The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-06
Of Me pemoeratie 1deo.
Trip over the S. V. Railroad.
Tiae Benefits Of "a Observation-Disclosures of
Prosperity-LurayC avernS-CrOp Pres
peStS-PoIitics. &c.


boarded a Western Maryland train at West
minister, at 8 o'clock in the morning, and
arrived at Luray, Page county, Va, O'Clock
the same day, after passing through portion:
of Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Virginia. In Carroll, Frederick and Wash
ington counties, Md, the wheat was looking
remarkably we'll, and the acreage seemed
large. In fact. all along the Western Mary
land and Shenandoah Valley roads the wheat
everywhere looked fine In Frederick coun
ty the wheat appeared better than elsewhere
in Maryland. Nearly every farmer there
along the railroad, was spreading lime, thus
improving their lands with a fertilizer whose
benefits are more lasting than the manutac
tured fertilizer compounds that stimulate the
soil for one season, no traces of which arc
perceivable a second year. Oats were up and
corn ground was being prepared. In the up
per Shenandoah Valley many farmers had
finished corn planting.
If any one doubts the beneficial effects of a
railroad, it is only necessary to take a trip
over the Shenandoah Valley road, opened fol
a year past from Hagerstown TO Waynesbo-
ro', Va, to be convinced. There are new
buildings, new stores and new enterprises ai
every station. At Shenandoah Junction, foI
instance. where the Shenandoah Valley crosses
the Baltimore and Ohio, there are no les,
than six new buildings, two Just being com.
pleted. Luray has been revolutionized, and
those who knew it eighteen months ago would
scarcely recognize it now. The old part OF
the town remains pretty much the same, but
the place has enlarged its borders. Deford 4
Co., of Baltimore, have erected tannery
there that Is the largest perhaps in the State,
giving employment to large number Of hands
and furnishing market for'the immense sup
ply Of bark of that section that has been hith.
erto virtually valueless. This industry scat
tiers a large amount of money there, contribu-
ting greatly to make times easier and the peo-
pie prosperous. Harrison 4 Co. also OF
Baltimore, have established branch store
there. Thirty new dwellings have been erect
ed within the past year. and a S25. 900 hotel
has been completed recently. Two Of the
greatest needs OF Luray are a bank ssfd an
agricultural implement warehouse. The hn.
siness men and lawyers now keep their bank
accounts at New Market, fourteen miles dis
tant across a bridgeless river and over the
Massanatten mountains. and at Hagerstown,
Nd. clearly hundred miles away. The
agricultural machinery Is supplied from New
Market and Front Royal, at considerable ex.
pense and Inconvenience. However, l.uray
has Just walked up, and ere long these and
other business enterprises viii be started.
Twenty-four miles further ap the Shenandoah
Valley road, is Shenandoah Iron Works.
There, thirteen houses were in course of cree
ton. A large iron furnace has just been
started. making two in the place. just IN that
seciion--in fact all through the Page Valley
the finest iron ore abounds. much Of il being
magnetic ore, said 20 be equaJ 10 that Of
Lake Superior.
Near I-uray are the far.famed I.uray Cav
crnS, natural wonder xell worth = yisis from
any point Your correspondent saw il iliu-
minated with electric lights. aud spent three
hours aud dollar in exploring is mysteries
and admiFing its grandeur and beauty. il
has not been fally exflared vet. and probably
never viii b.. Tse lowest point reached
the ballroom. we l4aliese--is 80 feet below
the surface. The entrance to the cave has a
house hpilt oxes L, aud steps, inst ike going
down a cellar, lead 10 i. None Of car party
fcl, any hesitaney ia entering. and after at.
ting in Ne did not realtze or think 81 being IN
the bowels q the earth. The temperature Is
deightiul-thc samc al the rear ruupd-and
the ever varying scenes and hcaa;ics 80 inter
est chat the journey thraagh Is not she least
fatigning. Some thirty ar forts miles farthsr
up the Valley are Gave Of the Fountains and
Never Cave. either a. grand and a. heasti,
fnl n the LHray Caverns, thoask not mach
visited by tourists. last year there ser. L..
600 visitors to I.uray Caverns. sad .sa.Oon an
expected this year
Waynesbore'. Va. is uaw the southern Ter
ulsnas Of the Shenandoah Valley hailruad. aul
in two or three weeks more i wtli lse opposed
- miles further Rp-to -where con
necti0n viii be made with system ii rsaa.
reaching 10 al the iiuportaai ci,ies 81 the
South and Southwest This Fesst. Eiii b. the
shortest between the North asd Seuih. and
viii have laFse passenger and freight rsfroR-
age.
From waynaslaorn your correspondent took
thu Chesapeake 4 Ohse Railraasf a. Staauton.
the most eaterpTising iiftie csty af liks popa.
iasioa tn he f,and apysberc It, iire Well
cohdscied aud well Sustained female semi.
naries has earned for L the maine ~ the
Athens 81 the south Here. too, are the
Western Lanafie AsyiHmand the Deaf DAMN
and Blind Asylaln Lake Rome- S,auniou j.
built on seven hitls, and is handsome and
live plaos.
Harrisonbnrg vas the next point reached,
- miles down the Valley, on she Valley
branch of the BALTIMORE & Ohio Railroad
The situzfion j. lovely. aud the town s;ill
maintains Is reputation 81 being the band
snmest place - the Shenandoah Valley.
When the var closed i was a shabby town 0i
about .s9inhalsitanss To-day IL has pop
ulatiou Of aaariy or qRiie :. Wt1. The bus5nss.
part IL she TORN i composed If three sioFy
brick hniidings, extending aruued sgaare,
the crntre q which IS oecRpicd BY ; coun
house, and short distances oa several street,
leading from the Sqnarr. Snuih Main stree;
mss be termed the ''c0art end Of tie place.
GA either side for distance af about hail 4
mile are large aud handsome residences, sar-
rounded with ample grounds heauilicd With
trees, shrubf,ery and flowers. No town that
Year CORES gs0ndgnt has ever visited, ~ hks
size, and his acquaintance Is extended. has v
many pretty aad cummodIaus residences, and
nowhere does be know 0f street toexcrcd IA
beanis Spath Main street HnrrsoHburg within
= year az tse has become q great horse market.
Court DAY. the third Monday 81 each month,
is sale aav. and from ld0 Ia 800 arr Sold
every MONTH The stock Is Of e0od qaaiify.
and prices range from SIPS To $40. Willis,
many Of the horses arr raised ia the county,
they arr hroaght there from other counties also
and the buyers came from Richmond. Balti-
more, Philadelphia aud New York
Harrisonaurs, too, l. political beadquariegs
Tor a large section OF the Valley. ASsqon as one
crosses the border into Niryinia readiustaieng,
coaIitioa and Malone are heard discussed.
Bmtnt HarFispnAurg is where politics are lively,
and there has been q wonderful change la pab-
lie sentiment there. The coalition movement
and the acts and attempted acts of the last
Legislature have about demoFalized She Re.
adjusier party. Men who we're keadjuster'
because they thought necessity required II, are
bitterly denouacing Malone and his schemes,
and are hHrFying back to the Democratic fold
with rapidity thar must carry djsmay 10 the
old leaders who have rraped profit from re-
adjustment and hoped for more. The sam,
may be said 81 all parts Of Virginia, but il Is
more noticeable ia Rockingham. because Il va.
the Readiaster stronghold IN the Valley
From Harrisonhurg yoar correspondent
drove seventeen miles across 20 the Shenan.
doah Valley road at Elkton station, a ride
that was one Of the most enjoyable Of the trip.
The train was boarded about 10 in the morn.
ing. and BY clock in the afternoon your
correspondent arrived in Westminster, stop
ping two hours on the way at Hagerstown, au
enterprising city, whose business men say
that the Shenandoah Valley road Is more ben,
eft To the place than all the other railroad.
combined.
For the business man or tourist no section
presents So many attractions as the SheRan-
loah Valley. The farmer can secure CHEAP
aud desirable homes the mechanic can lind
employment; the capitalist can iind remnner-
alive investment for his means, and the tourist
can find attractions and beauties everywhere.
On part of the trip your correspondent was
accompanied by an English gentleman, who
had travelled as far East as India and as fan
West as America, but he remarked that the
Shenandoah Valley vas the lnveliest section
he ever beheld.
4 LordsbuFg, New Mexico, dispatch MaN
4 ........l Il.