The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-13

some degree. political methods in Virginia,
we are willing to concede. But that he will
be able to hold to a position Of indepeH-
dence OF the two great parties Of the coun-
try. in the United States Senate, where party
interests and policies are at issue, we do not
believe. He will have to be supported by
one or the other Of the party organizations
there. or sink into insignificance, and
inspire the distrust, if not estrangement of
both. hen he shall have fully defined his
position, it will be time enough for the Rt-
pu licans Of Virginia to patiently consider
the suggestions OF the papers we have ref
erence to and determine their course as an
organization, in the approaching State con-
test, as il may affect Gen. Malone.
------
Railroad Schemes for the South.
Some weeks ago we referred to statement
that had been made to us to the effect that Mr..
Kimball, President of the Shenandoah Con-
struction Company, had gone to Europe, and
that it was believed his business, in part, was
to consult with the European holders of the
bonds OF the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio
Railroad Company, with view TO the pur-
chase of that Improvement. Of course there
was nothing more definite than mere rumor
in the statement. 1t however attracted atten-
ton and brought out criticisms from the Lynch
burg and Norfolk papers, and was given a
prominence, We, at that time, did not attach to
it. The Lynchburg Vuyiniaa and the Lynchburg
Meas, of recent dates. have both referred to
the subject as we see from our exchanges, as
We do not exchange with either of those pa
pers. The pryf'san says; I'VE learned yes
terday, almost without possibility of doubt,
that the rumor which we noted week or
two since respecting negotiations abroad for
the purchase of the Atlantic, Mississippi and
Ohio railroad by parties whose interests would
be inimical to those cities that sacrificed large
ly to secure the construction of this great line.
is true A still more intelligent and tangible
statement comes from another source, the New
York correspondent OF the Cincinnati En-.
quarer. Under date of the Sd inst, he writes
Among. the schemes of combination afoot
here is one to connect all the lines between
and Staunton, Va, building such links as have
been preoccupied, and thus bring the Chess
peake and Ohio Railroad into New York. and
also the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad
at Salem from Chattanooga. Another s to
finish the railroad on the west side of the Hud-
son river, and connect it with the New York
Central. The Kentucky Central Railroad has
been the subject of considerable speculation
since the Pendleton interest sold it out
Though no sales are quoted, the Herald says
some of the stock went up from fifteen to
twenty cents on the dollar. Next summer, it
is believed, the Chesapeake and Ohio line
will be open through its full length, and as
it runs far to the North of Richmond, meas
ures are being taken to intercept it at Staun-
ton and carry its freight off to New York"
These schemes look to the Shenandoah Val
ley Railroad, now nearly completed to an IN
tersection with the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road at Waynesboro and locating its line
south from that point, looking to a connection
with the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio road
at or about Salem, as a great trunk line to the
South, and the Chesapeake and Ohio as new
channel to capture the trade Of the West and
Southwest, for the markets of the Northern
cities. To turn the traffic of the Chesapeake
and Ohio road ut Staunton, into the channel
of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, would
imply the construction of branch from
Stanton to some point near Port Republic,
or Waynesboro might be chosen as the point
of conjunction. We know nothing, absolute
ly, about these schemes, and can only reason
from the facts we have. 1t is not reasonable
to presume that the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad will be directed from its purpose to
reach deep water with its traffic at Newport's
News, and hence We attach very little impor-
lance to the suggestion as it affects that road.
But that the Shenandoah Valley Railroad will
be eventually made trunk line between the
North and South, We have never doubted
We argued this years ago when the company
was first organized and received its liberal
charter. Gigantic combinations in railroad
management are the order Of the day, and as
there is nothing OF the kind that might be
called combination, IN the sense that jay
Gould and Tom Scott interpret them, we look
upon the suggestion as something more than
mere speculation. The Shenandoah Valley
road from its northern 10 its southern termi-
nus as proposed, occupies the shortest line be-
tween the North and South it traverses one
of the richest agricultural and mineral por-
lions OF the continent, and forming an inte-
grail part ofthe northern and southern systems
of railroads, would be one of the grandest en-
terprses of the age. e.r
With these possibilities in the future, it is
not unnatural that Lynchburg, Norfolk and
Richmond should feel some uneasiness. But
it should be remembered that the controlling
spirits in these stupendous combinations do
not take into consideration the way side sta
tions or the local interests to be affected
They look to continental benefits and reach
out to encompass the extremes of the coun-
try. And should there be any truth in the
of the Enquirers correspondent,
and we think there is, then we may look for
wonderful awakening in Virginia, not only in
the struggle of the jeopardIzed cities, but the |
development of the vast minerals of the State |
and the industries which must necessarily fol- |
low.
While these speculations are going on, as to
Tom Scott and his plans and the Pennsylvania
another rumor comes to u.s.
10 counterfeit them, and give encouragement
10 the Virginia cities. 1t is in effect, that
Jay Gould, with Mr.. ]. r. Wilson have stepped
n as competitors in the purchase of the Atlsp-
lie, Mississippi and Ohio road. Mr.. Wilson
controls the line from Bristol to Memphis,
distance of four hundred miles, and includes
he East Tennessee. Georgia Southern and
'ther roads. BY making this purchase Gould
will secure Southern trunk line from Nor
ok to the Seaboard.
Wood has been selling in Fred ercksburg,
uring the cold spell, at 81 so per cord.