Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-02-13
Our Railroad Outlook.

Interest IN our proposed new rail-
road has been considerably increased
the past week by developments that
have come to light regarding both the
Baltimore g. Ohio and the West Vir-
glnia Central Railroads. AS was
stated couple of weeks ago, Major
Goldsborough and his corps finished
up the preliminary survey for the B.
& o. and made their report to head
quarters. 1t is said that his route
was eminently satisfactory to the Of
fclals of the road, the grades being
only few feet to the mile. Last Satur-
day another B. & o engineering corps,
IN charge OF Mr.. Sisson, arrived IN
Shepherdstown, where they expect to
be esta blished three or four weeks.
They are locating the roadbed. They
have located the new line, We under
stand, all the way from Cherry Ruu,
and will extend 1t to the eEd of the
survey about a mile west Of Harper s
Ferry, distance of some % miles by
the old line, and approximately the
same by the new. The engineers are
working from early morning until late
III the evening, and the work is to be
pushed with all speed until they have
prepared report upon which con-
tractors may base estimates for con-
sxucting the new line. About twenty
men are engaged in the work, and
they are living in tents erected just
in the rear OF Prospect Avenue, south
OF town.
Engineer James Archibald of Scrau-
ton, Pa, who is said to represent the
railroad syndicate that controls the
West Virginia Central Railroad and
the lines with which it is to make al
liances-in reality the Gould interests
is also in this neighborhood and is
riding and driving over the country
between Hancock and Harper's Ferry,
getting general idea OF the topography
Of the country on the West Virginia
side of the Potomac river. He is not
doing much talking about his business,
but it is known that he has many
maps and drawings Of this section and
is making careful note Of the lay Of
the land.
AS we have heretofore remarked,
nobody knows just what the result OF
these surveys will be, except the rail-
road managers themselves-and they
are not telling. Every indication,
however, leads to the belief that the
B. & O. line will be built. Enormous
sums have already been spent in
strengthening the old roadbed and
eliminating the heavy grades. When
the cutoff around Cumberland shall
have been finished, the hills between
Cherry Run and Harper's Ferry will
be the last obstacle in the way Of run
ming heavy trains at minimum cost.
There will be down grade from the
Allegheny mountains to the sea. 1t
is a fact that going west trains are
constantly being stalled going up the
Engle's grade, while east-bound trains
are obliged to have helpers between
Martinsburg and Kearneysville. 1t
does not seem reasonable that this
ugly grade shall be permitted to re-
main as the one obstacle between the
mountains and tidewater.
There are not wanting, however,
those who maintain the belief that the
B. g.. O. is working a bluff game for
the benefit of the West Virginia Cen
trail. The latter road has become
very aggressive and has plainly an
nounced its intention Of coming east.
It's natural route, fit cannot get the
Western Maryland Railroad or the G..
& O canal-and it has little chance
OF securing either-is by way of Shep-
herdstown. The B. & o. may mean
simply to block the route for the W.
Va. Central by pretending to build
a new line of Its own. With the ca
nal on one side of the river and the
Baltimore & Ohio on the other, there
would seem to be a poor show for the
W. Va. Central to get east, save at
great expense. If the B. & 0. should
build the line it is now locating there
will be pretty bill of land damages
to pay. The route is through some of
the best farming lands in this section,
and some excellent farms are cut all
to pieces. There is wailing all along
the line, and some landowners are al
ready losing sleep in anticipation of
the snorting of trains through their
meadows and across their gardens and
o,obo rdc