The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-14
B. AND o. VALLEY BRANCH.
The Baltimore Sun Recognizes
This Sections Importance.


BALTIMORE. Oct. 13.-[Special The
Sun to-day says: The recent discussion
in the Sun of the question of the com
pletion of the Valley branch of the B.
and o. from Lexington southwark to
Roanoke or Salem. according to the
original intention, has developed great
interest in the project here and in the
three counties to be traversed by the
proposed extension. The city is con-
ccrncd for the reason that the compile
ton Of the Valley railroad would enable
it to retain and increase its trade with
4 section of country having an immense
ly prosperous future before it. Those
who are aware of the extent of the in
dustrial transformation now taking
place in the region between Lexington
and Salem can appreciate the import
ancc of Baltimorc's being the point of
supply for the goods the new towns and
industries of the Valley will require.
Another interest of our people in the
conversion OF the Valley Branch into il
through trunk line lies in the prospect
such conversion may offer of dividends
ultimately on the S1,O0O,OOO of stock
the city owns. While the road ends at
Lexington that investment must con-
tinuc dead, and it can be vitilized only
by the extension of the road to the scene
of activity. Without such extension
there is, our people must see, a pros
pect of the Cumberland Valley and the
Shenandoah Valley carrying Off to
Philadelphia the plumbs now ready to
fall into our lap.
I'll D,1& .,
individual citizens of baltimore who
have invested largely in Roanoke, Bote-
tourt and Rockbridge enterprises A
great deal of Baltimore capital has gone
and is going into the counties concerned
in the completion of the Valley Road.
Most of these Baltimore investors are
business men whose larger interests are
still in Baltimore, and who will exert
an influence to direct the trade of the
new industrial centres to this city.
In view of these facts, it is not i'm
probable that if the Baltimore and Ohio
should ask the co-opera ton of our peo-
pie not a few of them would come for
ward as individuals with substantial aid.
Money, in short, might perhaps be
raised by individual subscriptions here
and in the counties to be traversed in
amounts sufficient to effect the desired
has already done its part fully, but our
merchants, interested in the retention
and development of the Valley trade,
and other citizens having enterprises to
be helped by the building of the road to
Roanoke, would probably be glad to take
stock in it.
The numerous land improvement
companies of the region in question
would also most probably be ready to
help themselves by helping on the con-
structiOn of road that would make
their properties more salablc. The
moment is on suspicious one. 1t may
be said in fact with confidence that a
great opportunity is now presented to
the Baltimore and Ohio, an opportunity
which if neglected six months longer
may never rccur. a great prize in the
way of extension of business is still in
its grasp.
1t still has the power to gain for itself
a large part of the immense traffic that
will in Il few years hence be developed
in the new mining and industrial cen
tres of Rockbridge, Botctourt and Roa-
nolie, and in the country further toward
the South. The Baltimore and Ohio
may, perhaps assume that the new
movement i'll Virginia, Tennessee and
North Carolina is destined to be short
lived. 1t may believe. as many do.
that the new towns, town lots. etc, will,
in few years. revert to corniiclds. and
all will be silence where there is now
SO much hub-hub. This may in part be
the case. But We call attention to the
fact that an element is now being intro
duccd in Virginia. Tennessee and North
Carolina that was wanting before-abun-
dant capital.
All along these States have had Him
table supplies of ores, coal. marble. tim
her, water power, and in addition, charm
ing scenery. good soil, a hcalthful elm
ate and valuable mineral springs. But
hitherto there has been wanting the
magic wand of capital intclligently
directed, to develop all these advantages
and compel the worlds attention. Now
that money is flowing in in abundant
volume, the situation is wholly changed.
Latent forces have become active. The
Valley of Virginia is now regarded by
many as an FL Dorado of industrial en-
tcrprise. The Baltimore and Ohio man
agcmcnt will, therefore. do the wisest
thing il ever had chance to do if it will
at once open it's eyes to its interests in
the extension of the Valley Branch.
THE ROANOKE STOCK EXCHANGE
To List stock Quotations Early Next Week