The News of the Railroads.
A general complaint in the business world for the past three months— or at least that part of it interested in shipping freights on the railroads— has been the scarcity of freight cars. ALl the roads in this section have the question to contend with. Here at Shepherdstown our grain dealers are put to their wits’ end for transportation facilities. The Shenandoah Valley officials when appealed to say that they have given Shepherdstown the preference over many other places, and state that do what they can they are unable to provide enough cars. The Potomac Cement Mill has been piled full of cement, and a few weeks ago it would have been shut down had not the pressure been relieved by Mr. Cook, who managed to furnish enough cars to carry a part of the accumulation off. Efforts to get coal from the West Virginia Central and Baltimore & Ohio Railroad reveal the fact that they are also hard up for cars and utterly unable to meet the demand. It looks as though the railroad business is growing.
A joint meeting of the Shenandoah Valley and of the Washington and Western Railroads was held in Alexandria last week, when the two roads were consolidated and reorganized under the name of Shenandoah Valley Railroad Company. Mr. F. J. Kimball was elected president. The committee which purchased the Shenandoah Valley Road in Roanoke in September last then conveyed that road to the new company. Of course the Norfolk and Western will control the new organization, but it will allow it to have a separate name.
There is more or less talk, in a quiet way, of a Washington or Baltimore extension of the West Virginia Central. This company cannot get the canal, but it is pretty certain it will not rest at Cumberland on that account. It is bound to get to tidewater. Whether it will go to Baltimore or Washington is a question of great importance to this section. If is shall go to Washington it is probable that Shepherdstown and Jefferson county will be on the route. An old survey proposed a road from Harper’s Ferry along the river westward, passing right through Shepherdstown, and it is said that the route was a remarkably short one. If we should have a competing line here the benefit to our community would be incalculable. We hope it may come.
The officials of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, replying to an inquiry of the Postoffice Department in regard to increasing the mail facilities over the line, stated recently that it is more than probable that the Shenandoah and Hagerstown accommodation train will be withdrawn during the winter. We hope such shall not be the case. This train is a sure enough “accommodation” to the people along the line, and we think the superintendent will keep it on if he can be satisfied that the patrons of the road want it pretty badly.
Capt. McClellan, of the Shenandoah Valley, is so tall now that he has to stoop when he enters a car door— all on account of a nine-pound boy. Pat Crow measured the Captain the other day and he had gained 19 7/8 inches in height. Capt. Cord has bought the little railroader a train of toy cars for a Christmas gift, Capt. Calder gives him a hobby horse, while Capt. Hilleary has bought him a lot in Hagerstown’s boom. All the fellows will make suitable contributions, including a live monkey from Capt. Hutchings.
Mr. Charles Hodginson, a B. & O. brakeman who lives with his family near Shenandoah Junction, was caught between the cars at Riverside Station last Monday and very badly crushed. His wife went down on Tuesday to care for him.
The new schedule of the B. & O. Railroad may be found in this issue. There are several changes in the list of trains stopping at Shenandoah Junction.
