South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-05-02
From the Marunsburg Statesman.
martinsburg to Piedmont.

Editor OF the Statesman
Oblige subscriber by publishing the
subjoined article from the Baltimore
Day of 18th instant, on a subject OF par.
amount Importance to Martinsburg. If
1t represents correctly that the Raiti.
more & Ohio Railroad can shorten Tic
distance OF lis present route between
niarlinsburg and Piedmont nearly thirty
miles by the new line proposed the mat
Ter deserves immediate consideration,
anu the Interest Of Martinsburg in the
matter should serve TO promote investi.
CATION and inquiry. II the now line can
DE constructed In seventy eight miles,
and cost even three million dollars, the
Western trade and travel, the coal aud
timber of the Alleghanies, and important
local interests imperetively call for its
construction. Besides this, in fifty-sive
miles from Martinsburg you reach South
Branch OF The Potomac. and the great
naaM scdter-line Of South Branch,
Greenbrier, New Blue Stone and Clinoh
rivers, on to Nashville, Tennessee, with
only three slight intervening watersheds.
This is the finest natural water line, Of
fercd by the troughage OF tue rivers
named, for railway, upon the Cont.
nent, and the Il. & .. Railroad should
not delay TO avail itsolr Of It's prcnoun-
ccd and wonderful advantage. Martins
burg to Romney sc miles, Romney to
MoOreiell % miles, Moorefield to Pc
tersburg IL miles, Petersburg to Frank
lin 30 miles. Franlin to Monterey (head
OF South Branch,) 2i miles-Martins.
burg to head OF South Branch, l43 miles.
and Baltimore to Monterey 243 miles.
This suffice, deserves study and con-
sidorat;on.
EDITOR CT TIE DAY:
he great interest of Baltimore in The
shortest possible railway TO the West,
and especially 10 the inexaaustib!e sup
ply of semi.bituminous coal, will afford
sufficient apology for this communica-
ton. 1t will be az once conceded that
tie Baltimore ana Ohio Railroad already
has the most direct line from Baltimore
westward to Martinsburg, w. Va
one hundred miles. BY its present route
from Msrtin1burg, by way Of Cumb r
land, Maryland, 10 the mouth OF Georges
Creek, at Piedmont, West Virginia, in
tue coal fields, ia further distance of
one hundred and seven miles. Now the
actual distance from Martin sourg 10 The
South Branch Of the Potomac, three
miles north of Romney, is only fifty. Eve
miles. and from South Branch to Pied.
mont additionally only twenty three
miles, by route practicable for a rail.
road, on moderate grades. You have
then: Baltimore to Piedmont, by Cum.
beriand, 207 miles; Baltimore to Pied.
mont by proposed short rout', 'l79
miles saving distance Of 20 miles.
BY route proposed it is about the same
distance to Piedmont from Baltimore
that by road at present it is TO Cumber
land. But if you reduce the distance
from Baltimore 10 Piedmont to l7S miles
and add Senator Davis road extension
TO tue head of North Branch, 81 miles.
we have: Baltimore 10 Fairfax Stone,
80 miles, in line that can scarcely be
shortened. This will afford the port of
Baltimore an uaIailing supply of supo-
rior semi- Uituminous coal Of the
rate OF several millions Of tons an.
nually for full century. open up the
immense foresteTy OF the Allegbanies,
aud command the great domain living
southwark Of the proposed road through
the valleys Of the Soutl. Branch am,
Grcenbrier rivers, and afford Baltimore
as an Atlantic port, the shortest line a
eros. the Alleghanies beyond any of her
competitors or rivals. In the compet;-
ton Of the Ba,limoreand Ohio Railroad
with all westward limos this shortening
of 20 miles in the grand economics OF
time aud working expenses is food for
speculation that heed not be entered
into here. But sure am that the con-
siderations stated are enough 10 Justify
the construction of the required 70 miles
of short line, which would cost at the
outside two millions Of dollars. whether
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad a
lone or with tue cooperation of Davis
road and the great coal companies. -
Why, the short Cutoff even from ROM
ney Branch over Kcyser, would effect n
saving OF distance over The present main
line Of fully twelve miles.
These suggestions are offered for the
consideration OF your readers, in the
hope that they may be fully onquired
into and discussed.
EXAMINER.