The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-06-08
Important Movement.

Harrisonburg, and which is composed princi-
pally of Northern capitalists, have purchased
the Fredericksburg and Orange Railroad
We regard this as very important move
ment in the interest of the Valley. We do
not know how much of the bed of this road has
been graded, but a considerable distance, and
some OF it ready for the rails, and we believe
portion of the rails already laid. In this lat
ter point we may be mistaken. We believe
further that the amount agreed upon is some
thing over $4,000, $4,000 of which is to he
paid in hand, and it is a part of the contract
that $4,000 worth of iron is to be placed on
the road within thirty days, and the entire
improvement, from Fredericksburg to Orange
Court House, completed Within Twelve months.
Failure to comply with these stipllations, for
fcts the money paid and the material and
work the purchasing party may haze placed
upon the road.
we have not seen or c0nverscd with any of
the parties to- the contract, but we assume at
once, s'sas the purpose is to continue the road
cif to tkrrisonburg, and thence to the coal and
aon fields i'll Virginia and West Virginia under
che control of the company, and finally to the
ONO Rivcr-eventualy making it what an i,l-
telJigent gentleman remarked, the "Rcsdine''
road of Virginia.
There could be no more favorable route to
connect the waters of the Chesapeake and the
Ohio than this one here suggested. The WON
derfl wealth that would be developed and util-
lied in the articles of coal and iron, would
constitute it one of the most important enter.
prises to Virginia that bias engaged the atten-
ton OF capitalists for many years. Striking
the Valley at the central point OF Harrisonburg,
and there receiving the rich and exhaustless
trade that must follow the completion of the
Narrow Guage from that place to the coal
and iron fields along its lire. it would be the
determining step to making the Valley OF
Virginia the Iron Centre of the continent.
The surprising Developments Of anthracite
coal in North Mountain, known as the Dora
Mines. only give an imperfect indication o.
the remarkable deposits tl,at exist. A state
ment in the Rockingham Register of last week
gives assurance that already there have beer
exposed seams of coal in some places thirteen
feet thick, and the further the mountain il
penetrated the richer the promise in quality
and quantity. 1t is assumed by experienced
miners that the entire range of that mountain
in an easternly direction fer many miles, pro-
duces unmistakahae evidence that anthracite
coal exists in immense quantities, comparing
favorably with the deposits in PENNSYLVANIA.
Its i'll this mountain and on the route of tho
railroad as it would be projected West from
llarrisonburg. that the most valuable iron ore
ever discovered in this country is found, SINH
lar to that out of Which the Russian iron i!
made.
1t is only necessary to mention these facts tt
Justify the belief that the Royal Land Compa
ny kaye conceived the idea of extending the
Fredericksburg and Orange road to the Valley
and thence through the rich mineral deposits
on to the 0hio. Whether that is their purpose
or not, certainty the unsurpassed opportunity
for constructing one of the best paying railroad
enterprises the century has witnessed will moi
escape the practical. keen eye of the Norther,
capitalist for it is demonstrate that ton o
iron could be made in the Valley of Virginia
when rail cosfEe lnication is contaminated tt
the coal and iron fields now attracting atten
ton, and delivered in Pittsburg for s. less thar
it can be manufactured there.
While we have 10 definite inEarssation as Il
the purposes OF the Company, which we have
: been informed have purchased this Fredercks
burg and Orange Ioad, yet we feel so conf
: dent that the attention of capitalists will bt
attracted to the feasibility and the aff1uen
promise OF road reaching from Fredericks
: burg to the Valley of Virginia and thence OF
to the Ohio, that we almost assume it as a fac
what we have only heard as a wel-foundet
: rumor. Certainly if the gentleman composing
the Company arc the wealthy, entermisins
nacE they are represented to be, we may safel,
; conclude that there is something more tina,
idle conjecture about the matter.
; The e~rpus capital of the Nerth could fint
no better Investment that has all the assurances
OF ample remuneration than the one here sug
gested. The entire route from the Potomac al
, Quantico to the Ohio River is bit a eentinu
Gus region Of wealth, either in agriculture
minerals or timber. The road could witt
great propriety be designated the Reading
road of Virginia, Tor it WOULD certainly be tt
this State what that road has been to PennsvI.
vana, and those who are managing it.
We, however. have written more than we in
tended, and shall await further information be.
fore recurring to it again.