Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-02-09
The Winchester Extension.
STRAIGHT AS AN ARRow-THRoUGH A
BEAUTIFUL AND ABUNDANT VALLEY.

STRAIGHT AS AN ARRow--THROUGH A
BEAUTIFUL AND ABUNDANT VALLEY.
The extension Of the Martinsburg
and Potomac Railroad to Winches-
ter is an enterprise that deeply con
Germs our people, as well as all those
in the valley. 1t is being executed
with rapidity and vigor, almost
without example. 1t may be termed
winter campaign. 1t was COM
menced about the middle of October
last All ready over Is miles of the
road are graded, laid and being bal
lasted. The bridges and culverts on
the entire line are of solid masonry,
as enduring as the imperishable
rocks that compose them. The line
of the road, after leaving the termi-
nus, isalmost as straight as the flight
of bird. A short distance beyond
Martinsburg this line stretches out
for seven or eight miles without
single curve, and narrows down, in
the distance, as fine as the point Of
needle. There are of 600 workmen
employed on the work.
1t is not expected that this road
will extend further south than Win
chester. But Winchester will not be
the terminal point Of the enterprise.
To the west of that town rises the
eastern slopes of the mountain region
that extend westward, and which is
filled with quality and quantity Of
coal, unsurpassed on this continent
These deposits are inexhaustible, and
are of different qualities, although Of
the same, semi-bituminous class.
Already capitalists are organizing
into corporations to develop these
mines, and open up resources that
will yield abundance, not only to the
mountain localities themselves, but
carry cheap fuel in every town, vii
lage and home in this valley When
completed to Winchester it will be
but very short time until the road
will extend to these abundant regions
and rich mines that lie but short
distance westward. Already contrac-
tors and agents are busy prospecting
and bargaining for lands covered with
abundant forest trees and filed with
coal.
| The distance from Winchester to
Harrisburg will be about l18 miles.
The road will traverse the most
beautiful and abundant valley on this
continent; valley which averages
about twenty-five miles in width, and
which lies expanded, on either side
of the road, at an average width of
twelve and fourteen miles, except
when it nesrs Winchester. 1t is ex-
pected that the entire route will be
in running order by the middle Of
May.
The Cumberland Valley Railroad
is one of the smoothest on the conti-
nent. One feels as if he was skim
ming along in sleigh when carried
along on this admirably constructed
and repaired railway. The jolts and
jars, and curves and shaking expert
ence on other tracks are without ex-
perience here. The passenger hardly
knows he is moving at all until he
looks out on the broad and beautiful
valley on either side, and finds him.
self flying past hills and houses,
plunging into stately woods and sud
denly emerging along open cleared
farming lands, skeating smoothly
onward to some town or village or
station. The road will traverse a
valley unsurpassed in the industry,
enterprise and steady habits of its
inhabitants in the beauty of its seem
cry and the varied and abundant har-