The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-07
.STAUNTON HALLS
BETTER SERVICE i: 4 | J. /.
Prospect for Improved
transportation Fa-
CilitieS.
CONNECT VALLEY
& EASTERN VIRGINIA.
Echols, Braxton and Others Dis
cuss Advantages Of New Move
rnent, and Point Out Present
Prosperity Of Staunton
and Field for Future
Development.
special From a stan correspondent.)

Especial From STAFF Correspondent)
STAUNTON, VA. Juno 6.-Every citi-
zen OF staunton who has been approached
regarding the movement for bringing
about better railroad connections and bel
ter transportation facilities between the
Shenandoah Valley and the State capital
has spoken heartily in favor OF the plan.
They all complain bitterly OF the ACTON
# OF the various railroads, that has COM
PEELED the Valley Of the Shenandoah. ono
OF the richest and most prosperous sec
tions Of the State, to cut itself on from
eastern Virginia and trade exclusively
with Northern cities. They tell stories
OF freight rates that are prohlbitive and
OF delays in transportation that are WITH
out precedent.
All The business world OF Staunton ap-
preclates the fact that If this country
IL opened UP for State trade, that Staun-
ton must and will secure large increase
10 her trade. The citizens OF Staunton
are loyal people. who know that they
live in a prosperous and growing com
nunity, and are not ashamed to say SO.
The wealth OF staunton Is enormous;
civic conditions are excellent, and the
q advantages tSnc OIIeIS lOi SduS"s'o' sA'S~
for homes are .une1celled.
THE fact that The Times-Dispatch now
reaches Staunton at midday, several
hours before any other outside paper, is
source of considerable favorable COM
mcnt amongst the residents. Mayor VIII
liam II. Lands of the city said to-day:
THE Chamber OF Commerce Of Rich
mond and The Times Dispatch can feel
sure that Staunton Will stand shoulder TO
tI,ol- SS<xIS ~ rial a
Virginia the home of Virgnians. and to
bring every section OF the State in close
81 and intimate relations.
What Echols Thinks.
Hon. Edward Echois. one of the most
prominent men in political. business and
social life in this section upon being
asked how he regarded the movement to
secure better railroad connections and
facilities for the Valley of Virginia, thus
opening that section TO trade with other;
vections In Virginia, replied:
II am heartily In sympathy with the.
movement, and believe nothing that
could be done to help Virginia more than
20 bring the~ people of the Valley into
closer touch with the rest OF the State.
The railroad conditions are such be-
tween staunton and the Valley. that 1t Is
almost impossible for merchants OF our
sity to do business in that locality. 1t
seems to me that it Is strange thing
that so great and so wealthy part of
Dur State as the Valley is should trade
almost exclusively outside Of Virginia.
II is a situation that all Virginansy
should do their utmost to remedy. and
feel sure that the people of Staun-
ton and this county will join heartily in
any plan to bring about conditions that
will unite all sections of Virginia. Con-
corning staunton, | would say that the
city is advancing steadily not only in
population and in civic and municipal
! improvements. but in trade commerce,
public education, and indeed, In every
department. l cannot imagine any place
that is more desIra BILE as residence,
for the location Is extremely healthy, the
educational advantages are exceptional
and the business interests are such as
/. to give employment to those who desire
residence in this section. What have
said about Staunton is no less true about
the county of Augusta. In conclusion.
would say that am heartily In favor OF
the movement inaugurated by The Times
Dispatch.''
Mr.. Braxton's Views.
Mr. a. c. Braxton. asked for his Views
on the subject of better connections be-
tween the Valley Of Virginia and the
eastern part of the State, said:
"In my opinion 1t is a most commenda-
BILE object 1t Is always most desirable
that all parts of a State be kept In the
closest possible touch with each other.
1t keeps the people more in sympathy
with each other. cements the common
interests and greatly strengthens the
Z State from both n business ana political
standpoint The topography OF the coun-
try naturally cuts off the Valley, to a
great extent, from the rest Of the State,
4 but this condition of affairs is greatly
aggravated by the lack of railroad con-
nections between Staunton and Harper's
Ferry. Formerly the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad operated one continuous line
from Lexington to Harper's Ferry; but
4 during the last few years this conncc-
tion has been broken BY reason Of the
Southern taking over a link of forty or
fifty miles from Strasburg to Harrison-
burg. which belonged to that rond, and
which it now exclusively operates, The
result Is that we now have the Valley
Railroad operating Il short line from
Lexingtoa to Harrisonburg-abo sixty
miles; the Southern operating another
link from IIarrtsonburg to Srasburg,
about fifty miles and thence eastward to
Washington, and the Baltimore and Ohio
operating another link from Strasburg 10
IIarpers Ferry, about forty or fifty
miles. Thus It will be seen that no single
train runs more than about fifty or
sixty mics over WIS iou'e, Wi'teH b't'p-
tically dominates the freight and passen-
ger traffic of the Valley. Persons llV-
Ing between Harrisonburg and strasburg
find It very much more convenient to
trade directly with washington or Bal
tlmorc, via the Southern; and the same
is true of all living north Of strasburg,
who arc practically compelled to trade
with washington and Baltimore via the
baltimore and Ohio, Thus all the Valley
north of IIarrlsonburg is rendered nacti-
cally inaccessible to Staunton. Richmond,
or any Of the eastern parts OF the State,
and people living IN that part oI the
Valley arc practically eolnrelled to 60
Il '7sT xr.,tiu,,na IN Tnurth Pnge.)