The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-07-19
Baltimore and the Southwest.

IS the subject OF some comment at this
time in the newspapers of that city and
correspondents in Virginia. 1t is admitted
that the Valley Railroad may be made to
answer the purpose if it is pushed to its
completion at Salem, where it will inter-
sect the Norfolk and Western. now under
the control of the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad interest, and diverting its main
business to Philadelphia and New York.
We doubt whether such connection
would meet the demands Of Southern
outlet for Baltimore enterprise. 1t would
at once bring it in contact with compet-
ing interest, and as railroads are not con-
trOlled and managed from considerations
of disinterested sympathy, it is scarcely
probable that satisfactory traffic rates
could be made between these rival corpo-
rations. What the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad and Baltimore want is an indie
pendent line of railroad through Virginia
to some Southern and Southwestern sys-
TEN. With this achieved the problem OF
Baltimore's Southern trade would be
solved. for throughout the South and
Southwest there is a natural tendency
as we'll as business consideration for
trade to seek that Southern mart. We
may assume it to be fact that the great
bulk of the trade of the South would find
its way to Baltimore, were the advantages
of transportation and market equal. The
point is to secure the medium OF approach
and the enterprise of Baltimore would
soon demonstrate that Southern trade
would be as favorably accommodated
there, to say the least as at other of the
Eastern markets.
With the Valley Railroad completed to
Lexington, the question as to direct con-
nection with the Kentucky system OF rail
roads, opening up the South and South
west, would be only matter of dollars
and cents. 1t is but twenty miles from
Lexington to the mouth of Craig's Creek.
There is in existence a charter for the
construction of railroad from there
through the counties of Craig. Giles,
Bland, Russell, Scott and Lee to Cumber-
land Gap, traversing one of the richest
mineral, timber and pastoral sections OF
the South, now isolated for want of rail
outlet. 1t is but short distance from
Cumberland Gap to connection with the
Kentucky system, and this secured Balti-
more would have a Southern outlet through
one of the finest portions of Virginia,
equal in all of its advantages to any other
through Virginia territory. 1t would
pass through virgin region capable OF in
definite development, where iron. coal,
gypsum, copper, lead and all the minerals
common to Southwest Virginia are found
in as great abundance as in any other por-
ton of the country. Live stock, timber,
wheat, &C., of Southwest Virginia would
furnish remunerative local traffic, and an
invitation be given to capital to invest in
industrial enterprises, incident to coal
and iron districts. A new country rich in
what contributes to the commerce of a
nation, would be opened within the reach
and limits of the charter, and connections
assured that would give to Baltimore an
outlet to the South and Southwest.
We have never thought that it was the
policy of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
to complete the Valley railroad to Salem,
unless the Norfolk and Western could be
made part of its system and operated on
favorable terms. The local traffic between
Lexington and Salem would not justify the
construction of the road, and to be DEEPEN
dent for the trade of the South and West
over the Norfolk and Western under The
control Of a competing interest, would not
assure a return in business to compen-
safe for the outlay. The route suggested
from Lexington to Craig's Greek, and
thence on through these now isolated coun-
ties to the Kentucky border would open
up far richer and more remunerative
local business, increasing each year and
capable of unlimited improvement, and at
the same time give more feasible and
uhenvironed connection with the trade
beyond the limits of Virginia. We have
thought that this was the ultimate outlet
aimed at by the Baltimore.and Ohio rail
road Certainly it is the one that COM
mon sense and practical benefits would sug-
gest. And now that the main artery of
approach to the Southwest through Vir-
gfnia has passed to the management OF
the Shenandoah Valley road and Philadel
phia interests it is apparent that if Balti-
more would share in the business of Vir-
ginia and the Southwest, her enterprise
must be directed to the new channel we
have indicated. A careful examination of
the resources of the country which would
be opened-its vast natural wealth-and
the outlet it would give to the entire
Southwest, it seems to us would settle the
assurance of one of the most feasible and
desirable improvements that has engaged
the attention of the country in this gener-
alton.
The Coalition County Committee for