The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-04-17
THE NARROW GUAGE.

We, with pleasure, give insertion to the fol-
lowing communication from an intelligent and
esteemed friend, residing in Highland county,
presenting some Of the reasons for the construc-
ton of the Narrow Guage Railroad, from Wash
ington City to St. Louis, which pasEes through
that county, and few facts, showing the condi-
ton of the enterprise. We assure our cores
pendent of our hearty sympathy with this impor-
tant enterprise and will cheerfully lend our col
umns to bringing before the public its advanta-
ges.
HIGHLAND Co., VA, April 7sh, 1873
Maj. Yost,
DEAR S1R:-I see from your last
issue a Narrow Guage R. R. is spoken of from
the Baltimore s. Ohio R. r. to Romney, thence to
Broadway am delighted to see that Narrow
Guage Railroads are becoming so popular in Vir-
ginia. Their throughout the west, espe-
cialy in Colorado, where the mountains are of
the most abrupt and rugged character. has eff
| fectually banished all doubt as to their value.
The people in and around staunton have no con-
fidence in Narrow Guage Railroads. especially
in the Washington, Cincinnati & St. Louis Mar
row Guage now being located through our coun-
| IT, They look on it as idle breeze because it
does not blow toward Jerusalem. In CONVERSE
ton with several gentlemen they treated the
subject rather with contempt than otherwise;
however contemplate it may be, it has support
ers in the form md shape of several large iron
and coal companies from Pennsylvania These
companies have bought and leased several hun
bred thousand acres Of iron and coal lands along
| the line An iron company from Pittsburg has
purchased L., 900 acres of iron land at McDowe
IN this county and donated 100000 to the COZ
struction of the road Another iron company
from Philadelphia is negotiating for iron lands
near Monterey, the terms think have not been
agreed upon.) If the purchase is made, this CON-
pany, it is understood will also donate 5000, 600
to the road. This tract includes the same lands
stearns of Richmond tempted to buy last winte' :.
! The different coal companies interested have
subscribed about 100000, in addition to which
there are $50, 900 from this county and about
| $65, 900 subscribed by private individuals, max
ing an aggregate of $915,000. This of itself
shows that the road is rapidly growing in favor
and will be put under construction in q short
/ time As 70 there being the greatest quantities
of iron, coal and timber along the line, there can
not be the least shadow of doubt. Professor
Bramwell Of Philadelphia, was engaged and sent
to this section by Pittsburg company to make
observations and analyses. His report was ia
vorable upon his return, thatNthey Immediately
purchased Since that time other scientific gen
tlemen have been making Investigations with a
view to lease or purchase. A company of gen.
men including the editor of the Iron World
| (Pittsburg) paid us long visit last week. They
expressed thems elves delighted not only with the
quality but with the quantity of ore The interest
in this enterprise is so manifest that new life is
animating every section contiguous to it, every
foot of vacant land has been taken up, old sur
veys have been run anew, boundaries definitely
located and tracts of country heretofore worth
less have suddenly sprung into value 1t is sta
| ted by Col. Osborne, Engineer in charge, that
the grades do not exceed so feet going east, and
80 feet going west, the most difficult part of
the route, viz: Shenandoah mountain, also that it
will shorten the line between the Ohio River and
Baltimore more than SO miles and in no place
will it cost more than $4,000 per mile The
average he thinks will not exceed S. 600 There
are many arguments in favor of this road. if l
had the time to enumerate them, but cannot do it
now have shown what basis the road now
has, what interest capitalists are taking in it,
touched q little upon the mineral wealth cf the
section through which it passes and the advanta
ges in distance between the Ohio River and Bal
timore over the G. & O R. R. or the B. s O.
| h. / believe hat in short time nothing need
be said in regard to this road as it will then
speak for itself. 1t is subject of two much in
terest to the people of the Valley, in fact to the
whole State, to be narrowed down to the mits of
= any particular locality, but deserves an honora
BILE position and generous advocacy. The pres
ent impoverished condition of Virginia cries
aloud for all these improvements to be made in
order that her dormant wealth may be aroused
into activity The chain of mountains by which
we are surrounded renders this impossible but
by the'means referred to- For this reason, if no
other, should we encourage this Improvement
with that warmth which it deserves.
Very respectfully, yonrs,