The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-22
From Rockbridge County The Valley
Railroad.

1Corre <poudrnce of the Richmond Dispatch.1
RocEBRIpGE COUNTY. Va, March Is, 1875.
A very large part OF our county has been
shut in for TWO months by the close Of nayi-
CATION on the canal. Boats are now running
regularly, and much accumulated produce
will End its way to market.
We have felt this winter the need Of the
railroad as much-ls ever. The road from
Lexington TO Goshen has been icy and dan.
Serous, and the difficulties and expenses of
travel and transportation proportionably in
creased. For the southern part Of the
county The outlet (when the canal is frozen)
is ar Butord's or Bonsack's, on the Atlantic,
Mississippi and Ohio railroad. and the trou.
bic Of reaching these places is considerable.
Some of our merchants have been COM
PEELED TO send for supplies all the way by
wagon 10 Lyuchburg, "A much more formida.
bic undertaking now than it was when the
road over the mountains and through Am
herst was the main thoroughfare. he mail
is carried in the winter months from Lex
ington to Bonsack's in buggies, which afford
seat for ono passenger; but this Is not
often needed at this season. 10 the summer
stages are used. This winter the mail is
daily one each way. 1t has previously been
tri-weckly in the winter.
A vast amount of work was done towards
| the Valley railroad within the year, during
which the enterpr>ing contractors were
allowed to operate. Deep cuts, great em-
bankments, and many splendid culverts now
remain the silent memorials Of their rapid
! industry. Some OF them advanced large
! sums of their own money in order to 20 tor
ward, and very honorably paid OF their
hands when the work was finally suspended.
| thus increasing the large debt Of the COM
| pany 10 them. Several of the contractors
! have gone with their carts and horses aud
other fixtures to contracts on other roads.
Some have remained here all the winter,
! feeding horses. mules, and hand, waiting
! for the company to resume the construction
of the road. a meeting was appointed for
: the 22d OF February in Staunton, but the
/ Committee on Finance was not ready to re.
port, and it was postponed TO the 9Th OF
April. This was regarded by many as an
indefinite disposal Of the railroad, and those
who have waited so long are preparing to
move. Their stock is offered at low price,
but there is little demand here or in the adj
joining counties.
OF all the negroes discharged in this
county none are left to StraSgle or annoy
lis. aud their beh trior while they were
at work was orderly in surprising and ere.
ditable degree. The l(ai ans have the conf
dence OF The community, acquired by their
quiet and decent behavior and uprightneSs
IN their pecuniary transactions. Large sums
are due them, and some have rclnained all
The winter doing nothing. 1t is said tnn
the company will be compelled by the state
OF its treasury to scale the estimates OF the
large contractors, VINO i'll their turn will
scale the subcontraclors, masons, &c. The
waste and ruin that are seen in the steps CT
the abandoned work remind one Of the raw
ages of war. CommisSaries are closing out
with confusion ard sacrifice; costly ropes
and derricks are left to decay: numerous
shops, cabins, stables, and temporary houses,
built bv contractors as places of residence,
are deserted, and various other relics inti-
mate deplorabe loss OF money, much Of
which must fall upon individual sufferers
who were employed by the company.
Besides all this, the people have been dis.
turbed in many ways. The assessment OF
damages has given in finite trouble; orchards.
meadows, and gardens have been penetrated ;
families have been blasted out OF their
homes. and in several cases barns and even
residences have been removed 10 give place
10 the road. Whether 1t Is all Tor nothing
remains to be seen. We hail with pleasure
! The Virginia road from Buchanan to Clifton
Forge. S. I. u.