New Projects & The Railroad Mania

NEW PROJECTS.

To keep pace with the progress of the times, it will be seen by reference to another column, that two Railroad projects are now suggested, in which our County has a deep interest. A charter was granted some three or four years since, for a Railroad from Harpers-Ferry to Alexandria, which was entirely feasible at the time and the stock could have been taken, save that Alexandria had directed her energies and her efforts in another direction. This beeing completed, however, our Potomac City has become awakened as to the necessity of tapping the Baltimore road, at a point so favorable as Harpers-Ferry. Books of subscription are to be opened on Monday next, with every prospect of the stock being readily taken, (as we have heard of several large capitalists who go into the matter determined to succeed,) a survey of the road soon made, and its practicability fully tested. The other scheme, is the construction of a Railroad from Mill Creek or Smithfield, to connect with the Winchester road at or near Cameron’s Depot. No charter will be necessary, nor no stock requisite to be taken for the construction of this road, if it can be shewn that there is sufficient trade to justify the expenditure on the part of the Winchester road. We have heard it is stated that this branch would furnish 40,000 barrels of Flour, which now finds an outlet through other channels. The proceedings of a meeting held at Middleway on Saturday last, fully explains what it is proposed to accomplish, and as our friends of that part of the county, no less than those of Berkeley contiguous, seem to feel a deep interest in the success of the enterprise, they have our best wishes for the speedy completion of so laudable an undertaking.

THE RAILROAD MANIA.

Our Legislature has become run-mad on the subject of Railroads, and by reference to our columns to-day, it will be seen that an immense expenditure, nearly three millions of dollars, has passed the House, and only awaits the action of the Senate, to give the binding obligation of laws. Some of these appropriations are no doubt just and proper. Others again, have no intrinsic merit, but have been forced through the legislative ledgerdemain. The aggregate amount is too great for the resources of Virginia, and we hope that the Senate may exercise the pruning knife, with that degree of sagacity and wise discretion, which the people of the State have a right to expect at its hands. The “Loan System” which has received the sanction of the House, is not understood by the people, and we confess that we are not sufficiently acquainted with its operations to attempt even to unravel the mysteries which occur to us in its practical workings. The internal improvement party, however, in its wildest and most radical sense, are in the ascendant in the Legislature, and seem determined to carry through their projects at all hazards.