Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-08-30
Five Railroads Across the Valley.
RUNNING FROM Underwater INTO
WEST VIRGINIA.

RUNNING FROM Underwater INTO
| WEST VIRGINIA.
i If the two railroads now being surveyed
are completed according to the designs OF
their projectors, there will be five lines OF
railroad crossing the Valley of Virginia,
four of which will extend from tidewater
into the coal fields of West Virginia.
The Norfolk & Western, running from
Norfolk to Ohio, crosses at Salem, the ex-
IRENE Southern end of the Valley.
The James River division of the Chesa-
peake & Ohio. running from Richmond to
Clifton Forge 1.-THE old Richmond Il Allie
ghany road) crosses the Valley at Buchan-
an in Botetourt county.
The main stem of the Chesapeake Il Ohio,
running from Newport News to Cincin-
natl, crosses the Valley at Staunton.
The Chesapeake Il Western crosses the
| Valley at Harrisonburg. The termini of
this road are uncertain. In the "boom"
times of 1890, the plan made for it was to
begin at deep water point on York river,
near Yorktown, run thence to Fredericks-
burg, thence over the Orange Narrow
! Gauge road Ito be purchasedD thro ugh
Orange, go through the Blue Ridge at
Shendun, thence through Augusta, High
land, Pocahontas, Webster, Nicholas and
Kanawha, to the mouth of Gauley River
on the Chesapeake & Ohio road, some miles
east Charleston. Since that map was made
the crossing determined on is through
Rockingham and it's termini. both at deep
water and in West Virginia, are uncertain.
In 1890 the matter had assumed so much
certainty that a prominent citizen Of
Staunton went to point ON York river on
the Gloucester side. and took an option OH
lands for the terminal, On the subject of
it's present eastern terminal the Madison
G. III. Free Press of Friday last has the
following:
1.-The surveyors of the G. & W. r. r. ap-
pear to be snubblng all the little towns.
They passed through this county without
touching single town and did the same
thing in Orange county. The last we heard
from them they had followed the Rapidan
Falmouth, from which point it is under
stood they will make direct line to deep
water. The railroad will undoubtedly mate
railize. but we think it will not he laid in
accordance with the survey now being
made. Time will further demonstrate
facts.n
The fifth and last road, is the Virginia,
Fredericksburg 4 Western, which is to
cross the Valley in Shenandoah county. 1t
is this road to the building of which the
counties of the Northern Neck have sub
scribed and granted rights of way. Like
the Chesapeake & Western it's deep water
terminus is in doubt. It is to come from
deep water on Chesapeake Bay up the Neck
to Fredericksburg, and on through Stat
ford, Fauquier, Warren and Shenandoah
counties in Virginia, and Hardy ard
Grant in West Virginia, making con-
nection with the West Virginia Central &
Pittsburg in Tucker county. The entire
length of the line from the eastern terminus
on the Chesapeake Bay to the connection
with railroad in West Virginia will be
about 26O miles. The survey has already
been made in the counties up to Freder-
icksburg, and last week Col. w. A. Han
kins, the chief engineer, with a number of
assistants, went to Falmouth to continue
the survey westward.
The Charleston, Kanawha. Gazette has
the following Oh the Chesapeake & Western
railroad, derived from Hon. I. V. Johnston
Of that city, who has just returned from
visit to Rockingham, where he talked with
some of the projectors:
Two corps Of engineers are surveying the
proposed route, one beginning at Elkton,
going towards the Chesapeake bay and two
weeks ago was near Liberty mills, east of
the ridge. The other corps beginning at
Bridgewater was, at last accounts, in High
land county. coming in the direction of
Charleston. Large capital IS back of this
road and it is proposed to furnish more
direct line east and west than those now
furnished by the other roads, aud at the
same time by running through the counties
of Clay, Nicholas, Braxton and Pocahontas
in West Virginia open up the very b cart OF
our coal and timber fields for the market
from the Chesapeake bay. Mr.. Johnston says
that there are more than one thousand men
at work in Rockingham county. day
and night and those there who seem to be
| in position ty know have no doubt but
what the road will be completed at an ear
ly day. The portion now built is of the
most substantial character being in fact
the best new road which has been built,
using so pound steel rails on the very best
roadbed. There are nearly one hundred
men employed in the enterprise, to say
nothing of the horses and mules. 1t is
claimed that when this road is complete it
will greatly shorten the distance from East
to West and the surveyors show that the
MOUNTAIN between the head of Elk slope
and the Blue Ridge can all be crossed on
easy grade without single tunnel.
! A Great Convenience.
Staunton has brick-paved streets, cleo
trio fire alarm, street cars, telephone. paid
fire department, industrial education in
her public schools, and now she is to have
another of the modern conveniences of big
citics-a City Messenger.
Mr.. Alfred Lauriot, who is well known to
our people, will begin business to-day at the
Haines corner on Main street as City
Messenger. He will carry small packages,