The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-04-17
Railroad Interests.

Railroad Interests.
In conversation, a few days ago, with
gentleman Of intelligence and practical
railroad experience, he expressed the conf
dent belief that the Narrow Guage Road
from Quantico, on the Potomac River. to
Kanawha C. H., in West Virginia. would
certainly be built. Our informant had Just
returned from New York and Philadelphia
and had met with gentlemen of large bust
ness engagements and wealth, who mani
tested great interest in the enterprise. as
presenting an outlet to the East for the coal
and lumber Of that portion of West Vir-
ginia through which the road will pene-
trate. There are now at work on the
Western division, coming East, between
two and three hundred men, as We learn.
and there are thirty Or forty hands engaged
in East Rockingham on the same line, and
if our information be correct, the near frl-
ture will witness still greater activity in
his important project.
This road will traverse one OF the richest
v.
1t will reach deep water in one hundred
and fifty miles shorter distance than any
other constructed or projected road, and
will open region of country with bound
eral resources. No one not well acquaint-
ed with the territory through which this
Improvement is projected, can estimate
the vast wealth which it will develop, and
the effect it must have on the coal and
iron trade. From the Rockingham western
line to the Ohio River at Catlettsburg-a
final terminal polnt-it will trarerSn al,
ilnbroken region of either coal, iron or lum-
Der resources, and open up new country,
now entirely isolated from market. Pen
dleton, Highland, Pocahontas, Webster,
Clay and Kanawha counties are all noted
for the natural wealth we have mentioned
and from Rockingham east to the Poto-
mac it will pass through a prolific agricul-
tural section, the products of which would
give remunerative freight employment,
independent of the coal and lumber trade
which would be created in West Virginia.
We regard this projected line of rail
road one or the most important to Virginia
and West Virginia that has ever been con-
eeived. and if the information we have be
correct. its construction is one of the fixed
facts OF the near future. Men of means
and enterprise have been enlisted in it, as
we learn, and it is their purpose opush it
forward with all practicable speed.
The Shenandoah Valley Road is also NOV
ing along at an encouraging rate. By Sep
TENDER next the rails will have been laid
from ShepherdstoWn to within a few miles
OF Luray, distance of sixty miles, the
whole Of which is now graded, and the iron
purchased and being delivered. Twenty
miles of rail, spanning the entire county
of Jefferson, have been put down and the
work OF laying the balance of the sixty
miles is progressing. When this shall have
been completed the work will be continued
on South through Page, Rockingham and
Augusta to an intersection with the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Road at Baskerville or
Waynesboro, and the eight miles east from
shepherdstown completed to a junction
with the Cumberland Valley Road.
This company has had many obstacles
and petty annoyances to overcome, but the
contractors. Messrs. Satterlec & Co. are
they have undertaken, and if the local OBJ
structions, growing out of a very bad spir-
t, are made to give way, as it is believe d
they will be, the company is sanguine that
the work will go forward to completion in
reasonable time. 1t will traverse rich
mineral and agricultural section in Page,
Rockingham and Augusta, running APP
proximately to the western base of the Blue
Ridge, for forty miles and exposing a va
riety of iron ores unsurpassed on the CONT
nent.
The ores and coal of Virginia will become
necessity to the iron interest of the coun-
try. 1t is an ascertained fact that they can
be mined and marketed at less cost than in
any other portion Of the country. and while
present investments in iron property may.
prevent for awhile the construction of fur
naces in close proximity to the cheap raw
materials, the demand for them will be re-
muneratNe in furnishing already constructed
furnaces; and in the course of time draw
capital TO where it can be most proftably
used.
The feeling of general confidence which
seems to be growing in business circles, and
manifesting itself notably in prudent activ-
lty In the iron trade and railroad enter
prises must continue to increase under
the healthy stimulus OF our financial
condition, and with that increase, atten-
ton must be attracted to this favored re-
gion, where nature has been so lavish in
her favors.