The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-26

BALTIMORE, Sept. 25.-Thc following
letter from Col. George Chrisman, OF
Chrisman, Rockingham county, Va, ap-
pears in the Sun to-day:
| have seen several articles recently
in the Sun upon the Importance of the
baltimore and Ohio to your city, and the
| likelihood of loss to her by the extern
I sion of the Cumberland Valley road
South along tho west side of the Valley
of Virginia. All in those articles is cor
rect. live right on the line upon which
that road would be extended and know
the feelings of the people we'll. They
will make every effort in their power to
have the road extended; not that they
do not like Baltimore. for they cling to
her as an old and dear friend, but they
want more convenient and cheaper rail
facilities. and they are bound TO have
them If such Il thing is possible.
The wcst side OF the valley is now It's
richest agricultural country. and its
mineral wealth is developing beyond
the widest dream Of the NEST visionary
There is a high range of hills extending
all through the valley from north TO
south between this rich, productive
country and the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, which makes it very slow
and expensive business to transport the
products OF this section to the Baltimore
and Ohio. Then the people have no
kind feeling for the Baltimore and Ohio.
1t charges them about four times the
freight per ton per mile that it charges
on the main line on frcights west of the
Ohio, and the people of this county par
1.,,,l,. IT, L.
they have for the last twenty-five wears
been paying n tax of fifteen cents on the
500 on all the property they have to
build the Valley road, and the }alti-
more and Ohio got the entire benefit of
this subscription.
The people will leave no stone I'M
turned to get another road for then
selves without much regard as to how
1T affects your city or it's interests.
Under these circumstances it is most
likely this Cumberland Valley road will
in the near future be extended south.
along the west side of the Valley of
Virginia. from Winchester, it's present
terminus. and if this is done it will he
greatly to the detriment of Baltimore.
With Il railroad on each side of the Val
ley carrying it's rich trade to Philadel-
phia, there will be little left for I}alti-
more.
know this Valley as we'll as you do
the streets of Baltimore, and know
Whereof speak and where the best
wheat. cattle, grass and horses grow.
love Baltimore for her kind and gencr-
GUS aid to us in the days that tried the
hearts of the bravcst of us, and would
gladly point out to you the remedy for
these evils. There is one, and only
one, that | see. That is to extend the
branch from the Baltimore and Ohio to
Romney, in Hampshire county, W. Va.
up the south branch of the Potomac by
Mooretield, in Hardy county, through
Franklin, in Pendlcton county. on
through Highland, Bath, Tazewell.
Bland. Scott and Russell counties,
through Tennessee to Knoxville and
Chattanooga.
This will open up one OF the richest
agricultural regions south of the Poto-
mac. and one Of the most extensive now
without railroads. Its wealth in iron Of
the best quality in the South in coal.
timber and bark are beyond estimation.
y trunk line through this region. utterly
undcvclopcd as to its mineral products.
would command the trade OF all that
Southwest country and pour into the
lap of Baltimore untold wealth and
prosperity. Suppose New York or
Philadelphia. who are not slow to see
things. should build the short line from
Harrisburg across the south branch to
itomncy and over tho line aforemen-
toned. then BALTIMORE condition would
be pitiablc indeed. Can you afford to
lose this last and only route South for
your trade. and can your people afford
10 let the untold wealth of this magnifi-
cent country slip through your fingers?
,,-tl l.f,f Ian
for while in such Il mountainous country
il will be run in the valleys between the
mountains. and along watcrcourscs al
most the whole way.
! While | fully appro the great
wealth OF our own beautiful Valley,
both agricultural and mineral, and know
it is this that will bring the Cumberland
! Valley road South through this Valley.
| know the other valley fully as well,
| and while its agricultural capacities arc
not equal to this, its mineral wealth is
far. far beyond anything i'll this Valley.
The belt Of iron ore extending all the
way from the Potomac to the Tennessee
line along the cast side Of the route
have suggested Is beyond anything
have seen this side Of Lake Superior.
can point out to you solid veins OF
iron fifty to sixty feet above the surface
of the Garth and which go down one
hundred and seventy feet below, and
the bottom is not yet reached, the orc
yielding 30 to 50 per cent metallic iron
That this vast mineral region has beer
so long left undcvclopep so near deer
water, and the market is Il mystery tt
me.
The limestone lies near the iron ore
and the streams arc very abundant ant
near by, with the coal fields just ives
of it, and the land through which tn,
road would pass rich, fine and produc
| tive