Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-06-23
Stountot, Spectator.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1886.
UP AND DOING.

UP AND DOING.
Observing more than year ago the pre-
liminary movements, we have constantly
watched the progress of events in new rail-
road developments, partly for the reason OF
keeping pace with such interests generally.
and for another and equally proper motive,
that which materially concerns our Valley
country. That wide and extended section
of Virginia lying Southwest of Roanoke
City and the line of the Norfolk and West
ern Railroad, taking in one-third of North
Carolina and good-sized portions of Ten
nessee and Georgia, through which run the
Blue Ridge range of mountains, is rich
and wonderfully blessed region. 1t lies
between the lines of transportation from
the North and the East, which part COM
pany at Lynchburg not to meet again till
they reach Atlanta. IL Southern North
CAROLYN there are cross-lines between the
two great parallel routes, SO to speak, but
the vast regions which form the water
sheds of the Eastern Tennessee, the Yad-
kin, the Dan, and the New rivers, with
much of the upper valleys of those magnif-
icent streams, have not, except partially as
to one, been touched by railroad lines.
The Virginia Valley section of the Balti-
more and Ohio and the Shenandoah Valley
railroads may have had that country in
view when prospecting their lines up our
Valley; but whether or not that is true IN
respect to the past, the present is unfolding
movements which greatly concern the here
after of those lines, and in that connection
there is a direct consideration to our i'm
mediate section of country. We have re-
ferred to that South land as highly favor
ed region, and it is in some things just as
our Valley is in others. To speak of one,-
it is the bright tobacco belt, just as ours is
chief grass and hay-making and grain
growing section. 1t produces commodities
valuable to commerce that are not food
supplies, whilst the superabundance Of the
articles here for the subsistence of man and
beast would be greatly enhanced in value
with more direct outlets in supplying the
demand in Southside Virginia and in North
and South Carolina, where now there are
annually-increasing markets for Augusta
county and Valley products.
First among the movements for direct
Southern connection from Roanoke, is the
Roanoke and Southern Railroad, which, re-
ceiving a good send-of by subscriptions IN
that city and in Henry county, is taken up
along the whole line in North Carolina with
like aid, manifesting such spirit that Col.
Houston, the President of the Company,
and his co-laborers feel authorized to pro-
nounce it success. With interest SO di-
rect, the Staunton Chamber of Commerce
has opened a correspondence with Presi-
dent Spencer, of the Valley Road, setting
forth the advantages resulting to this city
and our Valley by the extension of his line
from Lexington to Roanoke, where it could
come into connection with this new move
ment farther South.
Another is the Danville and Northwest
ern, which strikes direct line from that
city to Liberty, in Bedford county, connect
ing at Big Island with the Richmond and
Allegheny, twenty miles West of Lynch
burg. This opens also by the connection
with the Valley and the Shenandoah Val
ley railroads another and valuable short
outlet to Danville and North Carolina
cities and towns, where hay and corn and
corn-meal and -four find active demand at
all times.
Whilst not having so direct bearing upon
our local interests, there are several other
schemes progressing on the Southside of the
State. We have before referred to them,
but since that time the Roadway making
continues to give assurances of success
The narrow-gauge railroad, which has been
completed from Claremont, on lower James
River, to Hicksford, in Greensville county,
will be continued to Danville and become of
the standard gauge. Danville has made a
liberal subscription for the purpose. Stimu-
lated by this line, the Danville and New
River, now narrow, will probably become
a standard width road also. ClaremOnt a
few years ago was only steamboat land
ing on James River, ia Surry county. Now
it is growing corporate town with city
aspirations. Bostonians brought in the cap
ital, and they have made it fine manu-
featuring seat, as it is naturally a chief
fruit and trucking point. The back coun-
try of the Dan River and lower valleys, and
perhaps large contributions West of Dan
Vile, will furnish fine resources for the live
ly city expanding over the beautiful plain,
which, in ante bellum times, was Maj. VIM.
Aliens farm.
Lynchburg has three trunk-line railroads,
directly South to Durham, North Carolina.
She wants more of the fine tobacco grown
in the valleys and in the country drained by
the Stanton, the Banister, the Dan, and
the Neuse rivers. She has planked down,
by nearly unanimous vote of her people,
S250,000 for that purpose. Campbell and
Halifax counties in Virginia, and Person in
North Carolina, with the famed tobacco
city of Durham, will meet her on that
ground, and this road, crossing at right an
giles the productive valleys named, will be
built.
The Southwest is all astir with auxiliary
connections to the Norfolk & Western and
projects for development by other lines,
which will in the future furnish their share
to the bright side of the picture.
In the general progress referred to, we
have drawn line where our local interests
come in, and it is gratifying to know that
our merchants and tradesmen, by their en-
terprise and foresight, entertain proper
views, and are seeking to promote the
producing capacity of our section of the
Valley by obtaining for our farmers the
most advantageous methods in realizing re-
turns for the extra abundance which re-
wards their labors on the generous soil upon
which they dwell.