Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-09-21
DEMOCRATIC jiATIC TICKET
A HIGHWAY OF COMMERCE.,
AGAIN.
OF Staunton

Our home progress involving material
interests, should be second to none in
consideration aud attention. Such are
the true methods to secure general i'm
proyement and prosperity! Following
this line Of thought guided by refec
ton growing out Of the title of this
article, OF necessity we compare the
Shenandoah division of the Norfolk and
Western railway, which is the OILY
solid line of transportation through the
great Valley of Virginia and its associat-
ed interests, North and South. All
efforts previous to the coming of the
Shenandoah line were not uniform, nor
were they for more in the general de-
sign than to cross the Valley at GER
tain points, leaving the great longi-
tudinal route TO no methodical effort
and the creature of spasmodic thought.
Future history will chronicle i'll
golden letters, as in the early decade
of 1880, Mr.. Kimball and his Northern
associations, united with the struggling
efforts of Valley men and became the
strength and furnished the resources
for the grand design of a solid Valley
line through its whole length. That
was a glorious prelude to the splendid
progress and designs which have fol-
owed in the great Southwest and al
united in creating new commerce in
solid TEXTURES from Norfolk TO Chicago
and from the country drained by tue
Potomac to the Southern lands of gold
en- tobacco and cotton growth and the
rivaling iron production that in the end
will clear all fields of competition.
And now the veteran railroad men of
national reputation for great proficiency
who are headed by Mr.. Fink, sreat the
helm. Daily are the evidences OF en-
larging commerce and travel over the
widely extended lines, but as our own
Rockbridge county and immediate
Valley associations are interested they
furnish an ample field ior our present
consideration.
But little perhaps has been thought
and less said of the immense advant-
ages the Shenandoah, division furnished
the people for increasing good and
quick mail facilities. 1t is unnecessary
now to advert to the regular yestibuled
trim passing over this division during |
the night. From Hagerstown, Md,
to Winston-Salem, N. O., a solid daily |
route, Is three hundred and sixty miles,
interesting with the main line from
Norfolk to Columbus, O., at Roanoke.
Basic is the central point on the line
where morning mail from Richmond
and the East should connect with the
Shenandoah division, but it is after the
sun has fallen behind fhe western hills
and mountains before mail from the
Earst arrives. Long after the daily
trains between Hagerstown and the
South have passed both ways. Then
the entire Northern side of the Valley
country between Lulay and Roanoke
must bear the disappcintment..of twenty
four hours delay, whereas a morning
mail from Richmond to Basic occupy
ing not seven hours in the time neces-
sary for transit seems not availed.
Tie promising and progressing town
of Buena Vista is point on the route
referred to.Rockbrldge county with it's
large interests occupies about the center
OF the route between Hagerstown and
Winston-Salem, and the brief state
mont, thus made of geographical posi-
lion and the large interests involved to
more than half of our Rockbridge !
people begging for improved mail c
communication, with Virginia's metrop- "
oils and the east of the State, surely i,
deserves better mail service, when for b
more than fifteen years we have been Il
waiting for the blessing which surely
must come to them in the end and whyI
should we not realz. it now is the u
natural and pointed qaestion asked by Il
The people. e'