The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-14
Letter from White Sulphur.
SALE OF THE PRopEETY-THE WESTERN
CONNECTIONS OF THE CHESAPEAKE AND
OHIO AILWAY-PERSONAL, sc.

SALE OF THE PRoPEETY-THE WESTERN
CONNECTIONS OF THE CHESAPEAKE AND
OHIO RAILWAY-PERSONAL, &c.
Editorial Correspondence.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. w. VA,
August u, 1879.
The sale of the White Sulphur Springs
property, advertised TO take place on the 9th
was not effected on that day-no bidder re-
spending to the lnsipid appeals CT the auc-
tioneer. The next day bid of $500, 900 was
announced. On Saturday the property was
offered in parcels-the main hotel receiving
bid Of $So,000-the exclusive privilege OF
bottlipg and shipping the water $50, 900; the
exclusive bath house privilege $4,000. 9th
err parcels did not receive any bids. The
property was then put up again as a whole
and Mr. A. F. Matthews, of Lewisburg, an
nounced as the purchaser at 100000 The
terms are ten per cent. cash, when the sale
is confirmed by the United States Court,
and the remainder in instalments, payable
in one, two, three, four and five years, with
interest added The announcement that
Capt. Mathews was the successful bidder,
took every one by surprise, as it was gener-
ally understood that Mr.. VIM. A. Stewart,
who owns nearly 100000 in the bonds
and stocks of the Springs Company,
would be the purchaser. While, I learn,
all of the commissioners, viz; Messrs.
John Echols, II. NJ. Matthews, A. c.
Snyder, Jasper Y. Moore, w. W. Cor
don, and W. A. Quarter, -signed a pa per
consenting to con firmation of the sale, ex-
cept Gov. Matthews, whose brother is the
purchaser. land for that reason he declined to
sign; yet do not think, from what / hear,
that confirmation will be effected. 1t is
generally believed that an upset bid will be
put in by Mr.. Stewart, and unless
the property is nuctioned off in court,
another effort to sell will be made next
year. In the meantime if the arrange
ment is carried out, Peyton & Co. will
continue as the lessees. But any one
can easily understand that the embarrass-
ments which surround the property must
operate greatly to its injury, and that it
would be infinitely better to effect sale, or
failing in that, contract lease for a term
of ten or fifteen years so that the manage
menJ could, with impunity, proceed to i'm
prove the accommodations, commensurate
with the demands OF the increased patron
age that could be readily attracted here
Capt. Matthews and the parties he repre-
sents are ready to meet the payments as re-
quireG by the decree of the court, and they
propose to make vast improvements in the
property in the event their proposals are ac-
cepted. As the matter stands, however, moth
ing can be done until there is some decisive
action by JudgeJackson, of the United States
| Court.
Gen. Echols stopped here on Saturday
last, on his return from Kentucky, to attend
the sale of this property, as one OF the Com.
missioners, and proceeded home that even
ing. He reports the condition of affairs
connected with the Western connections of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, as favor |
able, and entertaiEs no doubt of the speedy |
completion OF the Lexington and Big Sandy |
Railroad. The work, learn, will be let to |
contract next month, and it is possible the |
entire eighty eight and a half miles, unfin- |
ished between Big Sandy and Mt. Sterling |
will be undertaken by syndicate OF con-
| tractors of experience and means to execute |
| it speedily. The completion OF this road |
| will connect the Chesapeake and Ohio, via |
Lexington, and the Louisville, Cincinnati |
and Lexington road, with Louisville and the
! tk,o ,a;o
Southern and Kentucky Central, with Gin
cinnati and the northwest, and with points
southwark to Chattanooga, besides bringing
to it large proportion OF the traffic and |
travel between the fertile and prospero us
regions of central and northern Kentucky
and the east. The Lexington and Big San
dy sroad will be 1913 miles, 334 OF which,
from Lexington to Mt. Sterling, are in rum
ming order, leaving, as stated, SS2 miles, from
Mt. Sterling to the mouth Of the Big Sandy,
and seven miles thence to Huntington. the
present terminus OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio, to be constructed.
One of the conditions of the contract be-
tween the Chesapeake and Ohio company
and the Kentucky interests, is that a sub
scription shall be obtained of 81 200, 900 of
! the first mortgage bonds Of the Elizabeth
town, Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad
Company, before the commencement Of the
work, and that $500, 900 shall be expended
upon the road before any Of the bonds OF
the company be issued. The parties con-
tracing to build the road are prepared to
make the expenditure of $500, 200, and to
furnish the additional means necessary for
its completion ready for the running of
trains, provided the sl,2OO,0OO Of bonds, as
above stated, are subscribed for. There will
be no difficulty in securing the subscriptions
from parties interested in the present or.
ganization of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway, for upon the completion of this
western connection depends the future sue
cess of the Chesapeake and Ohio Road.
1t will place Lexington and the rich country
drained by the railroads, traversing the most
fertile portions of Kentucky, from 13S to 4S3
miles nearer to deep water than at Balti-
more, Philadelphia or New York. The
Chesapeake and Ohio Road will then be
in position to compete for the traffic that
centres at Memphis, New Orleans. Chicago,
st. Louis, Indianapolis, Louisville and Gin
cinnati, if found necessary. But the pri-
mary source of its business will be the coun-
try tributary to the main-stem and its imme-
date western connections, sufficient, it is
believed, to employ its full carrying capacity,
especially when its terminal facilities and &C.
feasibility to ocean navigation have been
secured by an extension Of its eastern ter
minus to the Chesapeake Bay, where its
harbor and transfer privileges will be with
out rival. Shipments by this route will then
have not only the advantage of the shortest
haul by rail, but can be more economically
transferred to shipboard than at any Of the
other trunk line ports, as near the main ocean
as at New York, 100 miles nearer than at Phil
adelphia, and 1G0 miles nearer than at Bal
timore, with the route itself and its termi.