National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-23
nErupLrcAN RAILROADS.
What the Grand Old Party Did for the
Old Dominion in Its Three Years Of
Eunromacv.


what the Grand Old Party Did for the
Old Dominion in Its Three Years Of
Supremacy.
LEXINGTON, RocKBRIDGE COUNTY, VA,
Jan. 2O.-In late number Of the RErUB-
L1cAN, under thehead of "Railway Notes."
It is stated that there is only one railroad
under construction in the state Of Virginia
(the South Atlantic and Ohio, and there
seems to be disposition manifest in legls-
latlon TO interfere with the scheme.
"Thoreby hangs a tale.n IL Is suggestive
OF the state Of things In Virginia before
and after the advent OF what the bOurbons
are pleased TO term the Malone dynasty.
IL is a woll-known fact that previous to 10
'S0nll railroad constructions were at stand
still in Virginia. Bourbon rule had para
lyzCd everything, squandered the state
finances, killed her credit, made the people
groan over the prospect Of higher taxes or
approaching bankruptcy, and scared foreign
capital away from the state. Railroads
that had been under construction were sus-
pended. Abandoned railroad embanS-
ments, cuts, aud culverts interspcrsed this
section, at least, as eye-sores and most un.
pleasant reminders OF the egacies Of bour-
bon rule. There seemed to be no tndica-
lions OF better time coming, so long as
the fossillzed remains of bourbonism were
TO rule the destinies Of the state and the
hope Of our people had almost siekened in
despair.
With the opening of the year 1880 bour-
bOnism stepped down aud out under the
Fat of the people at their previous Noycm-
Der elections. A change at once came over
the face Of things. A tidal wave of foreign
capital flowed into the state. The boom of
railroad improvement was heard from the
Potomac to the Carolina line aud from the
seaboard to the Alleghanles. The valley
counties from Staunton TO Salem, including
some Of the very best portions OF the state,
had been excluded from the outside world
so far as railroad transportation was con-
cerned. But with the year 1880 and the
exit OF bourbon fogyism good time set In.
The resumption Of work on unfinished rail-
road lines in the valley was commenced. New
lines were started. The contractors came
marching on with their teams, their picks
and shovels and their barrels OF money.
Labor was in demand and money flowed
into the pockets of the farmers. Soon
thereafter the music of the steam whistles
was heard In the land. The curling smoke
OF the railroad engines wendell its way along
the wales Of the Shenandoah and the James
and all things promised a bright future.
Such was the result OF three years Of
bourbouism out Of power! Some $50 miles
OF railroad were constructed from Rich
mond TO Clifton Forge, crossing this section
through Rockbfidge and Botetourt counties,
with a long.desired extension Of twenty
miles more, from the passage OF the James
river through the Blue Ridge to Lexington.
The Shenandoah Valley railroad next
doomed up and stretched its iron bands
from the Pennsylvania Central, at Hagers-
town, to junction with the Atlantic and
Mississippi railroad at Roanoke City, q dis
lance OF some $50 miles more through this
great valley Of Virginia.
The line we had been talking Of and peg
ging away at, from Baltimore TO the south
west, now began to revive and its dry
bones TO shake. 1t, too, resumed work
within the period before mentioned. The
long looked-for came at last to the hope
deferred and heart-sick-to say nothing Of
the railroad aX-groaning-citizen OF Rock
bridge. In November, 1888, tho steam en-
gine OF the Valley railroad ad Its advent
nto our town OF Lexington. The people
Of Rockbrdge were made glad for once.
They were happy-very happy-and thought
that the day was not far distant when this
favorite line would be completed to its
western connections, turning the long win
ter OF their discomfort into glorious summer,
ana buryiDg the dark cloud which had low
cred over them (for lol these many years) In
the deep ocean. Alas for their fondly cher
ished hopes The same month and year
that bourbon Legislature was elected the
knell Of the Valley railroad extension was
knolPd, and its sixty miles Of unfinished
and crumbling embankments from Lexing-
ton to Salem stand as fixed monuments,
dating the area Of the Inauguration Of Vir-
ginia bourbonism.
Thus we see that, within the period be-
tween 1880 and 1888, when the much-abused
Malone regime was in full power, from five
to six hundred miles of frst-class railroad
IL Al IL
portion Of the state was the especial bene-
ilciary. But the bourbon corpse was gal
vanized into existence with the fall cleo
tions of 1888. The upas shades of bourbon
legislation cast its malarial poisons over
the land from that date, and with 1t died
rail construction in Virginia. Foreign cap
ital ceased to come in the state, and what
had found Its way here soon manifested the
strong propensity, after the manner OF the
riches spoken of In the Good Book, TO take
unto itself wings and fly away.
RocKBRIDGE.