The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-05-22
XAnR0Y GAIfHE.

VIZ "au 'he pleasure vi mtetluE IN the olty
last week Mr.. j. J. Hoblitzel, of Frostburg,
Md, gentleman largely engaged in the
burnt brick business. In conversation with
him, he gave us some information in regard
to Narrow Gauge Railroads, which will
doubtless be of interest to many of our cti.
zeps Of the Valley. He is interested in run
Mug road of this description 10 connection
with his manufacturing enterprise, Il ia six
miles long, constructed in frst-class style, and
cost s46,0 900, for building and equipment
complete. This is fraction over 81 500 per
mile. The conformation Of the country
through which this road is located is some.
thing like that Of the Valley, though the i'm
| mediate locality where the road runs is some
what roughcr Much heavy work, proper
| tionately, was encountered, and great deal
Of rock excavated. Mr.. HobIitzel is of the
opinion, that no improvement would contrib
ute SO much to the development of our sec
ton of country, as the construction OF Mar
row Gauge Road, through that portion of
the Valley from Stauaton to Salem, provided
the Valley Road is not at once put under
contract. Considering that labor is cheaper
here, and the ties could be gotten for less than
in Maryland, his belief is that the cost of a
Narrow Gauge Road would be less than the
one he is connected with.
In veiw Of the activity Of the friends of
the Washington Cincinnati and St. Louis
Narrow Gauge Road, and the purpose to at
once place under contract that portion of it
from Harrisouburg to Monterey, the figures
Mr.. IIoblitzel3 gives US, will be encouraging.
The company, indeed, has enough subscribed
already to insure this portion of the road, and
after it reaches the iron mountains of High
! land. and the coal fields of Webster, ard their
development commences, the entire line will
be assured. We therefore hope the company
will renew their energy, and that the people
will continue the manifestation Of liberal
spirit, for we do not know ofan improvement
that promises greater remuneration.
Az an illustration o. the wonderful effects
of manufacturing enterprises upon the imme
date community where they are located, Mr.
Hoblitzel stated, that where his brick ope-
rations are now being carried on, by which at
least 2 900 consumers are brought together.
the farmers were receiving IS per cent. be I.
ter prices for the products Of the dairy, the
poultry yard, and the truck patches, and a
degree Of prosperity existing that was never
before dreamed of. This fact will be pecu-
liarly gratifying to the people of the counties
through which the w. G. & St. L. Narrow
Gauge Road will run. They are entirely
! shut out from market There is no induce
ment for them to engage in the production of
the minor articles of the farm except for home
consumption. In Highland county, from the
evidences we have of the last years crop Of
potatoes, this vegetable alone would become a
source of large profit to them, and so with
the counties of Pocahontas and Webster, 10
all of which the miners Of coal and iron would
constitute a heavy consuming population.
When this road is completed, and the min
erals of the counties through it will pass be-
gin to be developed, the necessity of rail con-
nec.ion on the part Of Staunten will become
apparent. But more Of this hereafter.
Mark Twain saws that .strayel ia fatal te