The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-02-10
The Railroads of the Valley.

The action of the stockholders OF the Valley
railroad at their recent meeting, gives assur-
ance that the road will be completed to Lex
ington within short time. Indeed it would
seem that positive action can no longer be de-
layed. The road must be pushed to a southern
connection now or lose its prospect OF ever
realizing the hopes of its projectors. With
connections made at Lexington with the Rich
mond and Allegheny railroad, short line to
Pittsburg and the eastern centres will he Sc
cured. The great deposits of Virginia min
erals will be fifty miles nearer market by the
arrangement thus to be consummated. The
effect this line will have in stimulating the
development of the resources Of this and Sec
tions south of it can scarcely be estimated.
That the raw material abounds in immense
quantities there is no doubt. Vast mountains OF
magnetic, specular and brown hemitite ores are
to be found in close proximity to the line OF the
Valley road and Immediately adjacent to the
Richmond & Allegheny. Analyses OF these
ores have been made by scientific experts, and
it has been ascertained that the percentage OF
sulphur and phosphorus is SO small that much
of the product of the mines would be suitable
for the manufacture OF the finer grades OF iron
and Bessemer steel. Ores Of this class are now
brought from Missouri and Lake Superior,and
are worth in the raw state from ten to twelve
dollars per ton in Pittsburg. Their favorable
location in theValley renders them readily avail
able on the ground at from one to one dollar and
a half per ton. In addition, the slate, marble,
cement lime and other mineral products Wilbur
nish an abundant traffic and serve to introduce
new life, and hope and energy into the old
| Commonwealth. That large and active de-
mand will always be found for these materials
the experience of those who have already
made experimental plants abundantly testifies
An instance is furnished by a letter published
| last week from member OF one OF the largest
iron works companies in the world. The COM
pany controls about II 900 acres of land on
the James River, and are developing TO the
extent of about 300 tons daily. BY July next
they expect to increase to 1000 tons per day. So
far they could have disposed oftwice or thrice
their output, had there been means OF trans
portaton. Not taking into consideration the
| local and passenger business, the traffic OF the
! Valley road, when completed to its southern
connection at Lexington, in minerals and man
ufactured iron, must certainly be something
handsome, and would seem to insure from the
outset large and permanent supply of freight.
Another lever to prosperity in our State is
the building of the Shenandoah Valley rail-
road. A few years ago this road was regarded
as sort of myth, conceived in the mind Of a
Sellers and destined to exist in Imagination
only. To-day it promises to be one of the
greatest thoroughfares Oh the continent. With
AN almost continuous line completed from
| Waynesboro to Hagerstown, it is prepar-
ing to push southwark through one of the
most splendid mineral sections in America.
The corps of engineers is now locating the
line south of Waynesboro and work will be
speedily begun The right of way is being
secured for some distance and upon the liber-
atty of the citizens along its proposed route
will probably depend the selection of a loca-
ton The natural line would seem to he near
TO the mountain slopes, for the valley of the
river affords an easy grade. Certainly the
property holders whose estates will be so ma
terially benefited should not hesitate to extend
every encouragement in their power. The
possibilities of this road are simply incalculable.
1t directly penetrates one OF the richest min
eral belts of the continent. Its very road bed
will be built through vast deposits of iron ore,
manganese, lime stone and marble, and its con-
nections with the Richmond & Allegheny road
places it in immediate communication with
the coal fields and coke ovens of West Virgin
ia. 1t would be difficult indeed to find condi-
tons more favorable for the manufacture of
iron. With the ores immediately at hand
with limestone directly adjacent, with coke
readily obtainable at minimum cost, and with
labor as cheap as can be secured at any point
in the Union, there is no reason why furnace
after furnace should not be established and sue
cessfully operated along the line If the Shen-
andoah Valley.
A competent authority taking various points
on the Richmond s. Allegheny road, estimates
the average cost of a ton of iron at $127O.
From the best information that can be obtain
ed the cost of making iron on the Lehigh,
Schuylkill and at Pittsburgh is placed at
$40, $3.50 and S21. so, in the order named,
beng an average of twenty dollars and seven
dollars and thirty cents more than the estimate
of cost on the James. This large difference IN
the cost of production between Pennsylvania
and Virginia, will, of course turn the attention
OF iron masters of the former State to the lat
ter, and it is more than probable that large
| ri Of no NODDED H.
nualy will be supplied hereafter from points
throughout the Valley.
The properties along the James possess no
advantages over those along the Shenandoah
Valley, and the cost of production on the line
of the latter would not be greater than on the
former, whilst more direct route would be
afforded to the centres Of trade.
We regard the Shenandoah Valley as des-
tined to be one of the greatest roads of the
Union. There seems to be no reason to doubt
that it will be the means of numbers of fur
mace plants being made in our State. Virginia s
hope is the development of her natural re-
sources, and it seems now that the rudy light
of day begins to appear after the long night Of
distrust and doubt. With mineral develop
ment will come manufactures of all descrip-
tons, employment for those who are willing
to work, home market for tie products ofthe
farm, and new prosperity to all of our people.
The sale of the Atlantic. Mississippi and
Ohio Railroad is advertised for the 18th in
slant. In the meantime Gen. Malone has
been busy in devisng ways and means to
prevent it. AS a result, he has applied to
the United States Circuit Court for the
Eastern District of Virginia for permission
to redeem the road and to pay the debt to
satisfy which the sale was ordered. Judges
Hughes and Bond appointed Tuesday last
to hear the applications.
1t is stated that Jay Gould and the Cam
erons of Pennsylvania are interested in the
movements of Gen. Malone as they affect
the road and 1t is further asserted that il
the road is offered for sale these parties
will buy 1t. If Gen. Malone succeeds in
his scheme it will place the whole of that
section of Virginia through which the road
| passes and Ia tributary TO Norfolk undpr