The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-07
NEW RAILROAD ENTERPRISE.
A Plain Statemept-TheP Provisions of
the Charter - Craig County
AronSed-what She Pro-
poses 20 DO.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
RoANoKE RED SULPHUR SPRINGS, Va,
AupuSf 4 1892 /

(Corrcspondcncc Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
ROANOKE RED SULPHUR SPRINGS, Va,
August 4, 1888.
Returning to this point after an attend
ance upon the railroad meeting held nj
New Castle on the oath. the significance Of
that meeting together with subsequent
events in connection Herewith. is deemed
OF sufficient importance not only TO Rich
mond. bat al Of the Eastern Virginia cities,
10 demand q plain statement Of the case,
in order that Richmond, with her railway
connections. may be appraised OF the inn
mmcnt danger in which she Is placed OF
losing an important trade that OF right be-
longs % tAem-a danger that may be
aycrtcd by prompt and decisive action. or
the trade OF Craig. with its wealth OF min
erals. Will he forever lost 20 them.
several years ago company was incor-
pocated rs the ." Virginia Mineral and Gyp-
sum Railroad Company" which has since
been named the Virginia Iron Trunk
Railroad Company the charter Of which
Is an exceedingly liberal onc--alows them
10 huild q road from Lexington through
Rockbridgc, Botctour:, Craig. Giles, Bland,
Tazcwcll, Russell, and Scott to the Ten
nc>,cc hnc. only one year now remains
i'm which 10 commence operations in ac-
cordance with the provisions Of the char
ter. The county OF Gaig, unqucstiOnably
the richest in the extent and variety 81
mineral wealth OF all the counties i'm the
Stsc, tined % ITS isolation, and by reason
OF lack al transportation facilities. Of the
UnprOducjivencS> OF the wealth imbcdded
within lis limits. has determined that
rather than The charter shall be forfeited.
she will build narrow-gaugc road
through The county, beginning at the
mouth OF CrMg'S creek. on the Richmond
and Alieghauy railroad, twelve miles west
OF Buchanan. and extending wcstwardly
to point on the Ncw-Riyer division OF
the Norfolk and Western railroad. Tn
doubted expression wJS given 10 this pur-
pose al rou,ing demonstration that oc-
CURED at New Castle on the 18th, pre-
sided over by Hon. j. W. Marshall, Of that
county. who. with other gentlemen OF note,
addressed au as>cmblagc that gave practi-
cal evidence Of their sympathy with
the movement by an immediate sub
scription OF $4,000, supplemented by an
order OF the court for vote 10 DC taken on
the 18th OF August on a county ,ubScriD-
ton OF Sd. 900. which will undoubtedly
pass by a large majority. The route has
been surveyed three times; is known to be
feasible. with 10 greater grade at anu POINT
estimated. based upon careful calculation,
AT S3jO.O00. OF this amount, one of the
speakers who is deeply interested i'm the
enterprise said that with the subscriptions
already secured, and what the owners Of
mineral lands not present would subscribe
to the stock. but Sl00,0 600 would remain TO
be taken 10y other parties.
Just here i where the danger arises TO
the Richmond and Allegheny railroad and
the cities interested in its welfare That
this road will be built i a moral certainty.
The people are determined upon that.
That its natural and shortest connection
can be made with the Richmond and Ale
ghany Trunk Line is equally certain; but
il i not by any means rs certain that such
will be the result, save 10y the prompt ac-
ton Of the latter, or by Richmond. over
lures are already being made 10y the Val
ley road Of assistance on the basis OF it,
completion 10 Lexington, which can be
done under il, charter. We have the most
undOubtcd assurances that the president
of the Norfolk and Western is watching
the situation with a vigiant eye; but rs
vet no move has been made on the part OF
the authorities OF the Richmond and Ale
ghanv looking TO the protection OF their
interests. We are assured that ii is really
construct the road 10 ally themselves with
the latter company; but rs some material
aid that will cyentuate ip something like a
claim a. 10 the eastern terminus OF the pro-
posed new road must be forthcoming, and
that nj once. it bchOOycS Richmond and
her road to Zoe yigilant To maintain what
she is Justly entitled TO. II is plain
TO the most casual observer that one
OF these connections j. inimical to
Virginia cities, while the other is
all i'm favor oil them. Which shall it be?
1t remains for Richmond or the Richmond
and Allegheny Railroad Company, or both
TO answer by prompt and decisive action
the inquiry. Ii cannot be said that be-
cause Of the fact that the Richmond and |
Allegheny road i in the hands OF receivers
She j, unable to save trade that may be |
forever lost 10 her by hardness in granting
a little financial assistance. The example |
OF the Virginia Midland while in similar
situation. and which built and equipped |
thiTty-nine miles of narTOw-gaugc road in |
the county OF Franklin rs a feeder to her !
line is a complete refutation OF that. Her
example is worthy Of imitation by the
Richmond and Allegheny. Furthermore,
it is OF the lirst importance that some
definite action should be taken before
the county vote on subscription, which, |
aS We have before stated. will be
taken on the 2j.h Of the present
month. 1t j. perhaps unnecessary to elab-
crate this subject. What we Lave written
has been done after calm and mature reilec-
ton, and with fiH Li,olrledge Of the sit
uatiOn. Ii remains now for Others TO act.
With no interest in this Craig road other
than what j. common to all Nirginans. vet
a. a citizen Of Eastern Virginia and a resi-
dent on the line Of the Richmond and Ale
ghany road, we may be excused for the in
tereSt thus taken in the ultimate destination
OF the products Of q county which, in our
Judgment, i destined to be one Of the
richest in the Commonwealth.
NIRGINIUs.
nrfaG NarS gfaEns