The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-11-20
The Valley Railroad.

The Valley Railroad.
The late hour on Wednesday evening
last at which we received the proceedings
of the meeting of the stockholders of the
Valley Railroad, prevented us from record
ing our qualification at the result of its ac-
ton on the legislation of last winter in ref
erence to the charter of the company. The
resolution passed by the Legislature vacat-
ing the charter of the company, unless OPP
erations were resumed in a given time, look
ing to the completion of the road, was ex-
tremely unwise, and could have no other
effect than to stimulate resentment on
the part of those at whom it was directed.
The folly of making an enemy of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad, and the city of
Baltimore: the largest paid in stockholders,
by the aggressive spirit of the bill enacted
into law, was very apparent at the time
Those who desired to see the road COM
pleted and were capable of examining and
understanding the condition of the country
at the time of suspension of work, and for
several years subsequent, could see nothing
in this legislation but ruinous policy which
must necessarily invite the antagonism OF
the only probable power that could in any
way accomplish the ends it was proposed to
subserve. We do not entertain doubt
that the action of the Legislature, when
the facts and the situation are fully ex-
planned, will be promptly rescinded, and
the management of the corporation be left
free to adopt such measures and methods
as will best subserve the interests of the
company.
With this restriction, or threat, re-
moved, we may reasonably hope for some
encouraging movement pointing to early re-
sumption of work on the road south of Staun-
ton. We have before called attention to
the immense mineral resources of the sec
ton Of country through which the road will
pass, and the inducements which are Of
fered for the speedy completion of the work
at least as far as Midway, on the line be-
tween Augusta and Rockbridge. The ac-
tiyity in the iron business all over the
United States, and the difficulty expert
enced in securing ores to keep in blast the
furnaces of the east, will necessarily draw
attention to the iron belt OF the upper
Valley, the richness and variety Of the ores,
and their accessibility. The continuation
of the Valley Road eighteen miles south of
Staunton would bring it in immediate con-
tact or contiguous relation, with Black Ore
Bank, Mine Ore Bank, the Cotopaxi Iron
Property, Bare Ore Bank, the Trotter
Survey, and the Kennedy Furnace Proper
ty, constituting an iron section not sur
passed in the country for the excellence OF
the qualities, and the abundance of the
supplies. We have before us specimens OF
brown hematite, representing the inn
mense deposits at Mine Ore Bank, and in
fact the entire belt which runs through all
the properties mentioned. While some of
the veins have not been practically devel-
oped, the evidences exist, in the outcroppings
that a continuous formation runs through
the entire sweep Of fifteen or twenty miles,
the ores of which would analyze, from APP
pearances, SO to go per cent and probably
more of metallic iron. These mines, Oh
mountains of ores, cannot be reached ex-
cept by the completion of the Valley Road
to the point indicated. With that effected,
then the furnaces of the east could avail
themselves of one of the finest iron sections
in the State, and obtain their ores at price
that would make it to their interest to Sc
cure them. This freightage, of itself.
would just ify the construction of the road
to say nothing of the local trade that would
be accommodated, and the development il
would encourage.
Staunton is practically interested in hay
ing removed all distractions to the early
resumption of work on the enterprise. Oul
central position and the unusual facilities,
which we would possess for railroad com
munication in every direction, would speed
lily attract attention to our advantages fol
manufacturing purposes. With the pro
gressive development of the mineral inter
ests along both the Chesapeake and Ohio
and the Valley roads, and the industrie:
which must necessarily be established ir
connection Herewith, Staunton could moi
fail to invite capital and enterprise to avail
of the exceptionable opportunity for theil
profitable investment.
We encourage the hope that it will not be
long before we will see active movements
along the forsaken route of the Valley
Railroad, land should our expectations be re
allied, then we may date a new DISPENSE
ton for Staunton, and confidently predict
future full of promise in the industries
which will contribute to our permanent
prosperity.