The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-04-22
En- coura aging Prospects.

En- coura girg Prosp ects.
There has..been apprehension expressed
by railroad contractors that the current
year would not be active in railway con-
struction. The Iron, published in Phila-
delphia. which has. sources OF information
not open to persons living in the rural dis
tricts, does not apprehend any dirth OF
business in the improvement line. In its
last issue, we find the following encourag-
ing article, (which we commend to those
who have thought. differently. We can
see no reason why there should not be more
than the usual activity in railroad build
ing. 1t is true that the Democrats
have the Executive and the popular
branch of Congress, which is a menace to
business of all kinds, but it is also true
that the Senate is Republican and it can
be trusted to defeat any legislation that
looks to the paralysis ofaindustrial enter
prise. Capital has been for long time
inactive, apprehensive of crude and hos
tile legislation becauseyof the result of tie
last national election, but public senti-
ment is settling down to the conviction
that the Senate will stand as a barrier to
the enactment of unfriendly legislation
For this reason. the article in the Iron,
hopeful as it is, is entitled to considera-
tion. 1t is as follows
The indications that the current year
will be one of renewed activity in railroad
construction are increasing every day. The
new mileage of 1885 according to the latest
figures was 2,S7l miles, which is less than
in any year since 1878, when it only reached
1929. The total new construction from
1879 to 1885 inclusive, was 46425 miles,
being an annual average OF $685. for each
of the seven years, or 8. ISL miles less than
in 1885. This, although it proves nothing
as respects the future, is good basis for
a reaction, or, as the politicians say, to
count gains from.
In view of the increase in population
during this long interval, and the extent
of territory at the South and West that is
waiting to be provided with additional
railroad facilities, it would seem that q
period of greatly increased construction
must necessarily ensue. The fact that
some fifty roads went into the hands of re
ceiyers last year, and that thirty were sole
under foreclosure. is not discouraging
circumstance. Many OF these roads were
built in advance of their time, and under
new organizations will be able to turn tC
good account traffic, the growth of which
could not be forced out had to be waited
for.
Articles of incorporation are being filed
in all directions by newly organized com
panies, especially in the Northwest, and
new branches and feeders projected for eX
isting lines. These latter, it is safe to as
sumo, are not speculative enterprises like
many of those which contributed to swell
the mileage of 1882 to an unparalleled fig
ure, but are, on the contrary a needed eX
tension of old lines to meet the demand:
of an increasing and legitimate traffic. Il
is not likely that all the independent lines
projected. nor the half Of them, will bt
carried to completion during the year, MOI
will the movement run into a boom like
that of 18S0-Sl. Capitalists are more wary
and calculating than they were, and are
likely to discriminate more sharply be
tween good and bad investments.
1t is not an eXtraVagant estimate t(
= place probable new construction i'll 1886 a
900 miles. Arevival to this extent. even
meanS vast consumption OF material an(
supplies, the employment of host of idlt
and waiting laborers, and a stimulus tx
all branches of Industry by general ad
vance in prices. significant indication
that the long wished-for improvement il
near at hand, is the advance in the price O.
steel rails from $26 in June last to $50 ii
January. and the receipt of large orders
by the mills both for early and later de
livery. The car and locomotive shops arr
also receiving more numerous and Ia gel
orders than at any time during the las
three years. Much of this new equipment
is, of course, to replace worn out cars an(
locomotives, but a very considerable por
tion of it is called for in anticipation o
the new mileage to be added this wear.
The popular idea has been that tht
world contains seven wonders. bnt Thu
eighth made his appearance at the Capitol
1t was poor benighted man limping will
rheumatism who had never heard Of Sal
walton Oil. 1t is sold by all druggists a
twenty-five cents bottle.