Speculation on the Railroad

A report that the railroad would soon be run from the Old Furnace up the river to the old Adams stone quarry, thence to the Virginia Ore Bank, and probably on to Shepherdstown, is current, and much discussed among the people in this section. Whether there is any truth in said report I cannot say, but do not doubt that it has some foundation. The people here [Bakerton] look forward to next spring as being a busy one, with the limestone quarry, and kilns here in full blast and the Virginia Ore Bank, Messrs. Knott’s and Flanagan’s quarries, each about a mile from here, doing the same. Nothing more can be expected with so many hands, and lots of work to do. The greatest problem to be solved, likely, will be where to get enough hands for so much work. The farmer, who seems to be always with his shoulder to the wheel, will likely be compelled to keep it there, as they will no  doubt experience most trouble in this respect.