The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-08
Another Railroad Scheme.

We publish elsewhere an article from the
Pittsburg Dispatch. which deserves atten-
ton. The construction of railroad from
Romney. in West Virginia, by way of Lost
River and Brooks Gap, to Broadway, in
Rockingham county on the Valley Branch
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, has
long been regarded as feast ble. There is
charter in existence, procured through
the efforts of DR.. ). @. Winfield. of Broad
way. occupying this route. The details
given in the article we publish show how
entirely practicable it would be to construct
this road. especially when there is natu-
raj location for it through the territory
ment Toned.
There are several considerations which
are not mentioned by our P ittsburg cotem-
pOrary, for the reason that the article was
written with direct reference to the adyan-
tsges to Pittsburg of straight connection
with the James River ores. The road from
Romney to Broadway would shorten the
distadce from the Valley to the West hy at
least fifty miles. The route now Is to Har.
per's Ferry, by the Valley Branch. and
thence west by the main stem of the Balti.
more and Ohio railroad. This proposed
road would intersect the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad near Romney at Spring Creek,
distance from Broadway but little, if
any more than to Harper's Ferry from
Broadway. saving the distance to the West,
from the Valley, between Harper's Ferry
and Spring Creek. The territory that
would be accommodated by this road. is
rich in timber, iron ores, marble and other
minerals, as we'll as pastoral and agricultu-
raj advantages. and would ar once offer
large freightage for the completed en-
| terprise.
These local Developments would be wor-
thy of consideration. apart from the prima-
ry object Of reaching the iron deposits of
the James River region. The connections
from Broadway south are correctly stated
in the PIttsburg article.
That the iron belt in the Brooks Gap re-
gion will soon be reached by rail, we have
no doubt. A branch road is now in pro-
cess of construction, or in contemplation
from Columbia Furnace to Edinburg. But
a little reflection will probably charge the
plan under consideration, and starting the
road at Liberty Furnace. some six or eight
miles west of Columbia Furnace. and run
ming to Strasburg by way Of Cedar Creek.
the heart of the iron belt would be tapped,
and immediate connections made with
competing roads, at Strasburg, giving
choice OF routes to market at reduced
freightage.
The construction OF this last named
branch road, would assure the development
OF the iron interests of the section named,
and be additional inducement for the con-
struction of the road from Broadway to
Spring Greek over the route suggested in
the article to which we refer.
The whole subject is worthy of careful
examination and consideration. It relates
to region Of Virginia and West Virginia,
Astounding in natural wealth but practical
ly unknown because of It's isolation.-
When it shall have been examined and its
atfluent resources known, the merits OF the
scheme marked out for a railroad from
Pittsburg to connect at Broadway, and
thence by the Valley road and connecting
lines, to the James river. will be better un-
derstood and appreciated.