Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-24
Stauntott Spectator.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH "a, 1856.
EXTENSION OF THE VALLEY RAILROAD.
COUNTY ROADS.


Of late there has been much discussion at
Roanoke and Danville, and in Henry coun-
ty, in relation to railroad schemes, the ex-
tention of the Valley or Baltimore and Ohio
branches occupying large share of con-
sideration in those localities. The Valley
Branch, by its direct association with the
Baltimore and Ohio system, and having the
best connections with the North and the
ENTHUSIASTICALLY controlling an immense
tonnage for the South, through its arrange
ments with the Richmond and Alleghan,
line-has become an important connecting
link. Its extension, not only as provided
for in its charter to Salem, but branching
to Roanoke, and thence direct through
North Carolina to Ashville and Atlanta, art
sche ues which practical effort is now a.
work to accomplish.
The commerce between the Northwestern
States and the South passing out, as her
indicated, through the connections of the
Valley line via Lynchburg and Danville,
the best now to be obtained, but quite an
indirect route, is much greater than ma!
be generally supposed. If President Spen-
GERS reports of this traffic were not available
for reference, an observation, at the depol
in this city, of the through cars from the
North and the far off Northwest, for dis
tant Southern points, would prove conclu-
sively by their numbers that part of thu
great embryo through-line may yet be il
store for our Valley link. If commerce be-
tween those distant sections of the Union
has assumed the importance it has -ndel
partial advantages of transportation, 7sha'
it would be under system of improve
ments indicated car be imagined. Passing
through a long stretch OF country, ano
much of it in primitive richness OF soil, ano
all indeed fruitful land, such completed
extensions along the elevated regions be-
tween Roanoke and Ashville, N. c., open
a tempting field to enter now in the discus
sion, but we can come to that hereafter.
The foregoing was suggested by reading
in the Fincastle Herald the proceedings OF
a public meeting, held in the vicinity OF
Botetourt Springs, in Roanoke county, t.
consider of plan to improve the county
roads-the proceedings also taking turn
in connection with the extension of the Val
ley road South of Lexington, its present
terminus Prof William T. Thorn, of Hol-
Inns Institute, was member of the meet
ing, and spoke to the questions, and, in
compliance with a request, published his
remarks. Though intended for local OBJ
ject, this gentleman has in his effort fur
nished important and advanced progressive
views, valuable also to other communities.
Prof. Thorn has been investigating and
studying authorities and the records of 9TH
er States touching these matters. His state
ments are facts, not theories. They are ia
ken from records, and are incontrovertible.
He faces a sentiment where the odds are
probably against his views, but that can tie
so, as it would, perhaps, be here in Angus
ia, and yet the basis upon which the popu-
lar opinion rested might be false one in
view of real interests.
1t will be remembered that Rockbridge,
corporate capacities, subscribed to the CAPT
tai stock of the Valley Railroad Company.
Prof Thorn addressed himself to the peo-
pie of Botetourt and Roanoke, and proves
TO them that enlightened selfinterest
should impel them to invite President Spen-
Ger to come on and complete his road, and
that it would be largely gaining opera
tion to them, though it required the turn
ing over Of their deferred bonds in the con
tract. He quotes facts and figures from
the records Of several States, showing the
wealth and sources Of revenue derived from
the introduction of railroads and other cor
porate enterprises, all afording large sources
of taxable values. In some of the States,
the State governments are entirely support
ed from such sources, thus relieving the
people of all State taxation, and only having
to meet the expenses of their comfy and
municipal rule. Whilst we cannot attain
to that in Virginia, nevertheless the facts
brought out can be reasonably applied to
our local interests, because with the State
the cou1 ty governments also realize the
benefit new values. These new values
come by communities being liberal to them
selves. When invited in that way, the eff
feet is greater and the future prosperity
more beneficially realized. 1t is true they
come sometimes to communities without
cost, because of location-lying between OBJ
jective points-but though obtained without
effort, their advantages will not diffuse
their real worth till associated progress is
carried forward. Railroads and manufact-
uring industries, commercial enterprises,
and all such may come, but if destitute OF
good county roads, the community, in fail
ing to 60 forward, falls back of its true po-
sition. The popular sentiment under which
it takes shelter for negative action will in
time censure those who, knowing the course
which should have been taken, failed to
advise the people of their real interests. In
relation to this feature of the argument,
Prof. Thorn says that ''the question should
be viewed from q standpoint of enlightened
selfishness, rather than with distrustful and
prejudiced eyes," and further on, he states
that ''bad county roads are great draw
back to the progress of the State, for the
heaviest tax paid by the State of Virginia
to-day, is the weekly, and daily, and hour
ly tribute to sticks, and stumps, and stones,
and mud-holes."
INFORMATION WANTED.-The Texas
State Journal published at Austin, furnish
es a long list of the names of persons, who
served in the revolution when the State de-
clared its independence of Mexico and of
early settlers, all of whom are entitled to
lands As far as known the residences of
all are given when last heard from, but
many were not known. Some who fell dur
ing the revolution are noted as are others
known to be dead The object is to inform
descendants and relatives of all such that
they are entitled to property and which can