Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-08-02


ments made by Col. Machen, to a
Harrisonburg Free Press reporter,
regarding the route of the c. & W.
east and west Of Rockingham coun-
ty. and we trust it will be more
generally read than anything we
ma We yet published on this impof-
tant subject.
It will be noticed that Col. Mach
en- says the route has not been de-
term med upon and that the diree-
ton the road may take depends, to
a certain extent, on the amount O.
interest shown by county, town
or neigh borhood wanting it.
If Highland county wants rail
road, in our opinion, the time has
come for her citizens to make the
fact known t. the proper source.
We are assured, beyond a doubt.
that large majority of our ctr
zens want a railroad and as an op-
portunity has at last come to secure
#. thew should not be slow is set
ting about to accomplish this END.
We have heard some say that If 1t
was the intention Of the promoters
of the road to build it through the
J county, they would do so without
action on our part. We have heard
! of people being left badly ON TINS
theory and we can point this class
of believers to an instance in the
building of this road. Keezletown'
= in Rockingham county, was to
have been a point, but the proper
encouragement and cooperation
was slow in developing, and Kee'
zletown was left in the shade. II
Pendleton shows a greater interest
than Highland, although the latter
is on direct line, the road might
be built so as to accommodate
= portion Of Pendleton and do High
land very little good. Pendletor
county has its workers on the. go
and they are making every effort t.
secure the road. Highland is re
manning quiet for the reason W
have mentioned, and probably 9th
ers. when it is her duty to won an
work hard, for if this road MISE
us. we can not possibly hope for an
other trunk line to be built through
this section. We believe this 70"
will be built through this large an
undeveloped country, and 1t IS on
duty to make a united effort t
secure it. 1t is not likely tina
the road will be forced on any com
munity. There are so many place
anxious for it, and too many PEG
Die willing to encourage it. W
have it in our power to encourae
or discourage it. If subscriptlo
is asked for, we have number
citizens, in easy circumstances, VII
could afford to give literally. Own
ers of undeveloped lands would OF
" be increasing the value of the
property by giving to an enterprl'
that would develop it. 1t Is /
no means, good idea, if you WIS
to encourage the road, to allow 7
nersons of wealth to get footho
in the county. Two genteme
were here last week from Marylan
looking out wild lands, and mo
are sure to follow. The man wi
has a large body Of this worthle
land. and has not the means
deyelope it, should, in our OPT
ion. sell a portion of it, at "a reason
able figure, and when this part
: developed the remaining porti'
will grow more valuable. 81
enough to encourage speculate
and enterprise. A one hundred acI
tract may be Of great value to tho
able to develop it, yet as it stan
you are unable to do so and shou
be willing to sell it reasonab
price. Encourage the road by n
asking enormous prices for lands
no real value as they now stan
aJ let nro0rass have her SWAY.