The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-17
The Valley Railroad.

The Valley Railroad.
We alluded last week to consideration
which we think must have an important
bearing on the interests Of the Valley rail-
road and its continuation UP the Valley
The iron wealth which exists along the pro-
posed route South of Staunton, is of such
magnitude that to be known it must attract
attention. The character of the ores-the
very richest of red and brown hematite-as
well as Manganese in exhaustless quantities
is such as to.create a demand, so soon as
means of transportation are supplied. In
short distance from Midway, Is miles from
Staunton, and Immediately On the line Of the
road, the Vesuvius Furnace is approached,
embracing 5000 acres, land virtually an abso-
lutte mountain of 80 per cent. ores, and in
GLIDING the Fulton Ore Bank, the Patterson
Ore Bank, Kelley Ore Bank. Donald Ore
Bank. In successive order, running North,
and parallel to the railroad, we have the
Black Rock Ore. Bank, the Miners Ore Bank,
the Cotopaxi Furnace Property, the Bear
Ore Bank, the Big Survey Of Trotter's and
the Kennedy Furnace property, the latter
embracing about 1850 acres, with ex-
cellent ores and Manganese. These proper
ties are within a range of fifteen miles, par
allel with the road, and would be easily ac-
cessible when the improvement shall have
been completed as far as Midway.
AS we stated last week, it should be the
policy of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
to consider these iron deposits in connection
with the demands of the Furnaces Of Penn
sylvania, and the freightage that would ne
eessarily follow their development. While
the vast expansion of the interests of this
great company in the West, comprehending,
inaddition to its main lines of473 miles to the
Ohio River at Benwood and Parkersburg,
with the Connelsville, and the Valley road to
Staunton, the Memphis and Cincinnati, the
Ohio and Mississippi to st. Louis, the Sandus-
ky branch to Lake Erie, and the Chicago
branch through Illinois and Indiana to
Chicago, as well as the Central Ohio, Steu-
the energies and resources of the company,
we are sure sight has not been lost of
the Valley extension. As business revives,
confidence becomes more assured and rail
road securities more marketable, we may
reasonably contemplate move mentin this
direction, looking to a completed line
through the entire Valley and connecting
with the main line of net work of South
ern railroads, at Salem. The local freights
which would be developed on touching the
immense iron deposits we have mentioned,
when fully understood, could not fail to
have their influence in maturing any ar
rangement which might be thought of and
stimulating organized effort to reach con-
summation which presents so many advan-
tages.
We have an abiding faith that the Valley
railroad will be completed in the near fu-
ture. Few lines present so many natural
advantages, even from a surface view, and
when the immense mineral wealth which
would be converted into active values and
remunerative freightage, is considered, adj
ditional force is given tothe suggestion.
We not only have faith in the developing
necessities which must compel the compile
ton of this great improvement, but we have
faith, as consequence, in the future Of our
enterprising little city. With the iron ore
it will develop, brought in contact with the
coke of the New River district, at this
point of competition in freights, the sagaci-
ty of business men of capital will readily
perceive the advantages presented for man
ufacturing purposes. Both the New River
aud Connellsville coke could be command
ed to utilize the ores at this point, thus reg
ulating the price Of the coke, as well as in
fuencing the rates of transportation on the
roads where manufactured, by reason OF
comnetitinn Thnrn considerations would
necessarily enter into the costs of manufac-
ture, and fortify calculations heretofore
made that from could be produced in this
immediate loca lily, with the Valley road
completed, at as little cost as at any point
in the United States, and much cheaper than
in the present iron districts of the East and
West.
These suggestions may be considered as
bare possibilities by many. To our mind
they are strong probabilities. They are
sustained by the facts and reasons of the case,
for the movements now being inaugurated
and the inquiries instituted, show that new
fields of iron industry are being examined,
where the fuel and the ores may be brought |
together at less cost than in Pennsylvania
and where capital and enterprise may meet
with more certain and remunerative returns,
and where competition in freights will ar
rest monopoly.