The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-12-25

been verified by the results. The early
Spring will bring something tangible by
way of organization and capital. and
when once organized effort has planted
itself in the valleys and mountains west
of the main Valley of Virginia, it will
be there to stay and to develop the rich-
est section of the South in material
wealth:
have seen several articles recently in the
Sun upon the Importance of the extension Of the
Valley Branch OF the B. & o. to your city, and
the likelihood of loss to her by the extension of
west side of the Valley of Virginia. All in those
articles is correct. | live right on the line upon
which that road would be extended and know
the feelings of the people well. They will make
every effort in their power to have the road ex-
tended not that they do not like Baltimore, for
they cling to her an old and dear friend, but
they want more convenient and cheaper rail
facilities, and they are bound to have them if
such thing is possible. The west side OF the
and its mineral wealth is developing beyond the
widest dreams of the most visionary. There is
a high range of hills extending all through the
Valley from north to south between this rich,
productive country and the b. o. railroad,
which makes it very slow ana e4 1ts Dusi
The B. .. Then the people have no KIND feel
ing for the B. %. 1t charges them about four
times the freight per ton per mile that it charges
on the Main Line on freightS west of the Ohio,
and the people of this county particularly com
plain bitterly of this, they have for the last
twenty five years been paying a tax Of fifteen
cents on the 500 on all the property they have
to build the Valley Road, and the Is. y Q. got the
will leave no stone unturned to get another road
for themselves without much regard as to how
it affects your city it's interests. Under these
circumstances it is most likely this Cumberland
Valley Road will in the near future be extended
ginia. from Winchester, its present terminus
and if this is done it will be greatly to the detri-
ment of Baltimore. With railroad on each side
of the Valley carrying its rich trade to Ph1ladel-
phia, there will be little left for Baltimore.
A SPLENDID ROUTE SUGGESTED.
know this Valley as well as you do the streets
of baltimore, and know whereof L speak and
where the best wheat, CATTLE grass and horses
grow. Il love Baltimore for her kind and gener-
aid to US i'll the days that tried the hearts of
the braveSt 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 b. s o. to Romney, in Hamp-
Potomac by MOorefield, i'll Hardy county, through
Franklin in Pendleton county, ON through High,
land, Bath, TaZeweil, Bland, Scott and Russell
counties, through Tennessee to Knoxville and
Chattanooga. This will open up one of the rich
est agricultural regions south OF the Potomac,
and one OF the most extensive now without rail
roads. Its wealth in iron of the best quality in
the South, liz coal, TIMBER ana BARK are Deyond
utterly undevelOpeG as to It's mineral products,
would command the trade of all that Southwest
country anu pour into the lap of Baltimore UNI
told wealth and prosperity. i have ridden all
over this rich, fine country on horseback, have
seen it and know what vast wealth is i'll it. Hav
ing great fondness for geology and mineral
ogy, have looked at and examined many OF its
ores and minerals and made inquiries as would
ride over the country. If Baltimore will wake
up from her long RIP Van Winkle' nap, stretch
out her arms and gather to herself the wealth
that is longing to get to her. she yet has it in her
power to more than make up what she has lost.
These are not the days OF small things, and we
must things hing Though n fhey may see
New York or Philadelphia, who are not slow to
see things, SHOULD build the short line from Har,
risburg across the South Branch to ROmney and
over the line aforementioned, then Balt1mOre'S
condition would be pitiable indeed. Can you af-
ford to lose this last and only route South for
your trade, and can your people afford to let the
untold wealth of this magnificent country slip
through their fingers This road will not be ex-
pensiVe to build, for while in such mountain
Gus country it will be run in the valleys between
the mountains and along water courses almost
the whole way.
A7LAND OF GREAT MINERAL WEALTH.
While fully appreciate 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 not equal to
thing in this Valley The belt of iron ore ex-
tending all the way from the Potomac TO the
Tennessee line along the east side OF the route
have suggested is beyond anything l have ever
seen this side of Lake Superior. can point out
to you solid veins of iron from fifty to sixty feet
above the surface of the earth, and which go
down one hundred and seventy feet below. and
the bottom is not yet reached, the ore yielding
so to So per cent. metallic iron. That this vast
mineral region has been SO long left undevelop-
ed so near deep water and the markets is myS-
terry to me. know what say is true, for have
ridden miles and miles along these immense
veins of ore in the mountains, looking at the
wondrouS works of nature and Gods magn1h-
cent gifts to man, have examined these veins or
ore thoroughly and have read Mr. Jewellers
analysis of them, and believe he stands as high
as most any analytical chemist in the country.
If am only farmer what have seen with my
own eyes and know know as well as any body.
Those veins described are in Allegheny county
and have not dollar in them. l do not pre-
tend to say the wide belt is equal to this, but
there are large and rich veins extending most
all the way along this line.
The limestone lies near the iron ore and the
streams are very abundant and near by with
the coal fields just west of it, and the land
through which this road would pass rich, line
and productive.
THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
If Baltimore will seize the opportunity here Of
fered her future lis assured. If not, she will be
way station for the cities North, and pity her.
AS editors of the most able and patriotic sheet
in America you WELD an influence OF immense
power and your love for Baltimore is as great
as your influence. For her sake continue your
efforts to arouse your people and capitalists to
tr1e sense OF her danger GEO. CHRISMAN.