Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-16
Railroad to the Northwest.

hdLTVdu " tuo NOftAWeSt.
Editor of the Spectator
AS the plan proposed by you sometime
since, of constructing Railroad from
Staunton to Highland county, seems to
| have failed on account of lack Of enterprise
or capital on the part of Stauntonians and
Highlanders, allow me to suggest plan
that l consider more feasible, and much
more easily accomplished, and one, while it
| would accomplish the same ends proposed
for Staunton and Highland, would greatly
rebound to the monetary interests of that
great Trunk line known as the G. & o.
Railway, viz: The construction, by that
Company, of narrow or standard gauge
branch road from Buffalo Gap to McDow
| ell, distance of but 25 miles. The first
question that would naturally arise in the
minds of the Directors of said Company,
| would be, "Will an enterprise of that kind
pay9" From my knowledge of the vast
amount of merchantable produce that is
hauled annually by wagons to Staunton,
! and the amount of comm ODDITIES brought
back by the merchants and citizens of High
land, Pendleton, Pocahontas, and the up
per part of Bath county, besides the entire
cattle-trade of these counties, which that
road would control; and also from the fact
that right here, at Mcdowell and in it's vi
cinity, lie buried millions of tons of the very
best iron-ore, which, with good railroad
facilities for removal, would soon begin to
leap from it's mountain Businesses. and be
carried off in its crude state to furnaces
elsewhere, or be manufactured into pig
| metal by furnaces that would spring up
here, and then seek the markst over it's road,
l would say that it would 4pay and pay
largely. don't know of any road Of its
length that would pay more largely in few
years time than branch from Buffalo Gap
to Mcdowell. Now, Mr.. Editor, if you
think my suggestions are worth anything
at all, lay them before your Merchants and
Manufacturers Association, and have them
to present the facts to the c. & 0. Railway
Company, and urge them to put the plan into
operation at once, and by next Fall, in time
to take off our cattle to market, the whis-
tie Of the engine will be heard in Mellow
ell, and Staunton and Highland will have
good Railroad connecticut consumma-
ton devoutly to be wished" More anon.
MCDOWELL.
The above communication appears as re-
quested. Staunton cannot undertake, of
herself, to build even a narrow-guage rail
road to Mcdowell. A scheme for line of
improvement in that direction was consid-
cred here only in connection with full and
cordial cooperation on the part of Highland.
With that, perhaps. the movement could
have been inaugurated. Under the most
favorable circumstances it would be work
of time to be accomplished by degrees
Believing, with the writer, in the value of
the resources Of that country, we had con-
fidence in it's ultimate success, but at no
time could there be the least propriety in
commencing until the people of Highland
and this city as unit become satisfied of
finally accomplishing the work. Once open
that far out towards the border of West
Virginia, the future would become mat
ter beyond doubt or speculation, with an
assured ending worthy of the earnest, toll
ing efforts, which brought it into existence.
On reflection, our correspondent will
hardly press his suggestion for Staunton to
come forward and ask the Chesapeake and
Ohio line to build branch road from Buff
falo Gap or even from this city. That
would be fatal to any future prospect of
building up a larger and mutually benefi-
cial intercourse between Highland, the
country beyond, and this city. A narrow
gauge road can in time be built by the cor
daily united efforts of the two, if direct
and mutual interests recognized as the first
and only object in view. No other
scheme can OF should receive consideration
here. The way to look at this matter is to
do SO as the situation of both communities
are now, when there is no improved mode
of communication, and bearing the cost of
projecting one, it would be worse than folly
| to throw it open as through route. AS a
local work, it would build up and develop
both, and, accomplishing that, the situation
of both would be UNNECESSARILY improved
| over their present state of prosperity.
Staunton has mutual interest with High
land and no other, and there yet may be
time to see to the project, but the signs are
not encouraging, for before the agreement
can be effected the field may be lost to that
| contamination.
This brings us to the point of the case
We see no prospect of action by this city or
| Highland. On the other hand, without the
agency of either, branch road is making
| its way from the Baltimore and Ohio line
up the valley of the South Branch whose
head-springs are at Monterey 1t will only
be question of time, and exactly by tie
process of action we would have this city
and Highland to pursue, when it will scale
nifcent country, loaded with undeveloped
wealth. From it go rolling streams, and
gathering as they fall through many val
legs the evidences of wide expanse of
territory, await enterprise only, to re-
turn hundredfold its present value. 1t
will then be too late, and only lingering
views will recall lost opportunities. That
branch road is now at Romney. 1t is not
necessary to discuss sequel in which Bal
timore enterprise takes hand in casting
the destiny.
PROGRESS OF VIRGINIA TowN.-A cor
respondent of the Lynchburg Neaos writes
from Martinsville, Henry CO., Va: ''There
is nothing in Southern progress more mar
velous than the growth of this place during
the past five years. In 1880 Martinsville
was sleepy little village of 2S5 inhabitants.
Now our population is 2, 500. In 1880 there
was not a tobacco factory, warehouse or ma