Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-01
RAILRoAD HIeHLAND.

The subject of railroad communication be.
tween this city and the northwestern interior
now under consideration In this city, receives
an encouraging response from Highland. The
following from the Recorder of the 9th u1t
published at Monterey, will be read with inter-
est. The Merchants and Manufacturers AS
ISOLATION should follow the matter up. Let us
have conference between the city and the
country interested. 1t can be soon ascertained
If 1t be necessary to press the discussion farth-
er. We confidently believe that it can be de-
monstrated that a narrOw-gauge railroad is
within our ability, and, if SO, the sooner 1t is
commenced and pushed west the sooner a new
phase will appear-improving our trade and
building up industries here and developing a
rich interior which now is not one-fifth in
showing of its aggregated values to what they
ould be under progressive efforts
1.-THE RAILROAD IN EMBRYo.-The PROPOSE
ton made by a member of the Merchants and
manufacturers Association of Staunton, pub
!1shed in this paper last week, to take steps
looking to the building of railroad to Monte
hey Irom Staunt9n IL taken IN hand by the
mind the most plausible prospect for a railroad
yet offered. This conclusion is not imaginary
nor accounted for on the wish father to-the-
thought theory, but is the result of deductions
based on the practical business relations of
: taunton to the section which the road would
i
this trade that prompts the merchants of
Staunton to action, and which they want and
must keep by some means if they wish to con-
t1nue prosperous commercial city. Outside
OF Augusta county, this section is their princi-
pal feeder. Much of the trade of Rock bridge
county was taken from them by the penetra-
ton Of that section by the Shenandoah Valley
road and the Richmond & Allegheny, and
should the trade OF this section likewise be
snatched from her by a railroad extending in
some other direction and carried to another
market, her resources would be seriously dam
aged. There is another reason for having con-
hdence IN the proposed scheme. A railroad to
this place would draw in trade which already
has more convenient marts. Pendleton is near.
er to Harrisonbuig and Bridgewater, Pocahon-
tas finds MillborO more accessible, and SO too
does Bath, and even a small part of Highland.
A road running to this point would reach out
Their. there are many resources right around us
unutilized for want of a market. which would
swell the business done with Staunton. We
have minerals which could be developed, tim
Der going to waste which would be worked up,
fine grass which would be turned into butter,
all of which would give employment to unem-
plies,-thus supplying what others need and
demanding what others supply. And this ex-
change would be carried on principally through
Staunton merchants, who are too shrewd not
to see the great advantage the completion of
such project would be to them, and the great
loss they would sustain if it were to be diverted
in toother channels. Hence, relying on the great
demand for the road and the keen business
foresight of the men who propose it. we say the
action taken has more than usual significance
and promises better than the wild schemes
heretofore proposed.
But some say, Staunton will not take hold,
because she knows we can do better than buy
our supplies from her andhaM them here. All?
But Stanton has learned lesson by past ex-
perience. So she may have thought of Rock
bridge; but whilst she lay supiney on her back
INDUCING in this consolation. the two roads
named above. with unexamp1ed rapidity,
pierced the county and secured her most valu-
able trade. Then it was that the B. & o. road.
which had fed the people on broken promises
for years, was pushed to completion. But too
late. Richmond, Lynchburg and Philadelphia
had established their trading posts and opened
up channels of traffic which could not be
closed up; and they remain open to-day, Like
supineness may beget like sad results.
AS for Highland, we can truly say, "Barkis is
willin' " And we feel thai we can go further
and say that Notwithstanding the fact that her
people are indignant in consequence of taxa
Lion imposed to meet railroad bonds for which
they get nothing. they will aid in the underta-
king if they have guarantee that the road
will be built.