Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-07-04
From the Richmond Compiler.
SCOTTSVILLE AND STAUNTON ROAD
ScoTrsvILLE, June 20, 1914

SCOITSNlLLE, June ~, 1914.
Gentlemen I'VE beg leave 10 call your atten
{ ton 10 preamble and some resolutions whicl
have appeared in The public prints; they were a.
dopteC by the citizens of Scoltsvle at a meeting
recently held tor the purpose OF calling the atten
ZION OF the public to the subject Of Macadamized
road from that place to Stanton. The formation
Oh corresponding committees was deemed advisa.
pie ny tho meeting, for the purpose OF commune
cation among the friends of that measure, in or
ger that theIr Efforts in its behalf might be in con-
cert. Inc Undersigned constitute the committee
appointed by the citizens of Scottsville i'm accord
ance with those views. The appointment of ST.
iniiar committees was recommended to the people
OF Richmond and to the counties of AUGUSTA
hockIngham, and all others interested. Fearinu
however, that recommendation SO general NAV
moi meet win a response, we have considered il
eNPedient TO address several Of Your citizens per.
sonally, requesting them to give their attention to
The subject; for This we deem no apology Deces-
sary' since The people Of Richmond, as well as
ourselves, are interested in preserving to them
selves and to us the valuable trade which masses
over the Scoltsville and Stanton TURNPIKE, and
through ihIs village, in Its course 10 Richmond.
H. heretofore, they have felt but little interest in
'ne application made TO the Legislature for aid 10
ms road, we are convinced it was because thew
aid not properly appreciate the magnitude and
Vaiue OF the trade al stake; when they are salts
hed OF this, no doubt they will perceive the inter
est lhey have In It's preservation. For the wear
! 1871 1t was asct rtained by committee appointed
LOT me purpose by the people Of Scot;sviile, that
me value oil The produce annually brought TO their
village was nearly $3.50, 900: this estimate was
founded upon data furnished by merchants en-
| gagged In trade which enabled Them to give the
information re9uired; II is doubtless not strictly
accurate, bu; substantially true. That the es,-
mate IS not an exaggerated one. is shown by the
iaot that OF the tolls collected that year upon the
James River andi\anawha Canal, one fourth part
amounting to $50, 900, was received at the toll cc
hce In Scottsvllle, thus proving that a fourth of
The commerce OF the Canal originated there All
OF The produce brought 10 Scoitsville was shipped
to Richmond, employ ing in its transportation nine
large freight boats. plying regularly between the
two places. Whilst we freely confess that the
existence of our village depends upon the preser-
! vatIon oil this trade, yet We do not ask for aid
from the people OF Richmond on that ground but
because we really believe that Of the capital en-
parked in 1t, the larger portion is possessed in
hichmond; since part OF the produce brought
here passes through without stopping but all of
IL centres there and changes owners. We ina
gne, therefore, that they will be unwilling to see
TINS capital JeoPardsed or lost by the diversion of
the trade which gives ii employment, from their
own city TO Baltimore. This change in the course
OF trade has already commenced, and makes itself
felt with us 10 lamen,abie extent in town de-
caying and depopulaing, and destiiuion of en-
ployment 10 many who heretofore have been
prosperous; ELECTS which must, we suppose, be
let shortly In your city, although, of course in
d Tess degree. III is owing chiefly 10 the coupe
tiiion OF The Stanton and Winchester Macadam-
yea road, which went into full and successful
operation about tile time that our own road be-
came so bad that wagons could only pass over it
In favorable weather, and then with reduced loads
consequently region OF county, the average
distance OF which from Richmond does not ex-
coed 100 miles finds it advantageous TO transport
lis products by land to Baltimore. more than 40
ultIA fISta,
snow the fertility Of that country and lis capacity
Tor production TO be immense. The counties Of
Augusta, Rockbndge, Rockingham, Pendi, tom
Pocahontas and Bath, produced in the year I84O
according to the census, ,079,8I0 bushels of
wheat, more than tenth OF The whole crop of the
State; 2237 tons Of cast iron; SCI tons of bar
iron; 022,266 bushels Of oats; .617 $50 bushels
oil corn; 1882 pounds Of wool; Ill ,OIl tons of
hay, one-eighth of the whole crC p Of tho State /
rom all OF these counties, except portions of
RockbTIdge and Rockingham, the shortest route
TO market by some 40 so miles, is along The
Scotlsville and Stanton Turnpike and the James
River and kanawba Canal to Richmond. II that
road be Macadamized, there is every reason 10
expect that increased production which always !
attends cheapening In transportation. One wa
gon on MacadamiZed road will carry with ease
the loads of two on the present road-the tolls !
would be increased but little; and thus the costs
of transportation most materially reduced; Rich
honu "oulu wen oe Ine seat OF an immense
trade, which will be wholly lost itbout aid from
the Legislature. This we have every RIGHT to ex. !
pect, from the benefit that viii! accrue thereby TO
the revenue of the State, to large and respecta-
bic portion of its citizens; and as an act of JUS
tice The State having assisted in constructing that
road which is thus forcing trade liom its natural
channels, cannot surely refuse TO expend one.half
as much 10 preserve 10 many Of its citizens the
natural advantages Of their location, trusting to
which, they embarked their fortunes in trade
which the State, so far at great expense 10 her
sell, Is forcing from them. We trust that we
shall be pardoned for having dwelt at such length
upon this subject. Its importance is our iustf- 4