The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-07-24
Railroad Meeting at Mlddlebrook.

Middlebrook is a thriving village in the
southwestern part of Augusta county,
six miles from the Valley railroad on the
east, and eight miles from the nearest
point on the G.. q O. r. R. westwardly.
1t is situate in the midst of a splendid
farming district. The people are refined,
educated, and Industrious; in independ-
ent circumstances, energetic and pro-
gressiye. Twenty years ago Jno. s. and
JAS. w. McCorllle opened a store in Mid
dlebrook under the firm name of Me-
Corkle Bros. They built large store
house, with modern and attractive
front. The capacity of the store is 5000
square feet, including basement and first
floor This does not include the office
and general lumber room. The main
store room has an immense shelving ca
pacity, the cornice of which is feet wide
and has stored upon it u large quantity
of goods. Altogether the entire floor
and storage capacity of the house is not
less than 5000 feet. An army of clerks,
all busy at work, gives the place the ap-
pearance of a city store. A perfect sys-
TEN prevails, and the huge piles of
ledgers and other books stored away
show that the business has been large
and we'll regulated. In fact the large
business of this house could not be car
ried on without Il perfect system. Every
detail is managed and overlooked by the
Messrs. McCorkle, while they encourage
those in their employment, by taking an
active part in the work to be DONE
They are active, Industrious, live men,
and keep things lively around them.
Mr.. johnson, the bookkeeper, was at
one time with Prof. Dunsmore's Business
College, and Mr.. Manly is one of the
trusted employees of the house. The
McCorkle Bros. are known to the trade
everywhere, and the travelling man who
fails to give them a call has missed a
good house and large buyers.
The known enterprise of these gentle
men has done a great deal for Middle
brook and the surrounding country, and
now seeking an enlarged field of use
funess to their neighbors, and desiring
the development of their section to keep
pace with the developments going OH in
other parts of the State, they have in
augurated movement looking to the
construction of railroad, to run along
the west side of the county, which will
take in Middlebrook and the virgin
country along the slope of the North
mountain in its course.
Augusta county has three railroads
within its borders. The G. & O. crosses
it from east to west. The S. V. R. r.
runs through it from north to south, on
its eastern border, keeping close to the
foot hills of the Blue Ridge mountain.
The b. & O. r. r. runs on the centre
line of the county and through its capt.
tai city, Staunton. The western part OF
the county is without railroad facilities.
1t presents a fine field, Astounding in vast
districts of the finest timber of all varie-
ties, including walnut, poplar, ash and
oak. 1t is rich also in ore deposits. The
indications point to fine beds of manga
nese and other ores in the vicinity of
Middlebrook We saw some specimens
of manganese on our visit last week.
The apparent advantages of line
of railroad through this section has in
duced the enterprising citizens of the
vicinity of Middlebrook, headed by the
Messrs. McCorkle Bros, to put on foot a
movement looking to securing the eX-
tension of the Cumberland Valley r. r.
from Winchester, Va, South. In this
work these gentlemen haye had valua-
BILE assistance from Col. J. G. Shields of
the Spectator.
The Cumberland Valley has, at pres
ent, its northern terminus at Harrisburg,
Pa, and its southern terminus at Win
chester, Va The line is at present local
in it's traffic. 1t is one of the best equip
ped and best regulated roads in the
country, taking special care of its local
trade. Coming South, the proposed line
would enter Augusta county somewhere
in the neighborhood of Mt. Scion, pass
ing near Churchville, and extended to
Staunton, its course would be then in a
southwest direction to Middlebrook and
on south. If not practicable to reach
Staunton, it would cross the G. q O. be-
tween Staunton and Swoope's. Going
south, it would reach the rich section of
Kerr's Creek, in Rockbridge county, and
DETECTING its line still farther west, might
easily penetrate the rich ore fields of
Craig's Creek, and form its southern con-
nection with the Norfolk & Western sys-
tenn at some point west of Salem, Va
The line would of course, be determined
by the engineers. Weonly design point
ing out, not alone the feasibility of the
route, but the richness and vastness of
the country it would penetrate.
Friday last the reporter of the VIR-
GINIAN, with Capt. Jas. Bumgardner
and Col J. G. Shields, of the Spectator,
att ended, by invitation, a meeting of
citizens, held in the school house of Mid
dlebroOk, to take action to secure the
cooperation of towns and counties along
the probable southern extension of the
Cumberland Valley r. r., that the sub
iect might be presented to the authori-
ties of the road in a compact and FEAST
BILE manner, so as to secure the best re-
suits From rs to 100 persons were pres
ent, and the strong purposes and stout
hearts of the gentlemen secured the en-
couraging presence of the ladies' Dr. J.
G. Dunlap was made president, and
Thos. S. Smiley, secretary. A committee
on business was appointed, consisting of
w. W. Hamilton, VIM. Steele, J. B. Nc
Cutchan, Jno. M. Baylor, w. P. Mish,
w. B. Glover, and J. w. Tinsley. The
committee reported the following resolu-
lions which were unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, The Cumberland Valley
railroad, commencing at Harrisburg,
I PENNSYLVANIA. and continuing south
ward, has reached Winchester, in the
Valley of Virginia, and whereas it is rea-
sonable to conclude that said railroad
will be continued in its prolongation and
adhere to line through our Valley
counties, therefore, be it
ResoJUed, That this meeting of the
people of the southwestern part of Au-
gusta county have learned to form a very
high opinion of the advantages which
would accrue to them through the eX-
tension of the Cumberland Valley rail-
road up the Valley and along the Yves
tern side Of Augusta county, and that,
in the resources for profitable develop
ha Of or