South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-07-11
South 3raneh 9ntrlliaemtrr.
R0MNEY, FRIDAY, JULY IL, 1878.
South Branch Narrow Gauge
Railway.
From the Baltimore Gazette.


The Information is obtained from Can't. p p
cambridge, Chief Engineer of this road, that
contracts have been closed for the FIRST sixteen
miles OF the work, and that a large force of labo-
rers are actively engaged at 'Grange-back, Sum
init and other prominent points upon the line in
the work Of grading the road bed
This road leaves the main stem of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad near Green Spring Run
Station, some fifteen miles east of Cumberland
and runs in a southwestery direction up the Val
ley of Green Spring Run to its head, thence into
the Valley of the South Branch of the Potomac.
near the town Of Springfield, in Hampshire coun-
~, West Virginia. From this point the road
follows the South Branch Valley to Romney, the
county seat of Hampshire This is the terminus
OF the xteen miles now under contract The
South Branch Company have sufficient means to
push their road rapidly to completion, and it is
confidently expected that this sixteen miles will
be In operation early in the winter Of ~
From the peculiar features of the country
through which this road passes, its adaptability
TO either the wide narrow.gauge track and
the ample support it would afford to either, it
has attracted considerable attention from railroad
men, and its progress will be closely watched, as
afiording practical test of the relative value of
the narrow gauge aud the standard or four feet
and a half inch gauge commonly in use Almost
every question in dispute between the gau
ges will be solved by this road. Grades of a hun
d. ed feet per mile have Seen adopted rs n maxi
mum, and curves of 800 feet radius are in use
1t is the design Of tie South Branch Company to
construct their road in as substant ia and perfect
manner as possible and from this fact, aud its
comprising all cf the peculiar features Of the
narrow gauge system, il cannot fail TO prove a
valuable test Of the practical value of that class
of road.
The South Branch Valley is famed for its fer
til;ty of soil. Heretofore cut off from railway
communications, its huge crops of grain and hay
have been fed away to stock or left to rot in the
fields. After the completion of the South Bran oh
Railway these and all other farm products will
be shipped over this and the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad TO the Baltimore market, and cannot
fail to make valuable accession TO its trade. In
addition to agricultural products, the Green
Spring and South Branch Valleys abound in min
eral deposits Of great value. Iron ore Of fine
quality is in close proximity to the line Of the
road black and white marble, slate and fine
brick clay, &c within easy reach, and only
need this means Of transportation to make them
of great value. Mineral springs of every descrip-
ton are abundant, aud III one locality, immedi-
ately upon the line of the road, and within an
OF less than fifty-o acres chal ybeate alum
white sulphur and freostoue water, each spring
strong in its own peculiar qualities, are to he
found OF the white sulphur spring jus. men
toned, so strong is its volume that it turns Il mill
ing a never falling stream. These springs flow
from beautiful table, level sloping gently to
the westward from the foot of the South Branch
Mountain. and shaded by magnificent growth
Of white oak trees.
The mountains adjacent and on either side Of
the route of the road are covered with timber,
white oak, hickory, wild cherry, and yellow
poplar Of primeval growth and great value are
within easy access Thousands of acres Of chest
nut oak, so valuable for its bark, for tanning
purposes, lie close to the line Of the road Al.
ready the attention Of iron men and farmers has
been turned to this region, and subscriptions 10
aid Of the read have been freely offered OF the
South Branch Valley itself its beauty Of scenery
aud hcolthfulness Of climate, it is needless to
speak, these facts being already well known
The South Branch Of the Potomac, which flows
through the valley, is filled with black bass. In
the bills adjacent, deer ard other game is album
dant No more desirable region can be brought
to the attention Of the business man, sportsman
or those in search Of health
The road il solely ibe enterprise Of the people
OF the south Branch Valley, and no little credit
is duo them and their energetic President, Col
Robert White, Of Eomuey, for the manner in
which lhe work has been pushed
Do is contemplated at an early day to push the
road from Eomney on 20 Noorefeld the county
scat Of Hardy, aud from thence to the head
waters Of The South Branch Of the Potomac and
probably over the Allegheny Mountains to the
camel and splint coal fields Of the Kanawba
Valley
-THE Second AIgeutists Of Belfast
Ne, arc gricvously disappointed that tie
world did not come to an end, az per ap-
~... fr,n,t re, V..,.I.u 81 & la -. r.