Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-05-18

taken by them, has been sold
No dividend has been made TO the stock
holders since July 1890 the whole Of the
tolls received have been applied 10 keeping
up and improving the road Some claims
remain yet unpaid, but we expect TO be out
OF debt and make some dividend at the end
of the first six months of the annual year.
There has been received in the year 1881
at Christians creek gate, the sum of S627,
ga cts; at Rockfish Gap s 1895 so; at Israeli
Gap 1864 20 ;at Garland's Store & lO6I, 773 !;
at Scottsville S906,6Sa and stage tolls not
included in the foregoing S245, 67; in all
S57Ol ,Sl4. The amount received in 1880
was so, 1876, 274, showing an increase in one
year of S605 81
AS to the prospectofp profits to the StockhoI-
ders, hereafter we would say, that taking the
amount of tolls received in 1881 as the critic.
rion, we think that five per cent per annum
may be counted on; for If the tolls amount to
| $1,000, and 50 800 is laid out on the road,
and 81 800 paid TO the Stockholders, which
would be live per cent. on the capital Stock,
1t would still leave 500 for gate keepers,
anu officers compensation, and other eXpens
es and the increase of tolls 10 Sc, 200 per
annum (Which will probably take place.
would make the stock divide six per cent
! N1Nb a. bbO olOSh SlOulu IlOL NC pIDulhOIS
(although we confidently believe it will } yet
| the great object had in view by the project
ors ofthc road has been in a good degree OBJ
tanned, 10 wit practicable and cheap mode
otgetting our produce TO market: for exam
pie, barrel OF flour, the transportation of
which to Scottsville formerly cost an ave-
rage of : ,25, now costs an average ofS5 cts.
showing a saving of 40 cts. on each barrel of
| flour; ton ofplaister which formerly cost
an average of 81 80 now costs SIS Ii then
there is a saving oftwo thirds of that amount
on the return loads it would amount to the
sum of $50, 900 saved annually in transpor-
tation by the turnpike road
But, although the turnpike road, we be-
lieve, has been great public benefit, yet it
has not completely removed the Inconyenien-
ces we abor under in getting to market;
and as railroads are now considered superior
TO all other improvements, in transportation,
Will you permit us TO present TO you some
views and calculations, which we think de-
monstrate, that ifa rail road is practicable,
through the billy country to Scottsyille, it
should be attempted, In doing so, we dis
claim all wish 10 interfere with the contem-
plated Rail road down the valley and are free
to declare that if the rail road down the val
ley could be obtained, it would Gin our opin-
ion) benefit the upper part of the valley
more than any other improvement we could
get. But that undertaking is SO herculean,
1t would require so many jarring interests 10
be united TO effect it, that we think il almost
hopeless. Nor are we sure that a Rail road
from Staunton TO Scottsville is practicable;
but itit is, we think thought 10 be attempted
10 illustrate our views, then, we suppose
that the carriage on flour from Staunton to
10 &c 81 L.
as an average, andother produce in the same
proportion. The Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company Gas we are informed, } are
carrying flour from Fredericktown to Balti-
more, distance of sixty odd miles for 20
centsper barrel ; and this is supposed to be
more than affair price. But supposssEVe would
have TO pay from Staunton 10 Scottsyille.
"A miles) the sum of 25 cents per barrel,
there would be still saving of 60 cents per
barrel According to the gate keepers re-
turns at Rockfish Gap, there were 34O6 wag-
CONS down in the year 1881, exclusive
OF those that passed while the gate was open,
which was about one month. Those Wagons
would carry produce equal in weigRtto
40, 1000 barrels of flour, which would be a
little more than thirteen barrels to each wag-
gon. We suppose that there is at present
taken from the valley by the North river,
Shenandoah, and Swift run Gap, produce
that would seek an outlet by rail road to
Scottsville, ifthere was one, equal in weight
to one third of what crosses at Rock6sh Gan.
that is $4,000 barrel This added to 45 900
would make 1000 barrels of flour, or bro
duce equal in weight with it, If then there
was saving on sc, 900 barrels of -four, of 90
cents per barrel 1T would amount 10 S36 900
But we farther suppose that for all the load
ing taken down, two thirds as much is bro't
back in plaster, salt, groceries, dry goods
&c &c. Ii then there was a saving on this in
the same proportion it would amount to
ga, 600. This added TO the $50 600 saved on
transportation down would make the sum of
S6O,OQO saved annually TO thispart of the val
ley IN transportation alone.
axe another view ofthis matter; suppose
farmer to raise annually one hundred bar
refs OF Hour for market; then il he could save
6O cts. per barrel in transportation il would
amount to $50. But farmer that would
raise one hundred barrels ofhour for market
would need about two thirds OF the weight of
his one hundred barrels of -four in plaster.
alt,groceries &c. &c. but say he would save
only half as much on his return load as on
his produce, that is $50, which added 10 sixty
would make 800 saved in transportation to
SAID farmer annually lie might therefore af-
ford to take stock in the rail road TO the a.
mount OF 5 800, for his saving in Transport
latlon would pay the interest on il, and his
dividends would be clear profit.
III, Them these calculations are correct and
we believe them far below what would be
realized, ought not this Company TO fake
some measures to ascertain whether or not
q ran road to Scottsville is practicable, and
hp D..1 4 81 >