Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-10-16

During certain addresses that were
made after dinner on Wednesday even
ing by President Mines, Vice-President
Boyce and Colonel Boteler, of the Val
ley road, General Porter, General Hood,
Major Douglas and others, together
with events that subsequently, TRANSFERRED
it has become apparent that the scheme
by which the Baltimore and Ohio Com
pany will he furnished with the disired
outlet has received approval from a
quarter where approval means the
speedy practical execution of the plan.
This will be done by extending tine
Shenandoah Valley railroad to Harris
burg, whence New York may be reach
ed Via Reading and Allentown.
Chief Engineer Coe went to Harris
burg last evening, and will to-day be-
gin the work of making the preliminary
surveys for bridge over the Susque-
hanna river at that point. When COM
pleted to Harrisburg the Shenandoah
Valley road serves as the basis of the
shortest trunk line 10 New Orleans and
the Southwest, and gives the Chesapeake
and Ohio and the Baltimore and Ohio
roads an outlet to the city OF New York,
aud giving the Valley road, in addition
to its traffic in the rich mineral and ag-
ricultural products of the Shenandoah
valley, the heavy cattle, grain and mis-
cellaneous traffic of the other c0mpa-
MES.
a gentleman prominent in the move
ment remarked to the Enquirer repre-
sentative in conversation ON the subject {:
1.-The common expression that this new
movement will be one that is iuimical
to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
will be erroneous. 1t is proposed to
make tbs road a thoroughly indepen-
dent one and key to the position at
all times The men IN the movement
are not the men to fight the Pennsyl-
vania road.
THROUGH TIE VALLEYS.
A few words in relation to the evcur-
sion may prove of interest.
The party lett the West Philadelphia
Depot at 9 A. NJ, on Tuesday, in a
special train composed OF hotel car
aud parlor car, two of tie Pullman
Company latest, handsomest and best
appointed coaches. The start was
made during brisk shower, out before
Harrisburg was reached the skies
cleared, and for the remainder OF the
trip the brightest and lovellest weather
prevailed, enhancing the beauty and
grandeur Of the natural panorama that
unfolded itself to the delighted view ct
the eXcursiunisls as they were sped
down through the Cumberland and
Shenandoah Valleys.
In the Shenandoah Valley, the scene
Of the Anlielan aud Gettysburg cam
pagns, ana brimtul of recollect and
historical associations of the Revolutions
AIRY period as well as of the late war,
special obj CTS and localities were point
"a out to The strangers among the party
by the gcntlcmen belonging to the
Southwestern Railroad Company, all of
whom We'd with each other in making
the trip delightful one, as ii proved 10
he.
The train was switched off to sid
ing at Milford, and early next morning
the party tork carriages for Luray,
twelve and half miles distant, to visl:
the extraordinary caves there. The
weather was delightful, and the dive
was through country whose natural
beauty is entrancingly picturesque.
TIE LuRAY CAvEISs.
\ short drive ont of the old town il
self brought the visitors to the already
world-famous,th though recently discovered
cayerns of LuFay. These caverns are
in groups at varying distances below
the surface. aud are connected by laby
rinlhiau passages, OF which ouly few
are artificial. After descending from
the entrance by long series of wooden
steps the visitor finds himself suddenly
in yaulted chamber some eighty feet
in width, and whose archedro is about
twenty feet above the floor. There Is
an utter absence of natural light, OF
course, and objects in the "Grand En-
trance" as this cave is called, and in all
the others of the group, are made dis
cernable 10y the aid Of lighted candles.
For this particular occasion, however,
there had beer provided aportable mag
nesium light, which Mr.. kimball, Mr.
Coe and Colonel Sands relieved each
other in operating as the journey from
cave to cave was made. While the Wis
itors were gazing about the "Grand En-
trance, absorbed in wonder and ADM.
ration, the voice of Mr.. Campbell, who
piloted the party, was heard calling out:
This way, gentlemen Many Of the
visitors supposed that the "Luray Cave
was all contained in the wonders stirring
Enclosure into which they had been first
ushered, and most of them would doubt
less have felt that they had seen enough
to repay them for the entire journey TO
Luray had there been nothing else in
the way of subterranean wonders to
witness; but in truth the cave they were
first halted in proved to be but verita-
BILE entrance TO a succession of marvel
Gus spectacles that surpassed each other
in impressive grandeur.
There have been thus far opened
about score of distinct caverns, which
are connected by natural or artificial
passageways, and in each there is some
special attraction that causes the specta-
tor to believe for the moment that at
last the acme of his wondermeut has
been reached, an impression that is to
sure 10 fade as soon as the next apart
ment is reached. In this world of won
ders the visitors spent about two hours,
and then returned 10 that norton of