The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-07
Norfolk and Western Extension.

The following communication addressed
by Hon. Ed. Pendleton, of Lexington.
Va, to the Richmond State, explains it.
SELF, 1t illustrates the short-sighted pol
icy Of some of our people in relation to
great improvements and the needs of Vir-
ginia. While we are not familiar with the
details of the bill which occasioned the
criticism of the State and called forth the
interesting and instructive article from
Col. Pendleton, we may safely assume that
no detriment to the people or State is con-
templated by it. The primary object of
the proposed legislation is the development
OF the mineral resources Of the Southwest.
1t will not be denied that the parties ask
ing for it expect to be remunerated for their
investment, and to use the privileges to be
granted so that they will bring compen-
sating returns for the outlay to be made.
They would not belong to this age, or in
deed to the dominant race of the human
family in this country, did they not look
for pecuniary rewards in their enterprises.
But there lies in the reach of the improve
ment contemplated, millions Of dead
wealth which can be utilized in no other
way than by railroad construction. 1t must
remain dead and useless unless personal en-
terprise undertakes to expose and utilize it.
The State cannot do it, and would not if it
could. The citizens who own the prop
critics and reside in the section of country
to be invaded by the railroad, cannot do it.
In no other way than by chartered compa-
MES and privileges can the vast region of
mineral riches, which it is designed to
open and accommodate, be made to yield
to the uses of commerce and civilization.
Yet there are those who are so constipated
in their views as to be unable to under
stand the great benefit to the Common
wealth to result from such enterprises as
that discussed below. Col. Pendleton has
forcibly presented what has been done by
| the corporation asking for the privileges re-
ferred to. Even in much larger degree
| would advantages follow the development
of the Southwest, for the field is more
extensive and the wealth to be developed
more abundant. The eastern cities can
not reasonably expect to have every i'm
provement to make them the objective
point. There has been too much of this
work of unnatural legislation in the past.
The great bulk of the debt that rested
upon the State in 1850, and still presses
down the energies of the people, was con-
%,.oo taI 70 cr,h f1o nIc oEk ba
East. While we would throw no obstacles
in the way of the prosperity of Richmond,
Norfolk and other Virginia towns, we do
not think that it is right to arrest develop
| ment and enterprise. in other sections.
simply because business thus created
might seek another market. The taxable
values brought into existence by improve
ments in one portion of the Common
wealth operate to the relief of other local
tiles. This is conspicuously shown by
Col. Pendleton, and the policy which en-
courages and stimulates development,
whether it be in one part of the State or
another, should not be handicapped by pro-
hibitOry conditions. We want to see the
whole of Virginia developed, and will
earnestly sustain any legislative action
that may have for it's object such eSult,
whether it be directly tributary to the
trade of Richmond or Baltimore, Norfolk
or Philadelphia.
The following is Col. Pendleton's COM
municatiOn
Your leading editorial of the 18th inst, bear
comments with great severity of language on O
bill now pending before the General Assembly
so FAX az ana lr Es
apply to the intrinsic merits of the BILL it is no
part of my purpose to reply to them, as have
ested in any way in its fate. desire
| simply to call your attention to that portion of
Injustice to Mr.. F. ]. KimbalI, his associates in
the contract and management Of the Norfolk
and Western and Shenandoah Valley railroads.
feel quite sure you would not do Intentional
injustice, and desire to draw your attention to
certain facts well known to the people of Vir-
you, which 1 conceive should have greatly mod
flied your remarks about Mr.. Kimball if indeed
they ought not to have precluded them Alto
1t will perhaps be proper for me to preface
what am about to say with the remark that /
Western and Shenandoah Valley railroads, and
never expect to have, and that my acquaintance
M the Is of eT Slight
associates in the purchase Of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad, and in the construction of
that which usually supplies the motive power
to all such enterprises their hope of gain-yet
It is equally undeniable that the State of vir-
Target permanent, and indefeasible gains re-
sultant from what they have done in the past
In the deplOrable f1nantial condition in which
the State found itself ut the close of the war the
only path out of our embarrassments appeared
to be to invite the investment OF foreign capt.
tai, and the newspapers of the State from that
time to the present have teemed with invita-
tions to outside capitalists to come among us
IvUyIfh fnaip ot,df t,0fx
ing them a cordial reception, fair treatment
and legal protection to their Investments Ac,
associated with him have, 1 believe it can be
added more TO the permanent taxable basis
ISOLATION of nOn-residents. With little aid from
any OF our own people, they have built two
road, thus creating taxable basis of 5000. 900
opening convenient line of transportation to
large district Of country.in the Valley of Vir-
been cut off from the market, and largely in
creasing the value of the adjacent lands In the
dred acres.of farming lands, valued for taxation
at about $40 per acre, and have built on it CITY
of six thousand Inhabitants, whose rapid growth
millions more to the taxable basis of the Com
monwealth, besides giving a largely increased
value to the lands in the neighborhood of it.
Without aid from any source MI. Kimbali and
his associates built the New River Railroad to
the county OF Tazewell, opening up to COM
tinent, which had heretofore been completely
shut off for lack of transportation and at the
western terminus of this road are building IN q
fiourishing town, where there was, until they
entered it, but three years ago, an almost unin-
habited wilderness. 1t is true, they purchased
the Norfolk and Western Railroad HUT i'm what
sense they can be said to have stsWalloWed,' III
as charged in your editorial. l do not under.
strong competition, after it had been wrecked
and bankrupted under Virginia management
for what was regarded at the time as q fair
price, and they have not only paid for it. hit
have expended large sums in extandiuo ana
improving 1t.
At Norfolk, understand they have expended
more than quarter million of dollars in I'M
proving terminal facilities and constructive
built at Roanoke City, at O cost of sOmethinS
like O million of dollars, extensive mamma
shops for the manufacture of locomotives and
cars. which now employ about 800 hands. In
mentioned, they have now let to Contract to he
completed by November /, 1884, their CrinnIe
Creek extension, which will open up a most
needed line OF transportation to the extensive
iron deposits IN that region. Their purchase
and subsequent management of the Norfolk
and Western Railroad seems, therefore, to have
been fair business enterprise, entered into in
no spirit OF monopoly and carried on in no nm
friendly spirit to the State or the people of Yir
ginia.
In view of these well-known facts. and MANY
others of kindred character, omitted for brevtv
sake, ask you is 1t just and fair to classify MI
F. ]. kfmDall ana his associates with .sthose
hordes OF spectators who are always asking for
the privilege of robbery?" And can o leading
and influential journal afford to make this kind
of war on gentlemen of the North who have
come here upon our invitation, and invested
their money in legitimate business enternrisese
l write not as the defender or the apologist Of |
Mr.. Kimball and his associates but as n citizen
of Virginia, earnestly desiring to promote her