Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-09-15
IS WORTH HOLDING
II. & u. Extension WOuld Open
Up Rich Territory

Up Rich Territory
Mr.. Harold E. West, staff cores
pendent OF the Baltimore Sun, who
recently accompanied City Council
man Heatwole OF Baltimore, to Lex
ington, writes as follows in the Sun
of last Thursday:
The recent trip OF City Council
man T. o. Heatwole Of Baltimore,
over the Valley Railroad enabled
him to secure o great amount OF val
liable information in regard to the
road in which Baltimore invested
81, 900. 900 many years ago, and from
which investment the city has never
received any dividends. One thing
OF which he was especially convinced
is that the road is valuable piece
of property from a strategic point
OF view. and that If the Baltimore
and Ohio doesn't care for itand can
not make it pay, at least two other
roads would like to have it.
The trip was made in no spirit OF
enmity toward the Baltimore and
Ohio, with no desire to discredit its
management of the property, but
simply with the desire to learn If
possible what the road is worth and
whether there is any value in Balti-
more's holdings. He was looking
into the matter solely with Balti-
more's interest at heart, although
he has a sentimental interest in the
matter, for he is a native OF Rock
ingham and it would be pleasing to
him if any investigation he might
make would result In giving his ma
tive county better railroad facilities
as we'll as bring trade and dividends
10 the city of his adoption.
POSSIBILITIES ARE GREAT
His trip has assured him that the
road has great possibilities, OF
would have il the Baltimore and
Ohio could be induced to spend
some money in the valley. Every
where he went he was warmly re-
ceived and every possible courtesy
! shown him. At Lexington, as pre-
viously announced in the Sun,
special meeting OF the Board o.
Trade was held to discuss with hin
matters concerning the road. He
made an address before that body
in which he explained in detail the
purpose of his visit and urged upor
the business men of that town the
Importance of closer trade relation:
with Baltimore. A delegation o
leading business men of Roanoke at
tended the meeting, having gone t.
Lexington to meet DR.. Heatwole anC
take him over the line OF the exten
sion of the Valley road south o
Lexington to the vicinity OF Salem
seven miles from Roanoke, which
extension was begun, but neve
completed. Much OF the early his
tory OF the road was explained a
that meeting in Lexington. The re
suit of the meeting was the appoint
ment of a committee composed
]. Med. Adair, NJ. W. Paxton ant
P. NJ. Penick to act in all matters
in which Lexington and the Baltl
more and Ohio railroad may be con
cerned. Similar committees will b
appointed ali along the line iron
Lexington to Harper's Ferry, and
committee OF the Roanoke Chambe
of Commerce and Retail Merchants
Association is already in existene
and will act with these other com
mittees.
| ,,.nr Az rNrF prcmTNC TRIp
The Roanoke delegation took DR.
Heatwole over the line of the old eX
tension, the trip being one full G
interest. 1t was seen that work t
the value of probably hundreds c
thousands OF dollars had been don
} and then practically abandoned
Rights of way for practically tn
entire distance to Salem had bee
secured and in spite OF the years
the work done upon them in grad
ing, making cuts and fills was stil
distinctly marked. In some place
big trees were growing on the en-
bankments that had been thrown ur
and there were trees in the cuts
Much work would, of course, be re
; auired to get these fills and cuts i
shape again, but it would be trifiin
in comparison with entirely me-
, work.
MONUMENTS TO WASTED EFFORT
| The chief things of interest alon
the old line, however, were to
splendid examples of masonry wor
as shown in the culverts. Thes
, are credit to the masons and tn
railroad contractors of the da
/ when they were built. 1t was hor
est work, all of it, and although al
| solutely no attention has been pal
TO these culverts and the bed in a