Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-02-19
A RAILROAD FOR RAPPAHAN
NOCK.
Mr.. Jno. j. Miller in letter to

RAppshannock Guide says:
Ga the 2d day of February, Messr+.
w. B. Smoot, Geo. L. Browning and
toe writer met by appointment in
Washington. d. c., I'd Vice-Presiden
Findley of the Southern R iway. in rel
erence to extending the Warrenton
branch railroad to Sperryville, Va. l
would have been glad to have had
larger representation of our country
tneu but for the short notice of the d
vice president. We had very pleas
ant sati>factory conference, and the 2
vice president promised at an early date
10 send us good man 10 investigate
the route of the proposed extention and
he actual and prospective resources.
This is the first step towards getting
rairoad, and in this progl essive age it
is calamity not 10 have the advan-
tages of railroad. There is not
county in this Commonwealth as rich, as
beautiful and picturesque. This rail-
road that would penetrate as near the
centre OF the county as any that could
be built, and would suit the convent
ence of larger majority of our people
than any other. Depots would be
built convenient to every neighbor
hood in the county, thereby placing
every one in easy distance of them.
With railroad, as q summer resort
our county, owing to its proximity to
Washington, Baltimore, Richmond and
tidewatsr, would be filled to its ut
aaost capacity. With our pure noun
tain air, crystal waters, beautiful
scenery and other numerous attrac-
tons, Rappahannock would be the
most popular resort in the land. We
grow the finest apples in the world,
aud the business is in its infancy.
Those who wanted to sell their farms
could do so at good prices; those who
did not want to sell could make for
tunes The large area OF suitable lands
for growing apples would be plant
ed. When the trees now already
planted are in full bearing, we will
be unable to get them to the rail-
road. Even the trees that are now in
bearing produce more than we can
make profitable, which otherwise would
oe if we had railroad facilities. Nature
mas given US fertile soil; she has done
her part well, and thousands of pro-
ducts now undeveloped would be made
t. pay. 1t would pay US to use fer
tiliz4rs for our orchards, and not take
all off our lands and put nothing on.
Plaster, so little used now, would be
used 10 abundance. Our large timber
ed Interests would be greatly enhanced
in value, and doubtless coal and iron
discovered in the great Blue Ridge.
feel very certain that if the people
of the county will determine to use
every effort to assist in this important
enterprise, the railroad will be built in
the near future. A railroad is of much
greater interest to the people of the
county than to the railroad company.
We have, perhaps, heard it said that
our people are better of than counties
which have railroads. This is be
cause we have superior county,
together with an unsurpassed business
people, and with railroad facilities our
prosperity would he ten-fold, and COM
pIaint of hard times would be thing
of the past. l beg you rot to retard
II efforts in this important enterprise.
and no longer have our beautiful
country now sleeping nestled under the
Blue Ridge. For those who say they
have all they want without railroad,
| would respectively suggest that they
can afford TO contribute pro bono pub.
lco.
Old R.ppahannock can afford to
j