The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-06-15
VALLEY Railroad.

Tor its operation. 1t was rumored
here last Week that Hon. John w. Garrett,
President OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, I
who is now on the Pacific Coast, had telc-
graphed that it was his design to hold Oh to
the road, at any cost. If this proves to be true,
tlicr VIC conclude that terms will be agreed up
Oil at the session Of the Directory, by which
the cars will be placed on the road at once
The suspension OF the trains, has been a
great public Inconvenience, and, indeed, inju-
ry. The Mt. Vernon Iron Furnaces, especial
ly, have been heavy losers by reason of their
want Of means to transport their manufactures
to market; and the farming iiltep.sts have SUI
fercd for want at transportation for flour. A
number of wagons from the lower part of A,l.
g'lsta and the upper part OF Rockingham
brought flour to Staunton last week, as high
as 100 barrels coming from one mill tSherman's
in one day. The Mt. Vernon. Furnace could
load about 25 cars a day. and the failure to
reach the market in Baltimore, and realize
upon their labors, has caused peculiar oppres-
sion to the management of that useful enter
prise.
We are at loss to understand why the Bal
timore and Ohio Road did not at first agree
to lease the Valley Road at reasonable rental
for period of years. We have not been dis
posed to discuss the anomalous fact that an
important link, such as that which unites the
Baltimore and Ohio Road at IIarrisonburg,
with the Chesapeake aid Ohio, at Stanton, in
any spirit of bitterness. But il has all the ap-
pearance of an arbitrary disposition, when the
rolling stock is suddenly ordered off the Valley
Road. because its directory would not submit to
in bankruptcy, and we can imagine 10 excuse
why the 3. & o. Co. pursued this course, I'M
less it was to force the Valley Company to
substantially surrender their road. The Bati-
more and Ohio Road cannot afford to lose the
| Valley Road, unless, indeed, it is the purpose
to abandon its road from Harrisonburg to Har.
per's Ferry. The Valley road is essential to
the life of the remaining portion of the road
running through the Valley, aud when COM
lpleted TO Salem, as it must be soon, either by
the Baltimore and Ohio Company OF some 9TH
er, the necessity will be the more apparent
why the Baltimore and Ohio Road cannot at.
ford to relinqnisil its possession Of the Valley
Road. The complications Of the Atlantic,
Mississippi and Ohio Road, with which the
Valley will connect at Salem. render it still
more important for the Baltimore Road to ear
ry out the original design Of completing the
Valley Road to its terminal point. 1t is not
beyond the range of possibility that that great
enterprise will fall! under the control of the
Baltimore and Ohio Road. That it viii BIZ
sold, now seems inevitable. and it would be the
most natural suggestion conceivable, that Mr.
Garrett will be bidder and buyer when thai
event shall occur. A completed Southern anC
Southwestern connection would thus be secu
red for Baltimore, direct and uninterrupted
for it would take but a short time and compar
atively small expense to change the guage O.
Mahone's road to correspond with that OF the
Baltimore and Ohio and its branches.
We hope all equitable arrangement will b.
affected at Baltimore by the Directory by
which the trans will be placed on the Vale,
Road at once, and the trade of the Valley fur
nish an outlet to market. If not with the Bal
timore and Ohio Company, then with some
other competent party, and that the shameful
sight of one of the most thoroughly construc
ted railroads in the country laying idle, b.
removed. Ii the Baltimore Company deem i
unwise to lease the Valley road at the price
fixed by the stockholders at their recent meet
ing, then let it be magnanimons enough tt
intcrpose no objection to some other company
taking and running if. The people are suffer
ing, when there is no reason or occasion for it
speedily rs possible.