The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-04

stannton ana Lexington. and simply
throwing away the small ADVANTAGE
left.
From that day to this, the line from
Harrisonburg via stanton TO Lexing-
ton, known as the Valley Railroad
or virginia has been doomed To-day
1t has no rolling stock, It's track IL
going to pieces and It's reports to thu
Corporation Commission or Virginia
show that. except last year. 1t has not
earned anything like enough to pay
expenses. The people of the Valley
are clanorng for better service an.
better stations and the protest is rapid
~ developing into an organized effort
1t Is currently understood that mon
Of affairs in the Valley are rapidly
completing their Arrangements to take
over the Valley branch anu manage 1t
themselves, provided the iuiiroad can
be purchased from the baltimore and
Ohio. which owns the control. 1t Is
understood that they are asking the
corporation Of the wholesale and re-
tail merchants Of Baltimore. and that
experienced counsel has been employed
10 perfect their plans. organize their
corporation, and pilot them over the
usual preliminary financial shoals.
This means that the Baltimore and
oIlO INdIlWHy VIII H6Ne ~ III oE IuE
nish some very satisfactory excuses
The million dollars invested by the
city of Baltimore Is entirely lost. and
1t is impossible to even get bid for
the stock, as was shown by an in
vestigation by the City Council and
Mayor of Baltimore only recently. The
Baltimore and Ohio owns the control
IN the property, and, OF course, can
say what shall be done
Want Development.
The object Of the city III investing
the million dollars was to secure and
develop the trade of the Valley. and in
furtherance of that plan would no
pie OF the Valley. II plan can be
worked out by the people OF the Val
ley In cooperation with Baltimore
merchants. whereby first-class SER
vice can be had into the Cit of Bal
timore. the city will have at tplishcd
Its end. If the Valley Lea. re able
to carry out their plans-and this is
not questionable is not believed that
the Baltimore and Ohio can afford to
stand in the way.
In fact, 1t would be suicidal, since
the entire influence of the wholesale
and retail merchants OF baltimore
would be antagonized. Baltimore is
noted for its wholesale and retail cs-
tabllshments and It's enterprise and
eagerness in holding old territory and
securing new, and 1t is believed they
Will enthusiastically aid the new plan.
There can be no question OF the trc-
mendous advantage to the city in con-
Meeting 1t with the Valley with the
proper railroad facilities. Now that
the ball has started rolling, it will
increase in size and in weight until
after 1t has waited many years. Bal
timore will likely secure through
line and good service to the Valley,
and the people of the Valley will Sc
cure the transportation facilities de-
sired and deserved.
Richmond Shut Off.
1t must be matter OF sore regret
to the business men of Richmond that
that city cannot obtain fair share
of the trade of the Valley OF Virginia,
but the capital of the State Is abso-
lutely shut off By uafriendiy railroads,
apparently, from the farmers and mer-
chants of the rich Valley. Since Rich
mond cannot get fair share of the
trade of the Valley. that city can only
hope this section OF tho State may be
able to obtain something better in the
way of railway service than that
which 1t has now.