Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-05-20
THE WASHINGTON & OHIO R. R


We republish article from the Martins.
burg Statesman on this subject. together with
a letter from the Hon. Lewis Mckenzie to
1.-The editor of that paper.
tThe Jefferson Industrial Association of this
county had the subject of this road to Martins
burg from Hamilton, by way of Charlestown,
under discussion last winter and the only OBJ
staole which has prevented the prosecution of
this important object has been the impaticnce
"of our people under the present 6nerous tax
alton, and the consequent i'm possibility of ofer.
ing any su table inducements on the part of
our county.
We have private letters of Hon.
Charles j. "Faulkner, president of the NJ. &
;P.' Railroad, and from Hon. L. Mckenzie,
spresident of the W. & o. Railroad, which
convince US that any overtures on the part of
this county, backed by ANY reasonable assu>
rance of material aid, would secure tho con-
.nee,ion spoken Of:
WASHINGTON AND ONO RAILRoAD.-It
has been said of the Hon. Lewis Mckenzie.
that he is the only railroad President, that
ever constructed a road without dollar of
money. OF course this is not literally true,
but the hyperbole conveys an idea of the
many obstacles he has surmountcd. in the
completion of his road TO point half way to
Its projected terminus, the coal fields of
Hampshire point being Hamilton, near
the base of the Blue Fridge. in Loudoun
county. There it seems the enterprise has
struck albeit the herculcan effort Is of its ener-
gesic President to carry it further. We read
with a great deal of interest, the report of the
proceedings of the late Annual Stockholders
Meeting at Alexandria. The details there
given of the difficulties attending the con>
struction of the road-thc difficulties vet to
be overcome in its completion, the jealousies
and riyalries of local Interests, ali demon,
strated that Mr.. McKen8ie's, position, was
not a "bed of roses" nor was there much as
surance, that the road would reach the coal
fields OF Hampshire, in the hezt half century.
We noticed however that our enterprisiug
nelshbors, the Winchesteriaus were on hand
The town that boasts of its s:gas," of course
had to be represented. It did not appear
from the proceedings of the Stockholders
Meeting, published, how much of the Pc
cnar article which its press brags of, was
used by its delegates on the OCCASION, but we
have no doubt it was p!entfully plied-to all
OF which, we desire it to be understood we
do not object. In our large hear tcdness, we
can but wish our good neghborhood town,
plentiful supply of railroads, to carry its sur
plus produce, hoop>poles included, to market.
But whilst in the kindness of our heart we
wish them these bencfcent facilities We must
be just as well as generous. Inspired with
this feeling, we took it upon ourselves to ad-
dress letter to President Mckenzie, suggest
ing to him several good and, as we think, suf
fcient reasons, for making Martinsburg, and
not Winchester, the temporary terminus of
the Washington & Ohio Railroad. Crossing
at Keys Gap, on the B,ue Ridge, stretch of
~ miles, on a bee line, almost dead
level, brings Alexandra, via Martinsbure in
direct communication with the North and
West-In fact makes shorter railway line BY
many miles, than any other line Of road now
built, extending from the District of Columbia,
northward. besides making continuous grand
trunk line from Toronto. Canada, to Galveston.
Texas. Whether such advantages will out
weigh those presented by our gassy and fussy
mel ghboring village of Winchester, remains
to be seen, but We have the promise at least
OF President Mckenzie, that he will lay our
uupreten,ious letter before the next meeting
of the Board of Directors The following is
Presiden: Mckenzes reply to tina, letter:
OFFICE, ". s, o. r. R. Co,
Alexandria, May 3, 1873.
ID. s. Eiche3beryrr, Esq,
DEAR SIR Yours of tho Goth ult. was
duly received. 1t is impossible for me to say
how your suggestion will be regarded by the
Board, before whom will lay it. Of course
1 have myself no power to change their ae-
ton adopting the Smokers Gap route, or to
say anything which would commit them
do not know that clearly understand
the plans of the Nlartnsburg Company,
whether they intend to 60 to Winchester or
not. When [ was in Winchester month or
so ago. [ understood that the people of that
town, by committee, expected to have an
interview with the Railroad Board, to know
whether Winchester would be your terminus
or not. and to tender subscription on the
condition that it should be. How has the
matter resulted?
Your ob't servant,