The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-25
GEN. m. E. iscALLS INTERVIEWED
Clifton Forge all Right and It's Flu
ture Assured.

Clifton Forge all Right and It's Flu
ture Assured.
Gen. M. E. ingalls,, president of the
G. g. O. Railway, with several of his staff,
including G. w. Stevens, superintendent
of Maintenance of Way for the Eastern
Division, reached Clifton Forge from the
the West, on Thursday evening last. As
soon as it was known that he was here he
was waited on by the committee, appoint
ed by the citizens meeting, two weeks
ago, consisting of "A. Frazier, J. L.. Page
and DR.. Wiley accompanied by w. "
Moody, Lewis Hartman, A. J. Ford and
probably others. The facts relating to
the schedule recently published, Ter the
stoppage of trains at this point, were dis
cussed, resulting in very satisfactory
understanding all around. While the
F. E. V. train, which is the through
train from New York to Cincinnati, VIII
stop at West Clifton Forge. all the other
trains W ill stop at Clifton Forge depot
and West Clifton Forge depot. The
crews will be changed at Clifton Forge,
and all needed facilities for passenger
and freight accommodations be assured
to Clifton Forge.
This bears the VIRGINIAN out in the
confidence it has heretofore expressed in
the policy that would be adopted by the
Company. We reasoned simply from
common sense view of the case. We felt
assured that the management would
recognize the claims of this people
would give due consideration to the
rights and interests of an established
community, and that investments here,
predicated upon this policy, would be
respected and such measures taken as to
advance the public welfare. In this we
have not been disappointed The future
of Clifton Forge is now assured. From
this date forward, business will increase,
investments will bexsenlarged and im>
prOvementS progress. 1t is another evil
dence that railroad arrangements in Viz
ginia will redress grievances Of the peo
pie, when properly laid before them, and
that there is no necessity for a intiner-
ant Commission, constituted OF collapsed
politicians, to be projecting their ilnma-
ture suggestions or misunderstood au-
thority into the affairs of great corpora
tions, which seek and court the symna-
thy and good will of the people. 1t
would be the blindest kind of folly for a
railroad to fiagrautly outrage a whole
people, even from a standpoint OF public
policy, and arouse resentments that
might find expression in hostile legisa
ton. 1t is very easy to inflame preju-
dice against corporations by appeals
which have neither fact nor reason to
justify them; and it would be infinitely
more so were the facts such as to justify
such appeals. Railroad arrangements
are not made up of fools. They know
that public confidence invites invests
menfs-stimulates development in terri
tory tributary to them. and that every
dollar so placed is an advantage to their
business A prevailing sentiment that
is ready to defend the roads-to speak a
good word for them whenever occasion
is presented-to cooperate with them in
enterprises, is a condition that the man
agements appreciate and are anxious to
encourage. Our business people are no
less anxious to have a friendly under>
standing with the corporations; to real
ize that their influence will be directed
to the interests of the community, and
that they can always approach the rail
road authorities with confidence that
justice will be done in every emergency.
Not only was the interview with Gen.
Ingalls, satisfactory as to the running OF
trains, but it was more than satisfactory
in the assurance he gave of Il purpose
to do all in his power to help Clifton
Forge. He announced that he was ready
to subscribe So, 600 for the erection of a
Young Mems Christian Assoc q i . n
building, at this point, if the people
here would raise as much that he was
ready to appropriate 5000 to the en-
largement Of the Clifton Forge Depot, if
the citizens and Improvement Compa-
MES would contribute as much, and, au
thorized these propositions to be made
public. Not only this, but he expressed the
utmost confidence in the future growth
and prosperity of the town. On this
point there was no subjunctive moods or
lenses. He spoke of it as one OF the set
tied facts of the future and his language
and manner inspired the entire conf
dence of his audience.
Every one was pleased with both the
result of the interview and with General
Ingalls, himself, and left him, feeling
that Clifton Forge and all it's interests
had staunch friend in the brainy and
sagacious President of the G. & 0. Rail-
way.