Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-04
Gle Constitutional l9sDiD.
FROM THE VIRGINIA FARMER.


VIRGINIA FARMER.
a. Stauntom and James Riuer TurnpiSs
Mr.. McEorERr:-lh have heen much pleased to sec
Col. Joseph Brown of Augusta, president of the
above Turnpike Company III Sco,tsve last eek,
Tor the purpose OF ascortining tho views OF your
citizens, upon the subject Of Application To the
Legislature, for tho purpose of increasing the Ca
spital Stock of the Conpauy-whother they would
take Stock, it such extension was had, for the
travelling or Paving tho Road.-Colonel Brown
thinks, that by tho present Stockholders
renting for two or three years to the application
oil the whole tolls In the Improvement proposed
that S30,00O of now subscription w uld he suffi
cicnt, and that it would bs desirable that as much
OF this BIO taken possible by the Scotrville Mer-
chants and others, i'll and about tho place. ] was
much pleased TO learn that one individual propo-
sed to be one of 30 persons who W oud take tho
whole addition, or it necessary, ba one of | 5 TO
take tho $50 000.-This sshe,nc is no doubt n
good one, and if few individuals will take hold
aud exert themselves, IA | think Col b. docs, it
may bo accomplished. 1t il Improvement npon
which, tho destiny of Scousvillc much depends -
III the roads to the place good, distant produc
and trade will he brought To It'll not it must ul
Tim .teiy lind other channels and markets.
IL the road from Stanton Scottsvillo was ma dc
god TOR wagons, at all land heavy gravel.
IN! or paving would cfY,ct th;s) the schome of a
RaH Road tn Baltimore would perhaps never .pain
De heard Oft not that schemc will, bciorc lon o.
be renewed-and would say should bs-nnd not
gwen up until it succc.sful.
do not know the amount vf tho annual tolls
on this road, but have been told that they have
averaged obout $4,000 for tie last three years: OF
which, about 5000 have been yearly expended i'm
repairs (and to no profits )-loaving dividend OF
per cent on its cost (sav 80, O00) which is moro
than has actually been paid out.
NOW, II tho road made good at all seasons
Of the year. TO enable farmers to send of
their produce at such times they could not WORK
on Their farms, ii is not too great estimate to
say, that Tor the next thee years, double tho pro
sent amount of produce and travel would find it's
way over tho road. Were this road hard at all
seasons OF the year, n large amount OF produce,
which is now carried TO fredericksburg, and sent
down the Shenandoah TO Alexandria and George
town, would be brought TO Scottsvillc; and large
portion of the produce which is now sent down tho
James River from the upper end of Augusta and
fockoridgc, would be brought by wagons, and for
warded from, sold at, Scotsville, and could be
with loss expense than by tho rivcr.-And thcrc is
no estimating the increased quantity of produce
such improvement would create in a lew wears in
the counties of Rockingna,n Augusta and Rock
bridge, but particularly in Pendlcton, Bath, Poca-
hontas, and even Randolph, when the roads from
the Warm Springs there made gno,!, which in
two years likely will bo. These Western count .es
are as good for wheat any others, and such an
Improvement would greatly increase the travel on
TINS road--irom Scottsvie towards Richmond being
80 SUPERIOR and shorter than by Charlottesville.
Wcre the roads thus good, would any individual
object TO having the tolls Increased one half; for
with the same number of horses and wheels a
half more produce might be carried. Then, to
carry double the amount OF produce q third moro
wagons would only be required each taking half
as much more they do now, so that by add
ing half more toll on each wagon or team.
would not at all increase the tax on the produce,
leaving the farmer the advantage of POI forming
the trip in less time. and hen tho weather w OIL !
forbid other employment.
As said before, the yearly tolls have been
about S6,VUO; 20 which, at least fifth should be
added, as lost by the gates being Open in conse.
quence of the bad road:--a fifth 10 5000 makes
|'2oo;-then 10 this add third for the additional
hnmOcr OF wagons necessary to takc the additional
Pfoduce estimated above as well travel, and You
nave 24u0 more, mading $50, 600; then add half
on this amount for the additional freight that
wagons would carry, and you have the sum OF
Si4,4OO. You have thus this amount of toll with
out adding cent 10 the present rate of tolls or
tax on a barrel of flour. And here, wero it ncces-
sary, who would object to adding fourth to
These lolis' because, the trip coald be performed
IN fourth less time, which would only authorize
this additional amount of tolls but would make
difference OF about 20 cents ~ rel on all The flcur
passed over the road, which would be saving
10 the farmer nearly or quite equal to the whole
amount o! tolls paid; else, add this; to tho tolls
andlt would make gross amount of tolls pro-
baby OF 1875, OOp-and the farmer would still havo
the advantage of the firm road instead ofthc mud
However, take the SH,400 as the amount of
tolls, what would brooably be necessary to pay the
annual repairs WonId not $3l,50J DO quite
enough7-Say that 80, 900 were thus appro priated
which could not be wanted but for few years
until the paving got settled, and you have left l2
400, which would pay per cent. S206, $50 10;
or would be 49, per cent. on the whole estimated
cost of $4,000.
have written these hasty suggestions, and made
these calculations, that they may arrest tho atton
fion OF some one having better data for calculation
IN hopes that they may give further views and sho "
any one that the present Stock, well as the ad
ditional, might, and would, be very valuable were
TINS course adopted. Is there man in Scottsvilc.
who would Rot take, or that would not seek !or
Stock promising such divdcmds-and TO secure
such additional increase the trade of the placo1
Unite this Improvement the james Rifcr i'm.
Proyement, and Scottsville viii, in few Years be-
come quite City for trade and business For the
present, will merely t.ll you, that an a iriond ia
,,, lMPROY gAiENT.
W The Richmond Wing, and Staucton sc4cta.
tor, viii please publish tie above
Fom The U. *. Gssc.se T.