The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-05-29

Observation-Disclosures is beginning to
look up. A busy scene is presented in the wes-
tern portion of the city where laborers are enga-
ged in cutting out the track for the Valley Rail-
road. The old Jail hill, the scene of school-boy
sports and adventures, is giving away before. the
pick and shovel and soon the swift transit of
the cars will tell of the wonderful change few
years have brought in the old burg. The old
landmarks are passing away, and the evidence of
The new Ell and progressive age showing them
selves every day.
In conversation with some of the substantial
citizens of Harrisonburg, We were lead to believe
that the Narrow Gauge Railroad from that point
on to Monterey would soon, be let to contract. =
When this is effected, there is valid reason
why that town should not at once enter upon a
career of enterprise. There will be no point IN
the Valley better adapted to manufactures
Immediate connection with the iron and coal
of shipment both South and North, will give it
advantages possessed by no other place, except
Staunton, in the entire Valley.
There will be necessity for the citizens of
that place to manifest active spirit of busness
enterprise, if they do not want to see much of
the trade they already have Ia ken from them
| The beautiful town of Bridgewater, sitting like
ROXY cheek count h belle upon the flower bedeck-
ed banks of the crystal waters Of North river, is
already pushing forward work that has in con-
temptation the intercepton of much Of the wealth
that must be developed on the line Of the Narrow
| bo ilrood cor
to be in earnest, and we would not be surprised
| if Tom Scott is not the moving spirit in it. 1t
aims to connect with the Shenandoah Valley
Road at or near Port Republic. Tom Scott IS the
President of that road; he knows the value Of
lateral roads as feeders; he further knows that
immense coal and iron deposits will be brought
into practical use when the Narrow Gauge PEN
etrates the counties of Highland, ocohontas- and
Webster; he further knows that if he intercepts
the trade incident to the construction of the Mar
low Gauge, at Bridgewater, he will take that
much from the Valley Road, and the Baltimore
and Ohio road, at Harrisonburg. Tom Scott has
the money to build his road to either Staanton OF
Fishersvi'le, and, as will be seen from another
article in to days Vuginidn, he is going to do SO
at the earliest practicable period. 1t has to be
done by October 1874, if at all, and knowing this;
he is going to do it without delay. Now the
people of Harrisonburg see the lion in their path,
and if they are not active ir securing the com,s
pletion of the Narrow gauge at the earliest prac
ticable period, they might weh rent theil
town out to the moles and bats for night frolics
and some enterprising grasier for pasture
field. This is progressive age, and if the PEG
pie do not keep up with its spirit they will be run
over and kicked out of the way. Mr.. Barbout
and Mr.. Garrett might as well look this state
ment square in the face. They are interested,
and if they study their own interests they will
give the Marrow Gauge helping hand and pusf
it up to early completion: That little North riv
err road has great deal Of meaning in it. L
means business, and Tom Scott sees it in tina
light. We give our Harrisonburg friends thu
benefit of this suggestion free of cost. They cal
act upon it, or not as seems to them best. bu
there is thing certain, they are in a tickllsl
place, and it will require something more than
awh:teI sep, IT, u" to lead them cut of it.