Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-01-13
From The RieImond Compiler.
SNuNT0N AND SC0TTSVILLE ROAD.
TIE PRopApLE Cosr.

coy A''s'ui ny tne Ierch, the use OF 1t NAV be
dispenser with on any portion of the road,
however great or small, when the present con-
dIiion oil the surface renders it unnecessary.
Minute and careful observation has convinced
me mat by pursuing this course iudiciously,
not more, than 80 miles out of 13, (the whole
distance) will require the aid of broken stone.
Each q these 30 miles will require 5000
pcrches OF metal, for which the Vallcy Tmn-
PIKE Company no'c pay 70 cents per perch, in
GLIDING ;ie delivery and spreading of it, But
as In man1 instances on this route, the materi-
al Wilde difficult of access !; / will add SO l-3
per cent, or S75O per mile to that price, and
consider the metal as costing throughout the
whole route, 81 per perch (!) or $4,000 per
mile.
The whole 43 miles will require MANY re-
pairs, and in some instances extensive changes
are advisable in the graduation and location of
the road. For this purpose will add $500
per mile, (3-7ths ofthe average cost per mile
of the Stanton and Parkersburg road, new
and excellent road now being constructed over
one of the most inaccessible, rugged and un-
settled sections ofthe State.)
The road would then cost as follows:
80 miles Of Gaping at 80 900 per mile 100000
43 miles repairing, &c. at $500 per mile $4,000
Contingencies, say about 500 per mile 400
Cost of new Improvement will be SlO7 COO
10 which the present capital being added $4,000
with Sl57 900
or about $3,700 per mile, or within fraction
of the cost of the Valley Turnpike road, a
work constructed when labor was fully so per
cent. higher than it is atpresent. None then,
am sure, will feel disposed to cavil at the cs-
innate of the cost.
THE PROBABLE REVENUE AND CHARGES.
Mr.. Shaw, the former Chief Engineer of the
State, III report made to the Board of Public
Works in January, 1886, states that from an
examination oithe toll-gatherers books at Rock
fish Gap, he asscrtained that 10000 barrels of
-four passed through that Gap in one year.
Here then is an actual and certain trade He
then proceeds to state 10000 barrels passed
through Browns and Turks Gaps, in the Blue
Ridge, which with 10000 more that might
reasonably be calculated on as an increase in
Bath, Augusta and Rockingham, would all be
attracted to Scottsville by the construction of
railroad TO that place. Now, it is certain,
that to this particular article, McAdamized
road Is more attractive than a railroad. and
from Au"ry thing that have been able 10 learn
the increase OF this article In the county OF
Augusta alone has reached 10000 barrels in
the SIX years that have expired since the pre-
paratlon of that report. Indeed, am assured.
on good authority, that that county herself ex-
ports fully 100000 barrels per annum Eutal-
though much is to be expected from the rapid
ly progressing increase OF the resources of the
west, and it is a reasonable assumption that
other counties than Augusta would send -four
over this road, will adopt Mr. Shaw's esti-
mate, as the product of that county, for nv
basis, and assume 100000 barrels as the GER
tain tonnage of this notwithstanding six
horse wagon, at the highest calculation, to be
able to convey 40 barrels at load, -four alone
will compose $500 wagon loads.
Mr.. Shaw then, upon data presume equal
ly correct, estimated the transportation of 9TH
er transmontane productions at one-halr of the
above. | also, although convinced, as any
man of observation must be, that it is much
too small, will assume the same, which will
amount to 1850 wagon loads.
Each such wagon pays on the Valley road,
believe, ~ cents per mile going, and 81 cents
returning This Improvement will command
the same tariff of tolls, and thus there will be
revenue from each wagon Of ga So, (includ-
ing the return triP.)
daily line of stages, horsemcn, carriages,
droves, SC cannot be estimated at less than
JD~coO per dnHuIll
Thus, then, the revenue from
$3.50 wagons, at 1882 SlS,OT5
Stages, carriages, droves and horsemeD,say 2,525
VIII amount to annually SOC
Whistle charges, too evident and well known
to require any explanation, will be
For the repairs of 43 miles $3.50 per mile S6,i5O
Pay Of 8 toll-gatherers, at about $500 per
annum 1850
And altogether, annually $4,000
Leaving nett surplus of Sl2 600 as an income
accruing upon SI57,OOO,or more than 8 per cent.
With regard to repairs, will add, that ex-
perlence has proven from 500 to 125 per
mile TO be an ample allowance.
Letany candid man, familiar with the sub
Ject, examine these estimates, and he will say
that they are much more unfavorable to- the
improvement, than they should be. An old
and experienced contractor, the undertaken
OF heavy work, as well on the Valley as on
the National Road, ION which latter for some
years he was also the superintendent ofrepairs, }
has informed me that my estimate, both as to
the cost of the work, s. the repairs ofit,greaty
exceed their real amount Here then is the
evidence of one, as to the cost and charges,
whose interest it is to swell the estimate: for
doubt not but if this road should be improved,
he will be one of the first and heaviest and
best OF the contractors on it,
As TO the revenue how can it be diminished.
Had any exaggerated increase been estimated,
then might lis correctness be doubted: but
have taken the actual statements of toll-gather-
ers and others well qualified to judge,and its re-