Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-08
Stauntott Spectator.
WEDNESDAY, Jolly s, 1885.
OUR NORTHWESTERN INTERIOR.

OUR NORTHWESTERN INTERIOR.
No town or city can afford to be indiffer-
emit to the progress of the interior country
with which it has trade relations. With
better means of information, and in their
daily pursuits better enabled to observe all
questions affecting their own, as well as
the interests of the people farther with
drawn from the active scenes of financial
and trade intercourse, the business men of
towns should ever be vigilant in looking for
the line of progress which enlarges and de-
velops the resources of their sustaining coun-
try. The starting point is mutual and CO.
operative interest; and in perfecting an on
ward course for both, towns always take
the lead, and it is, for more reasons than
are here recited, proper that they should do
so. Some teach divided interest. Such
conclusions when INDUCED are fatal for all
good and are hurtful in any view they may
take. The effect Of such policy is well
illustrated in the consequences which never
fail to follow divided households, and in
the estranged relations which too quickly
fill the place in communities that should be
cemented by fraternity and union and
strength.
The young city of Staunton has reached
aperiod in it's history in which her thought
full people see plainly that more advanced
means of communication with it's widest
interior trading country is absolutely in
dispensable to its future prosperity, and in
securing that, the interior is assured of en-
larged Importance, and rapid development
of dormant resources. Coupled with the
conclusion should be the resolve to lay out
the plan for the Inauguration Of the proper
movement to commence the work. In the
outset investigation is necessary by inspec-
ton of the country in all its features, be-
fore grave responsibilities are assumed or
engagements entered into.
The feasible scheme is narrow-gauge
railroad from Staunton through. Augusta
and Highland to the West Virginia line
A charter for it, under which investigation
can be made and satisfactory conclusions
reached, is the first practical step to be
taken. To secure the charter is the work
now requiring the preliminary action of the
city, and part of Augusta, and the county
of Highland. All eyes are turned towards
the Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation to press the initiative already taken
1xyt 1,ao o,nf,, M Of fn or
in concert with the people of Highland and
Augusta in preparing an application to the
next Legislature for charter. That &C
complished, the border counties of West
Virginia interested will take the matter up,
and thus the whole scheme will move for
ward to practical results, either in building
the road or abandoning the enterprise be-
cause of ascertained inability to meet its
responsibilities.
Highland in Virginia, and Pendleton, Po-
cahontas, Randolph, and other counties in
West Virginia, embrace the territory most
directly interested. The pursuits of the
people of that entire section are similar and
their resources are alike. The topography
of the country is generally much the same,
and, by giving the resources Of Highland,
the value and resources of all that section
can be well understood. However tempt
ing the beautiful scenery of the picturesque
highlands may be for sketch, we must
pass it by at present The backbone of
the Alleghanies is her western border, from
which, stretching eastward to the Augusta
line, is succession of smaller mountains and
rich green valleys. Across and near the CEN
ter of her territory lis the watershed, ard
here are the sources of the James and South
branch of the Potomac rivers. From the
common center these valleys deepen and
widen as they point little east of north
town, is on the shed and occupies charm
ing location. The area of the county is
240,641 acres. The population is about
$500. There are about 5000 acres in &C.
real and grass rotations in cultivation, and
in permanent meadows and grazing lands
over 80, 600 acres. There are about 2, 500
mich COWS, and 5000 other cattle, 10000
sheep, and 10000 pounds of wool. Over
1900 horses, and something like 1000 hogs.
These estimates are made upon the basis of
the census reports of 1880, and are suffi-
GENTLY accurate for the purposes in view
In woodlands and forest there are 100, 900
acres.
Highland is comparatively isolated and
has no other than primitive means of trans
portation, but yet, in valuable industrial
resources, she is ahead of counties of the
same number of population and more rich
ly blessed in means to render them produc-
tive. She has more mich COWS and other
cattle than Clarke county which has great
er population. She is almost the equal of
the famed county of Smyth, of the great
Southwest, in all kinds of ether live stock,
and exceeds that county in the number of
sheep and in wool product. Smyth more
than doubles her in population and in as
sessed values. These statements are suffi-
cient, for information, even if the business
men of this city did not know, by daily in
oOASOolcS WIN thO pOOPiO VI Uuc
extent of the resources of that county.
There is other, shall we not say greater,
wealth awaiting only railroad for devel-
opment. After deducting for barren noun
tains, and leaving an abundance of forest
for all purposes, Highland can add fifty
thousand acres of finely wooded land for
lumber development. and then the same
land to crop cultivation and pasturage.
Just think of that Here, in an average
distance of forty-fve miles of this city, Ian
gushing for the want of manufacturing in
dustries, in which wood forms the chief ell
ement for their growth, stands that wonder
full amount of raw material ready for i'm
mediate enterprise, whenever little mar
rowgauge railroad, costing about $4,000
per mile, will open way to it. And then
after the forest is cleared away, the products
of which in the meantime will have added
thousands upon thousands of dollars to
the aggregated wealth of this civ will