterprise.
They appreciate the value Of this rail
way, and the best evidence of their ap-
probation is the very moderate, very
low land damages which the company
has been called upon to pay; IN some
instances farmers giving ohe right OF
way for a nominal sum. OF what value
can this road be us? Let any one OF
our readers take a piece of cord and
place one end of it on the map at New
York or Harrisburg and the other at
New Orleans; he will find that direct
line will pas through Hagerstown and
and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Naturally it is the grand trunk line of
railway connection between New \ ork,
the metropolis of America, and New
Orleans, the chief city, in population
and commerce, of the South. Nor is
the road yet to be made to complete
this important connection, of any great
Tenth. From Hagerstown northward,
we have excellent and ample railroad
communication with Harrisburg and
New York. From the Southern Ten
nessee Railroad in Virginia, where the
proposed Shenandoah Valley Railroad
will unite with it, there is direct and
complete communication by rail with
New Orleans.
Let the link through the Shenandoah
Valley and Washington County be
made and the connection will be COM
pleted.
Is not this Insufficient importance to
the people Of our county to awaken
their interest and their energiese
We are busily talking about neigh
boring connections and local branches;
but it seems to us there is no prospect
promising so much aid and prosperity
to us, as tue connection with the Shen-
andoah Valley. Let the Trunk Line
once be finished, and through our town
and county will flow and rehow the
vast stream of travel and trade between
the North and all the Cotton States.
But it behooyes our people to takean
active and not only speculative interest
III this Road. The work has begun on
the other side of the Potomac and is
going southwark.
Nothing is being done in Washington
County. Why do not The good people
of Sharpsburg and Bakersyille and the
the farmers along the ling look into
this matter; have their meetings, find
out where the proposed road will past
and make some arrangements, if it can
be done, secure the right of way? The
road would greatly enhance the value
of the lands, improvepropertyi Sharps-
burg aud Bakcrsville, and give the PEG
pie of that section of the county more
direct communication with Hagerstown
the county seat.
We call attention again to this matter
because we are informed that in inticipa-
ton of delay, or trouble in securing the
direct connection with Hagerstown by
the route we have indicated, there is an
effort being made to induce the Rail
road company to run their road from
Shepherdstown through Virginia to
Powells Bend and there connect with
the present extension of the Cumberland
Valley.
BY this arrangement our county would
lose one railroad, nor would the line be
as desirable. We direct attention to
this matter and will perhaps have more
to say hereafter,-Hagerstown Free
Press.