Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-09-14
Shen. Val. Railroad.
,rhat Railroad to BOOnsh0ro-
Shall We Have IL?

,elled to refer BRIEFLY to the railroad
meeting in this place, and the prospect
of the proposed extension OF the Shen-
audoah Valley Railroad from Shepherds
town TO Smithsburg. The subject is of
vast moment to us, vital to the material
interests of Boonsboro, and is deserving
Of more than passing notice. We pro
nose to return TO the subject of railroad
Connection with this part Of oar ccanty.
The question fer as to consider is
whether the Shenandoah Valley Rail
road shall find It's Northern ostiet thro
Boensboro 10 the Western Maryland
RaAwad, or be permitted to strike out
10 Beddington, on the G. V, K T., on
the West Va, side, or shoot of in some
other direction. Tire speakers at the
reeeot meeting very clearly set forth the
tact that the s. Y. II. II. had passed out
from under the financial cloud, and
with clear skies and favoring breezes
was pushing on South from Shepherds.
town, up the Shenandoah Valley and
down the Luray Valley, at rate that
would insure its completion 10 Waynes-
borv, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road within the next three years. This
Southern terminus is one hundred and
swentyfour miles from Richmond, Va,
and two hundred and ninety-seven from
Huntingdon, on tie Ohio River. Once
finished it opens up line of trade from
Shepherdstown South to Richmond, ana
is on direct line to Texas and the
whole Southern country, as well as tue
West through Cincinnati. The import
ance of the line can be guessed at very
easily, so far as its opening mp South
ern trade is concerned, by referring 10
aay map of our county, and observing
that il Is almost an air line from Tex
as to New York, taking Boonsboro Oh
its way.
From Shepherdstown to Waynesbo-
no, Augusta ooaoty, Va, on the q. IL
0. X. r., is 1873 miles, running through
the most fertile parts of that State. AL
ready over 20 miles have been graded
from Shepnerdstown over which the
construction trains are busy every day,
and as fast rs money and muscle can
push it Is being pressed forward to a
rapid completion. As we stated last
week, S6SS, 900 have already been ex-
pended on the route, all of which has
been furnished by northern capitalist eX-
cept $4,000. Jefferson and other coun'
ties on tie line have subscribed liberal
lv, but not a cent OF that money has
been touched, although it is available as
soon as needed Before the end OF this
mouth, as Col. Boyce assured US, the
road will be finished through Jefferson
county.
We do not propose to write up the
history of this road, but give merely
enough to show that it is live road,
and is bound to be finished within the
time specified.
An outlet north is what the Shenan-
doah Valley Railroad is now looking az
ter Of course there will be no trouble
to get an outlet of some kind, but, as
stated by Hon. A. Il. Boteler at the
meeting in this town, they want the
most direct liae toward New York, and
the most feasible in other respects. we
claim, and the facts bear us Out, that the
most direct route from Shepherdstown
is through Smithsburg, tapping the
Western Maryland at that point, and
continuing on down the Valley over the
proposed Baltimore and Cumberland
Valley Railroad. Any other route would
he off the air line, and We oil know that
the principles o! railroad engineering
are absolutely averse to curves, II posi-
Die to avoid them. To form connec-
ton with the Cumberland Valley Il. X.
at Beddington, above Shepherds,own,
would make a sharp elbow, changing
the course from northeast directly
northwest; and a connection Mt Ha-
g.rstown would be change from an
air line, and u connection with road
hostile TO the enterprise. From Shep-
herdstown TO Smithsburg is about TWEEN
" miles, and an air line will almost
strike this place, running through
Sharpsburg. The route is one OF easy
grades, and following up the ravine past
Ezra Bakers, crossing near MIR. Line s
house aud on up the creek running
through Mr.. Nicodemus meadow, out
through Mt. Peasants natural grade,
with no bridge of any magnitude, and
not sharp curve on the whole route.
Col. Boyce, and Hon. A. II. Boteler,
who are acquainted with the route, admit
that it is the best offered them, ard a
connection with the w. NJ. r. r. at
SnIithsburg is desirable. Here 1t would
tap road friendly to the project, and
be feeder TO that road, at the same
time receiving in return It's contribution
OF freight &c.
The practicability of the route, We
think, is not question of controversy.
Nature has settled that. IT We do our
part the road must be built along
through this place. But the advantages
OF railroad must also be taken into con-
sideTation. We shall at this time notice
a few points. An increase in the value
of lands and improvements, of all kinds
of property, is among the greatest. We
believe it is low estimate to say that
it would enhance the value OF lands at
the rate OF FIVE dollars an acre, which
would sum up many thousands in the
aggregate. This would increase the
material Interests of the county, as well
as individuals. and tend to reduction
of taxes by increasing the basis of taxa
ton. The more wealthy the people tho
better able to pay taxes, is a plain prop
osition. This road wOnld open up and