The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-04-02
Valley Railroad Extension.

ne C0minlttee OF Lne OCaCo Cenato 10
which the bill introduced by Senator Coch-
ran fol the extension of the Valley Railroad,
was retired, have reported against it. This,
we presume, disposes of the matter for the
present session. It by no means follows,
however, that it is dnal disposition Of it,.
Had We been consulted. we should have ad-
vised against the application for the charter
at this late period in the session, The in
portance for its passage now is not pressing.
1t will, however, come up again and be
granted. We assume this to be so, from the
reason Of the case The public interest and
public justice will demand it. There is no
valid argument that has been or can be pre-
scented against it, consistt mt with a sound
State policy. The development Of the ma
terial resources ofthe State by the agency OF
railroads, is a consideration Of primary i'm
portauce, in which all the people are con
cerned. The creation of new wealth is the
only means by which our taxable resources
can b increased. This effected, the relief
will be general. The policy Of the Valley
is to make the roads which thread her terri
tory as healthy as possible, to enable them
to construct laterals as feeders. Thus will
be penetrated all our mineral regious. If
in this general policy Of improvement and
deve )ornent, Ri.bmopd has the enterprise
| to reach out and command the trade Incl.
dent thereto, she will get it. If she is un-
| able to corporate with other cities
| she will not get it. The idea that
| no railroad shall be constructed that does
not constitute funnel with its mouth at
Richmond, is simply ridiculous. If the rep
resentatives in the Legislature from eastern
Virginia are SO contracted in their views,
SO short-sighted as not to discover in the
development and prosperity of the Valley,
corresponding benefits to that section, and
will persist in refusing simple act of JUS
tice, then they may prepare for separation
Of the State on the Blue Ridge Mountaip.
A majority of the people CT the Valley are
ready and many of them anxious, at this
time, for this step. When they reflect how
they have been wronged and outraged by
the seldshness and injustice of past legisla.
ton, and are faced with the fact that the
same policy is to be fastened upon them for
oil time to come, an indignant protest comes
to the lips of almost every man you meet =
For halfa century the legislation has beer
controlled solely with view to "build up
Richmond" The tax payers have upon
them huge debt that is crushing them ia
the earth, and grinding them into the deepest
poverty, contracted to build up Richmond
Our wonderful water power has flowed to the
sea unutilized, to build up Richmond."-
Qur mountains OF minerals have been made
to lie dormant to build up Richmond" and
what has it all amounted to? The whole
State has been impoverished by this policy
and Richmond not yet built up. Nov let
more comprehensive and enlightened poll
| cy be adopted. Wherever railroad can be
constructed, and parties can be found to UNI
dertake it, without a cent of cost to the
State, give them the privilege of doing it.,
This will insure the rapid development OF
the State, and will result in accomplishing
more for Richmond ia ten years than has
been realized in fifty years of special legis
lation ostensbly for he. benefit The policy
heretofore adopted has certainly failed Of eff
fsating that whichit was claiEued it would. Let
new era be inaugurated and if Richmond is
not made to prosper, it will be for the want
Of Enterprise in her own citizens. Assured
" the rest Of the State will feel the EMIL
ipating and reviving effect.
We notice in the Dispatch communiea-
ton from Gen. Imboden, who signs himself
President Of an imaginary railroad, running
from Richmond to some place no one u4ys
He says thisValley railroaa bill lis not dead
but FleePe'h,' cpd asrveqsly suggests thas