Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-09-02

1
old five-feet to the standard. 1t would
hardly have disrupted its more important
connections at present by this break OF
| track-width unless there was some guaran-
| ty that its associates in the Southern States
would in time follow its example. If we
are not mistaken, this road is in the Louis.
vile & Nashville system, which was a lead.
| ing power in the construction of the toll.
bridge over the Ohio river at Henderson,
Ky. Over this bridge all railroads desiring
it have the privilege of crossing. If, as the
| Laanberman intimates, the Chesapeake and
Ohio system is to strike for Chicago with
its own track, this bridge will be the point
at which it will cross the Ohio river for the
destination named.
| 1t would be an endless task to enumerate
the advantages Virginia can derive from ex
tensions mapped out for the C. & O. line.-
In our commercial, manufacturing, and in
! many new departments of our producing in
dustries, there surely would follow the
greatest advantages, if our people are wi {
and will act as becomes the favored situa.
tions they would enjoy, with the great cen
trail line in it's own rights and privileges
passing out to the distant West. The shortest
route from the Central-west and North
west through Virginia is a great thing Of
itself. The elements which those sections
of the Union furnish for coastwise and for
he, n
other countries required there, concentra-
ting a large share of the trade intercourse
of the world in the Virginia estuary would
stimulate reviving sensibilities in every
nook and corner of the old State. The i'm
petus which would be given to the special
advantages possessed by the Eastern Shore,
Tidewater country, the Piedmont, and, in
fact, all the State, because of our unrivalled
climate and natural resources in supplying
| millions of human kind with articles OF
good and healthy living cannot be est
mated.
We will wait for another occasion to
specify the innumerable advantages that
will accrue to Virginia when railroad lines
commencing on her seashores, shall pen
citrate the far West, and in time span the
continent with their own tracks. We dc
not predict this result, but in the view OF
our Chicago cotemporary, it is plainly dis
cernibe that no such magnificent schemes
as are there sketched can be matured, and
the Virginia railroads have no part in the
grand future the great Western cities are to
realize when they reach out their strong
arms for the values pertaining to the South,
and to reap through them a greater share
than ever before enjoyed, Of the commerce
of the world.
| Nor will it alone be by the means of the
| Chesapeake and Ohio system that Virginia
can reap literally from solid, Westward
pointing roads. when the Richmond and
Allegheny, and the Ohio Central, shall have
passed through the transitions of receiver.
ship and sale, common alike to almost all
railroads, combinations for the great pur-
poses will come into existence, and their
| objects will be hurried along by means of
Point Pleasant.
The Norfolk and Western railroad will
not be content to terminate its schemes in
the direction of the Lakes and the great
Central west by simply opening the coal re-
gions of Southwest Virginia, though that
achievement has revolutionized the fuel
supply in great measure, for many large
interests. An early day may witness the
revival Of the plans of a great mind, which
was employed in laying out the commence
ment Of that line. In looking after the
great interests sketched by the Lum5erman,
that line can well push on it's Pocahontas
branch through West Virginia and northern
Kentucky, with large local advantages to
aid its stretch after Western wealth.
The Lumbernaan says there is ga brilliant
prospect ahead for railway development, "
and that the Southern system will engage
in it on large scale, and that all will seek
Chicago terminus.
The Chesapeake and Ohio already owns
it's tracks to the Ohio and Mississippi val
leys, and if, as the Latmberman says, it will
not be content with BORROWED traffic facil-
ities' in reaching Chicago, we think that
| with the securement of its own unbroken
line to that great city will come innumera-
BILE opportunities for Virginia and her peo-
pie to enter new career of prosperity. A
| great line ia the transportation of foreign
and home commerce, stimulating all kinds
| of production and opening emporiums of
trade and intercourse in our Eastern cities,
between the valleys of the Ohio and upper
Mississippi and Europe, South America,
and other foreign countries, cannot have its
day and bestow no rewards along its route.
We hope the predictions of the Lumber
man may come to pass. better time
| seems to be coming. The South made great
| strides during the last era of railroad build
ing. Our section is receiving just share OF
consideration, and many leading minds de-
| clare that we are on the eve of a new era OF
prosperity.
To CALL MINISTERIAL congregation
al meeting will be held at the Presbyterian