The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-11-25
South River Items.


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Little attention was paid to the rumor. how
ever, as me people IN otner sections OF Inc
county mad been on the lp-toe OF expectation
tor long time touchlng the proposed puiidlng
ol road from narpers fefry up Inc valley,
ana aitnoush heaVy tribute had been ialo upon
Inc county ana In TACT all other counties IN the
valley, yet the people waited In vain.
For the new road nothing was asked but right
of way and al hough when bull. it would add
to the value of the lands through which IL was
proposed to bring II, a hundred fold-yet for all
that, enormous damages were claimed and I'm
most cases) Without a murmur ON the part OF
the projectors paid
There is usually SO much wtnd-work preced-
ing all real enterprises in this country that be-
fore the Mrs Grundys and old foxies got them
selves fairly inflated on this job, the wide
awake business men who had the matter in
hand had SO pushed their WORK that the rattle
of the cars and scream of the whistle was heard
awakening the echoes IN the wilds OF east
Augusta and the road was open to traffic as far
as Way nesboro'.
Hating at that point long enough to ascertain
that the amount of public spirit ON hand there
would not justify the company in building their
machine and car shops there. they bounded
away and in a few more weeks the iron band
had reached hundred miles further toward
the equator, and while Little Tammany was
rubbing Its eyes as though just shaken out of a
sound slumber, the little hamlet. known of old
as Big Lick, was transformed into a city of
several Thousand Inhabitants, having work
shops, foundries, factories, &C., &c.. while Lit
tie Tammany remained about her usual size.
minus an engine-hOuse and several hundred
railroad men who mad taken up residence there
IN expectation that this would De one OF Inc
company's main points
100 mucn cannot be said IN commentator
OF the management OF this most excellent ard
important road. AS a matter OF fact those VINO
invested IN the enterprise did SO with the ex-
pectat1on OF handsome dividends. and they
VIII not De disappointed-but see what It has
done for the section trayersed by 1t.
Before the completion OF the road this vast
tract feachlng from the Potomac 70 Roanoke
city, and Astounding In innumerable mineral
resources.cov with the most excellent quail
ity ana greatest quantity OF uMper IN Varieties
10 meet the wants OF an CLASS OF iumper WORK
ers and apounding IN farming ianos OF Inc
very hlghest grace OF Iertility, was wlthout
iaclnties ior transportation except AZ SOME
poihts "here Ine roaos ieadins OUT hao Tue peo-
pie at their mercy ana as tney opened up lnsis-
n1hcant markets or LED 70 out one point tney
gave the producers no cnoice OF markets.
But behold the change! with baltimore
Phllade' phla. New YORK, ana otnef CITIES WIN
IN easy reacn' farmers nave reaiized large gains
ana merchants having a cholce OF markets. nave
peen enabled 10 puy goods at o minimum ana
transport tnem at much shorter rates tlan OF
Old.
bustne greatest cnange OF all mas been seen
along tne very pase OF mat rugged mountain
where ior ages untold tne vast mineral wealth.
mas slunpereo. "A means ior shipping Inc pro-
uuct VI tne ore Dana having Deen lurhisheo ny
the d '. ~ thousands OF laoorers are at
"ork III 1he inines' whlie oaiiy iands are pelhs
soio 10 capitalists VINO Will speeoliy open up
new mines and thus bring thousands more OF
popuiatlon ana miiilons more OF money ana
"nat me market Is opened at tnese mines io1
the heighporins FARMERS. why, Crlmora con-
sumes al the eggs, putter. cnlcKens, caDpase,
PORK, &C., &C.. tnat Inc country for radius OF
ten miles can iurnis q aid the cry Is for more.
old gentleman who found. it hard in the last
lew years 10 MAKE MS trade provide LOT ms
large family. All he could do he did but ends
would not quite meet.
one DAY miner came by his shop (wnitn was
ten miles from Crlmora) and stopped 1or
drink. While taking ne happened TO spy
chicken trot by him. All" said he. "but Ia
like to crunch your BONES. Then turning to
the old gentleman ne asked. why don't you
send your chickens TO the mines?"
Why, really never Thought OF 1t. But acting
at once ON the suggestion he hitched up his
horse and of he started with load.
On his return he was so overjoyed with mis-
days work that he threw down his tools ana
went into regularly supplying the miners with
such things as chickens. eggs, butter and at
prices that soon put him on his leg Che has but
one) and enabled him to pay his neighbors (for
he had soon to draw on them for asupply) more
for their produce than they had ever realized.
And this Is only one out Of a hundred cases
like it, so that 1t is readily seen how this great
| railroad has benefited the country-not only
Immediately lying on Its line. but for many
miles distant.
Next week your correspondent will present
the readers of the VIRGrNIAN with sketch OF
the points OF interest on this road between
Roanoke and Harpers Ferry.