The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-10
Another Great Railroad Interest

Another Great Railroad Interest.
We have in previous articles referred II
the splendid possibilities, aye, probabilities
OF the Chesapeake AMI Ohio Railroad. with
its western connections completed, and it,
legitimate AID inevitable outleton the Ches
apeake Bag, reached by the straight line
from Hanover Junction. While there ba.
not been, to our knowled se, any formal de-
Termination to seek deep water by dire Ct
route, Che common sense of the case ire.
sistibly compels that c,aclu sion as the onl,
thing consistent with system and the en-
iarged aims OF this great enterprise. To ad
here to its present SCRIP enJine line BY way
OF Rich mond. and expose the business now
in process of development along its course,
to the enormous freight charges which would
necessarily attend the present route, would
+ be the extreme of folly and in conflict with
all the suggestions of business slga3ity and
economy We assume it as fact, which is
selt-demonstratlve, that the mlnagem mt of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad will build
the short line to the Buy, anl that as its
western connection nears completion, the
waters OF the Chesapeake will be in sight OF
the new laid rails OF the Eastern extension.
We pass from this cheering and vital
thought to another of no less Importance to
Virginia, and the railroad system, which we
trust is SCOT to slpercede the present patch
work arrangement OF Virginia's internal
Improvements. Nature has marked this great
Va;lpV pf Vrr1nin 4
highway for trade and travel, and but for
the remarkable stupidity and seliishness of
other sections of the State thirty years ago,
we would now be enjoying the advantages
OF not only railway communication from the
Potomac to the Tennessee line, but the
fruitions OF the material Development and
industrial prosperity which would have at
tended such censummation. Litter plans
and efforts to construct this important chan.
mel OF communication We're arrested BY the
general prostration of all enterprises sever
alyears ago, the depreciation of securities
and the suspension OF conf lencs, which
worked disastrousy to public improvements
and paralyzed the energies of the country.
The time has come, however, when attention
may properly be directed to this important
improvement, and We are sure tile comore
hecsive grasp of the management of the B.
d O. r. R.is not insensible orindifferent 10 its
completion. We d. not pretend to. suggest
to MIR. Garrett anything, for his Hsr-reachiny
ssgacity and splendid capacities have lony
since, doubtless, taken in alb fhe facts and
Interests involved, and when his plans have
been completed in other directions. atten.
ton wi be given to- the sreit Valley of
Virginia and its necessitie and the mu
tual interests of orr people AMI the city his
great eHdsavors have built up to its pres mt
Imposing proportions. We may b, permit
ted, however, to advert to one fact that has
hoG received general consideration. and
which is destined TO haze an important in
h1enee IN shaping future Valley int rests
The entire line OF railroad from Staunton to
ttarperS Ferry is deficient in freightage.
because OF the absence OF all other indus
Tries save that OF agriculture, and BY reason |
OF this the profits attending the operation of |
she road are not what they should b.. When |
we consider that the iron interes ts of Penn !
sylVanla and Virginia are becoming inti-
mately identified, and that the furnaces of
Pittsburg and other iron centres of Penn
sylvania, are looking to the ores of Virginia
to keep them in profitable operation. we
naturally turn inquiry to the most available /
anu direct point where to strike the ores, I
The completion Of the Valley railroad to
Midway eighteen miles from StaunLon. with
much OF the distance graded, and all Of the
remaining part easily placed liz condition
for the rails. would bring soma OF che rich.
est iron beds on the continens in direct con.
municatloa with the furnaces Of the cast,
and furnish an immense freight transporta-
ton for the railroad, which wou.d soon be-
come. Source OF remuneration, and encour.
age the hope OF the continuation of the road
to lis Southern terminal point. {
1t is not our purpose, this week. to more
than refer to this important tn III sht in con-
nection with the material interests of the
valley, and the legitimate policy of the
railroad. As plrt OF q gennin., eomp-e-
henslVe system OF Improvements, looking to
the real development OF the State and cor
responding with the enlarged policy of the t
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad management. {
the Valley railroad must sooner or later he S
completed an if it can be demonstrated a
Inat It's construction, even as far as Midway. e
Would openup the very CHI ,ractar of ores the
pennsylvania furnaces are now seeking and "
nus furnish remunerative freighta, e over
me entire line to Harpers Ferry, and con- II
Meeting with Pittsburg without breaking
'uik, a very important argument would be F.
presented Tor the early Inauguration of
WORK upon this enterprise. The ores abound
all along the contemplated line of this road o
south OF Staunton,but as it is our purpose to rs
merely call attention to the suggestions here Il
made, this week, we will defer for another &c
ccasion, more specific reference to the in. al
erests involved, and especially the relations oil
our own people to the continuation OF the W
alley RAILROAD, ar
III IAe' meantime. we may congratulate ar
" people OF virginia upon the prospects of OF
heW order; OF Internal improvements in an
ifgihla,. and the abandonment Of the snici- OBJ
A',poiicy OF subordinating everything to an
ichm0nd. TIE great channels of commu pc
catlon which, as represented by the Ches, str
'eake and Ohio Railroad, reaching into the no
'oiile West, and bringing the trade of the ry
aclflc slope to- the waters of the Chesa- wa
AXE Bay, and the Valley Railroad. con- Mi
etlag with the net work of business arte- rec
IS. penetrating all through the North and pit
nth, at either terminal point, must work Gin
evolution IN the promises OF Virginia and tra
re assurance OF future full of grand op- Ger
rtunities and great results. bril-
:. --=- pie
Inc house OF Commons Is manifestng cell
ieern as 70 the causes OF the agricultural just
which exists i'll England, and has bee
ierea commission to investigate the tor
tier and report whether legislation can A
nedy it. Mr.. Chaplin, who, offered the one
iuiry, pointed out that the future fare of fair
fish agriculture was dependent upon the wor
To-