The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-03-11
THE TROUBLES OF OLD VIR.
GINA.

She Fears Further DIsInlegration.-
The Valley Not Reliable Under
Certain CiTcumstances-.Th BaItI-
more 4 Ohio Railroad Response.
bic for the New state of West Viz
ginia.
A bill has been offered in the Legisla-
Lure OF Virginia ITO authorize the Valley
Railroad Company 10 construct branch
Of It's road" This means q bill TO covertly
authorize the Baltimore & Ohio Com
pany to extend the Valley Railroad,
which is branch Of itself, to Bristol on
the Tennessee line, and thus divert the
Southern trade now enjoyed by THE At
lantic, Mississippi s. Ohio Railroad, which
extends from Bristol to Norfolk, from
Norfolk to Baltimore. The Richmond,
and indeed the Virginia press generally,
have raised the alarm over the introduc-
ton of this bill, and have put forth strong
protests against It's passage. Should it
pass. the Petersburg Inder says that
Every VILLAGE, town and city bet wcen
Bristol and the sea at Norfolk would suI-
Ter in greater or less degree the effect OF
this blow at Virginias interest. The
wharves at City Point, at Portsmouth and
Norfolk will find their occupation gone;
the stately steamers which ply between
those ports and the northern cities would
be transferred 10 other more profitable
lines OF service, or else rot useless at
their moorings. This is no mere fanciul
picture OF
sTAGNATIoN AND DRsoLATIoN.
The books Of the Atlantic, Mississippi
& Ohio Railroad Company and the pub
lished reports will show what an immense
Income TO It's treasury has been the car
riage OF southern cotton. The loss OF
that patronage and that income would
reach the fireside Of every man iu our
Southside cities. Not those only inter-
esIedin this great through line as stock
holders and bondholders, but every man
10 whom 1t affords employment and 10
whose family 1t affords support, would
feel the pressure on his throat and heart,
II such an aneurism as the Valley Rail-
road impeded at Bristol the great Vir.
ginla artery OF trade and travel.
SO plain and obvious Is this statement
Of facts that we can hardly believe that
the General Assembly Of Virginia will
entertain the proposition OF AIr Garrett
any longer than Is demanded by courtesy
and regard for its own dignity. Indeed
there seems TO be but small occasion for
the exercise OF courtesy since the favor
solicited by Mr.. Garrett involves the sur
render Of the prosperity If not the exist
ence oI leading Virginia cities for The
sake OF Baltimore and "my Maryland"
Hr Garrett might appropriate to his own
use the words with which Dutch William
Is said TO have sought to reconcile the
people OF England in the year 1888. "My
peoples" said the King, in his broken di.
SLect, II have come here for your go0iS."
This Is exactly what Mr.. Garrett has
come for. Not so much for the good Of
Virginia ss Tor her goods; and VIC cannot
believe that body ot men representing
virginia constituencies can 80 far forget
their duty as 10 ConCede such "coign Of
vantage" to railroad interest whose in
tuence has already proven itself so ma.
lign. We should never forget that the
bastard birth Of West Virginia was &C.
Gomplished under the auspices of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and we
may well be alarmed when we reflect
what foot hold the same corporation
already has in tho great valley where
sleep the ashes oil Lee and jackson. AL.
ready at Staunton the Valley road
TAPs THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO
and defects some portion oil the volume
of trade which should seek Richmond di.
rect from the waters Of the Ohio. Already
from different parts Of the upper valley
have arisen clamors and complaints, the
Inspiration Of which can be traced TO the
invader whose interest consists In alienat.
Ing from Virginia that rich part OF her
extensive domain. Within the past two
weeks one paper at Lexington has threat.
ened the secession Of the Valley from
virginia, and It's union with West Virgin.
49, and q paper Of Bristol, incensed about
me location Of the new lunatic asylum,
mas made the menace, partly no doubt in
Jest, that the Southwest II further slighted
would ally itself with the Baltimore in.
teFest. This sort Of thing has gone far
enough; no further advantage can safely
be conceded. The interest, the honor, the
prosperity, nay, the life OF the Sou,hside
cities and tho capital Of Virginia are In.
Volved In opposing the further extension
ola power which II permitted would
atrangle the road at Bristol, which con.
Gttt1tes a "lvlng link" between the cotton
nelda OF the South and the factory towns
and seapors Of Virginia.
The Fredericksburg Herald takes a
similar view as to the danger impending
over Virginia In the shape Of the bill re-
feFred to. 1t also warns the Legislature
that II contaminated 1t will tend greatly
to the injury Of Lynchburg, Petersburg,
Richmond, and at the same time most dis.
Hsoualy affect the interests Of Norfolk.