Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-12-08
The Newport News and Mississippi Valley
Company-Staunt0n Industries.

More than year ago leading Chicago
journal discussed at length the designs that
city had in view of securing direct railroad
communication with the commercial marts
of the Southern States, along the Gulf,
from New Orleans to the Chesapeake bay.
Commencing with the Illinois Central rail-
road, it was stated that, through that line
the direct connection was complete to New
Orleans, after which it touched upon the
plans which in time would prove practicable
for making perfect lines of direct transper-
tation to Mobile, Savannah, Charleston,
Norfolk and Newport News. Observing
this article in our Chicago contemporary,
we adverted to it at the time, especially in
reference to what was said in connection
with our great trunk line from East to
West, which passes through Staunton, and
the relations it would ultimately maintain
to the scheme mapped out, and regarded as
settled in the new lines sketched for a new
commerce between the various points
named.
The consolidation of railroad lines and
railroad and commercial progress as it has
recently been accomplished under the title
of the "Newport News and Mississippi Val
ley Company" is a steady and successful
step which completes direct association of
interests and through connection to the
Pacific coast from our Atlantic shore, and
with extensive radiating lines in the Mis-
sissippi and Ohio valleys, grasps with a
firm hold upon the daily developing inter-
ests becoming perfect with the Southern
seaboard and the great Metropolis on Lake
Michigan, and the commercial centre of
the northwestern States.
We might pause at this point to dwell
upon the new connecting lines in the Ohio
Valley and the bridge across that stream,
which Mr.. Huntington is building, and
through which it is only a question of time
when q large share of the commerce of the
northwestern and the central States of tie
West will seek its ceastwise aud foreign
outlet at Newport News, and to consider
further the progress going on at the latter
place for the accommodation and transship-
ment of grain and livestock of the West as
it is already complete as gigantic coal
depot and in meeting the demands of Ocean
steamers for fuel. Surely these things
mean great stride forward.
We are not of that class of journalists
who view enlarged railroad and transports
tion facilities with alarm or that would at
tempt to check their designs. We would
rather endeavor to combat the idea, mis-
taken as it is, that extension and drawing
together remote points by rapid transpor-
tation is necessarily fatal to local progress
and prosperity. The local entes prises along
our trunk line from East to West that have
been well designed are progressing with
evidences of large success. Look at the
large numbers of new freight-cars that are
daily passing to and fro just rolled out
from the "Ensign works" at Huntington as
one Illustration of the truth of the above
remark. Passing on from the considera-
ton of the acquisitions which the Newport
News and Mississippi Valley Company is
making upon the artisan skill and manu-
featuring industries along its line, though
we should not Gas small in Importance as TO
some it may appear, fail to notice the
orders already received by the new es-
tablishment located in this city, s'Ths
Augusta Agricultural and Machine Works.
We feel privileged to enter the domain of
its interior economy, as it has to deal with
the growing demand for space and facilities
in conducting its enlarging mechanical ope-
rations. In conducting the features of re-
pairs and equipments and the many work
shops belonging to those branches, the en-
larged scope in the great designs of the
company must necessarily in time call for
enlarged facilities in those branches of
interior administration. Taking it for
granted that an enlargement of workshops
must come about in time, Staunton surely
presents good location for one or more
The branches of repairs and equipments
which require machinery in working metal
and wood are perhaps for sometime per-
manent and will admit of additions, where
they are, but it might be economy to locate
the branch of painting and lettering to it
self. This feature of the work occasioned
by the necessity for re-painting and re-
lettering the old rolling stock, and the con-
tinuous demand which will arise in view of
the extended operations of the Company,
may soon, if not now, be the subject of
consideration By the management, and in
disposing of it by branch location this
city above all other points it would seem is
most suitable. Here the Company have
extensive grounds and buildings idle
The grounds were donation by Stanton
to the Company with the view of having
here one of its workshops, and thus for the
mutual advantage of the city and the Com
pany, and it is more than reasonable to
suppose if considered expedient now to en-
large the branches of mechanical construc-
ton We would come into the view favor
ably. We have an organization through
which the subject could be presented, and
If done with the Co cooperation of our public
spirited citizens, thrift and new industry
may be made to occupy the places now
dormant and yielding nothing.
ROANOKE DAILY TIMEs.-We have re-
ceived the first copy of the Roanoke Daily
Times, by the Times Printing Company,
dated the 30th of November. 1t is quite
neat six column paper. and should sue
coed, as we hope it will, in that new and
dourishing city.