Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-06-13
SCOTTSVlLLE ROAD.
From tho Richmond Compiler.

10 her citizens, on subject in which many
ieel deeply interested, and in which all who
wish to see on: State prosper must give their
sanction, and, may no, say, their hearty sun
port
The subject TO which invite attention, is
the Staunton and Scotisville Turnpike Road.
which was intended to be one of the principal
feeders to the great State improvemen,-ihe
james River and Kanawha Canal--bu,. unless
something is done with the present road, and
that III short time, fears are entertained. and
very justly, too, that the immense trade of the
Valley will take another direction. The Mac
adamized road from Stanton 10 Winchester
is decidedly one Of the best in Virginia; and
when the road from Stanton To Scottsvil!c is
almost impossible, the farmer can take his
twenty-fve barrels of flour 10 Winchester
without difficulty; and this at season of the
year when he can do nothing at home. Such
an Improvement is wanting from Stanton to
Scottsville.-On this subject propose giving
my views, made up from the best information
have been able 10 obtain. | have been in
formed from an authentic source, that i'm the
year 1889, before the Slaunton and Winches-
| Ter road was completed, that about $4,000 bar.
rcls oil flour were taken to the Scoltsville
market; and the melancholy fact is to be told
ly 2O,OOO bbls. was taken TO that market in
lSio-at which time the Stanton and Win
chester road was in full operation. Now, if
remember rightly, both the years 1889 and
1913 were good for whea, in the Valley, and
/ we see the great falling off in the amount of
Hour delivered in ScotlsvIle in 1913 of 10000
bbls. saw, from memorial presented To
the General Assembly of Virginia last winter
oy the Stockholders and cilizens of Augusta
praying for an increase Of the capital stock.
THAT they estimated that 100000 bbls. of flour
nave annually passed over The western section
oil tins road. Of that fact ! have no doubt,
previous to the year that has EXPIRED but for
this year, the estimate is entirely overrated;
ana my conclusions are drawn from the fact
That only 10000 bbls of -four went 10 Scots
Vilie-and am pursuaded that at least one
mall oi the flour that crossed the Blue Ridge
III 1913 went 10 that market. From this view
oil the su6jeci, there has only about 10000
bbls crossed the western section Of this road
IN lS43; and the question naturally arises.
where has the balance to make up the lOO.-
uUU bbls., found a market? And to this
question there can be hut one answer. Ii has
gone The Valley road to Winchester, and
from thence TO Baltimore.
I'm this matter the State Of Virginia has, in
my humble opinion, acted unwiselv She has
gwen her aid for the construction of the Win
chester and Harper's Ferry Railroad; freely
has she given for the construction of the Mac
adanlzed road down the Valley,-,he effect
oil which is 10 send the trade Of the Valley TO
seek market i'll another Sta,e-and when she
was asked to give her aid to an improvement
by which her metropolis, her canal, and her
citizens might be benefited, she has refused.
N 81 10 rpt,c ",
be askeG-lf all The Valley trade goes TO
Baltimore. (Which it certainly will do, unless
this road is Macadamized) what will the State
of Virginia lose by it? will entleavor to
answer the question: The flour that would
go TO Scoilsville, and from thence to Rich
mond via canal, from the counties of Rock
bridge, Augusta, Rockingham, Bath, Pendc-
ton and Pocahontas, were this road Macada-
miZed, would not fall short Of $4,000 bar
rels per annum; and will tell where il is 10
come from Augusta, had she this road, could
as easily send off $4,000 bbls as she can now
$4,000. Many Of her farmers have hereto
lore In consequence of the difficulty in mar
keung their flour, not raised one third as
much wheat as they could very easily do.
Dut nave turned their attention TO raising stock,
&c. The next is Rockingham IL might be
safely set down that at least half Of the -four
made IN that county would go on This road
ana IL is lar to presume that that county
raises nearly as much as Augusia-set down
one half, at 10000 barrels, and from the
counties of Rockbridge, Bath, Pendleton and
Pocahonlas we may calculate upon $4,000
bills, making in all 125,000. Now the toll
on this -four from Scousville TO Richmond.
at the present rates of 25 cts per barrel, would
amount 10 Sp3l250, of which the State receives
| three-hIths her portion, then, would be
| SlS,76O. This is what she would lose alone
on Hour, but the quantities of other produce
which would he marketed would amount to
| one-Iourth as much as she received on -four :
say S4,6S5-this added 10 her quota on flour
makes S23,436; and it is generally believed
that if thus trade went to Richmond The ND
tolls i'll freight would be much increased. and
would amount TO at least one half Of the down
tolls, which would make S11,767, which
added To- 23,436, would make SS35,202 This
is what the State will gain by The proposed
road, and consequently is what she must lose
per annum if the road is not Macadamized.
sum sufficient 10 make the road in four
wears. II is believed that s 10000 will make
this road from Scotsville to Stanton; and
what will the stock be worth, or what divi-
dend will it declare yearly. The number oI
wagons which it would take To- haul $4,000
barrels flour, allowing 80 barrels 10 the team
would be 4l66; and at cents per mile ne,
team going. and half pnce returning, would
make z l-2 cents per mile, and each team
would pay So 30 toll; making the toll OIL The
teams that convey The -four over this road &c
be $l3747
And to this add the travel Of every de-
scriptioD, and for hauling other pro-