Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-05
TO PURCHASE THE VALLEY ROAD.
Rumor That the @. a O. II After II
f. Denied.

The report that the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway directors are anxious to ac-
quire the Valley road, and are making
ARRANGEMENTS to that end, Is denied by
officials In this city.
The following statement appeared in
the stanton Spectator OF Sunday:
ut has been stated that the Chesa-
peake and Ohio would not have the VAL
ley road as a gift but when We figure
a little on the amount OF business now
done In the present hampered condition
of that road. they who say the Chesa-
peake and Ohio. or any other line con-
Meeting with the Valley. does not want It.
"a to talk through ones hat. A few days
ago there was a significant meeting OF
certain officials OF these roads here, and
those who observed their movements are
certain they are here ascertaining some
thing OF the physical condition, and pos
sibly other important features.
"'There Is reason to believe that the
Chesapeake and Ohio is DESTROYS of Sc
curing this road as a feeder to the Staun-
ton connection with her main line, and
also at Balcony Falls with the James,
River Division, as the Chesapeake and
Ohio has branch to Lexington from
Balcony.
Staunton and Harrisonburg does an i'm
mense freight business also leads to the
belief that a deal is on foot. The South
ern railway, which would much prefer 10
come to stanton than stop at Harrison
burg. is also thought to be after the VAL
lev road. New developments are expected
in the near future. and Spectator readers
may depend on being kept posted"
This statement was shown to Mr.. Deca-
tur Axtell, second vice-president OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio road yesterday, and
he said that the matter was news to him.
Neither the president, first vice-president,
| nor himself had attended any meeting IN
| Staunton. and he did not know that the
purchase was under consideration. Gene
raI-Nanager Stevens is out of the city,
| hut n was ascertained that he Mad only
| been in stanton for a few hours last
week and that visit was caused by the
| death of a relative.
THE Valley road runs from Staunton
| TO Lexington, where 1T connects with the
| North-Riyer Division of the chesapeake
| and Ohio. There Is long. uncompleted
| stretch OF Valley track from Lexington
| through Rockbrldge, Botetourt, and Roa'
| noke counties to Salem. These three
| counties voted bonds twenty-oad years
| ago to aid in the construction on the Nai
| Low road. ana more IMAM halh VI e'N ~
| was done. The money gave out, ana tn'
road is still in its unfinished state, it'
deem cuts. high fills. and massive stone
culverts preaching to the observer tne les
| sion taught in Scripture by the parade
AZ tho builder who counted the cost De
fore he laid the foundation
| Thougb the road was never completed
+ha bonds voted by the counties throusi
| u,bicb II was to run were issued ana IN
paonle are paying taxes to-day to provid
the interest on them and sin sinking :; rum u
for their redemption when due 1t Is
standing Joke in the section throusi
q,bich the Valley road was TO run ina
very year about tax-paying time IGso, F1mo 9
Of prospects of the early cSnpt &c recoo
The road are circulated In order TO reSon
Gle ce ,he people to paying for that whic
. thov never received. 1t is, therefore, gen
crafty believed s.sse1 na' sa the Of RFf the ro sU
Va 10 those circulated every year
With the difference that it is severa
months ahead of time.