Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-18

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tention to the following letter of MIR. TMBERLAKE,
who is one of the most active friends of the extern
sion upon our route, and who may be supposed to
speak the sentiments Of our Abemare friends:
CHARLoTTEsvILLR, Aug. Ia, I847.
To the Editor Of the Spectator:
Dear Sir,-The remarks Of Col. Fontaine. Pre-
sldent of the Louisa Railroad Company, made at a
late railroad meeting held in Staunton, as quoted
In your paper of the 18th instant in relation to the
motives and course of the citizens Of Charottes-
vile touching the contemplated extension of the
Louisa Railroad, require some explanation.
1t Is far from my intention to intimate, or sup
pose, that Col. FOntaine intended to do Injustice to
the citizens OF Charlottesville in the remarks allu
ded to, but still it is possible that the remarks NAV
be so construed as to imply dsparagement Of mo
tive on their part, as wishing that Charlottesville
should be made the final terminus of the road, or
as being disposed, having been disposed, to
throw obstacles in the way of further extension
westward
To obviate. therefore, any such implication. or
misconsructon of motive the part OF the citizens
OF Charlottesville, any portion Of them propose
TO make bret and correct statement OF facts
Immediately after the passage of the law authoriz-
Ing the extension Of the Louisa Railroad the citi
zens Of Charlottesville, upon referring to the proy
slons of the law, and considering that in order to
iulill the objects referred to therein it was pro-
bable, or more probable than otherwise that Char
louisville would be embraced as one of the points
IN the route, 1t the road were extended determn-
ed, with the cooperation of the citizens Of the coun
ty, to make every possible effort to raise the neces
sary amount OF funds for the extension of the road
at least to Charlottesville. They accordingly a.
dopted conditional caption TO their subscription
lists, to the effect that the stock so subscribed for
or agreed to be subscribed for was on the express
condition that Charlottesville should be embraced a.
point IN the route, otherwise such subscriptions
were TO be void.
Knowing the extreme difficulty Of obtaining sub
scnptions for stock to be invested in any work. of
improvement in Virginia, owing to the bad success
and failures which had attended so many efforts
OF that character within the State, il was extreme
~ doubtful whether a sufficient amount of funds
coulo be raised to extend the road even to Char
ottesvllle. Many seemed to regard the effort even
TO that extent most hopeless ONE and some IeH,s
ed to subscribe on that account. The more ardent
friends OF the enterprise, however, determined to
press forward, and by doing so have at length sue
ceeded much beyond their own expectations and
now it is believed that Abemarle can raise within
herself an amount of funds sufficient to bring the
road to Charlottesville. Whilst, however the cit
liens OF Charlottesville so much doubted even tho
ability to raise funds to conduct the road to Char
ottesvllle, they earnestly solicited the aid and CO.
operation OF the citizens Of Augusta to effect that
object, on account Of their congeniaty of interest
with them in having the road extended in that dt.
rection and to Charlottesville if no further in the
first instance.
IL was in this state Of things, therefore, that the
citizens Of Charlottesville thought and talked of
nothing else than the extension of the road to
charlottesville because they did not believe it pos
sbie to raise funds to carry it farther and if they
have laid themselves liable to be suspected Of any
unworthy motive, or the wish to stop the road at
Charlottesville, they have inadvertently done so in
this way and no other. Now, however. the pros
pect Is changed. Those who are chiefly interested
IN having the road extended to Charlottesville, i,
IS believed. will succeed in raising funds sufficient
To effect that object. The way. therefore, is now
open, and the path clear to their Augusta friends
and all others, to extend the road Just as far they
please, and 1t shall be seen whether any obstacle
shall be thrown IN their way by the citizens Of
Charlottesville On the contrary they may rely
on receiving from the citizens Of Charlottesville
hearty co operation in the work with continued ex
ertions TO ralse all the funds possible to ls aid
The writer, however has always said, and will
still say, that whilst he Is perfectly scquiescent as
to the extension to the RaThest point possible he is
nevertheless OF the opinion it would be best for all
interests involved that the road should at first stop
at charlottesville, unless it could be at once con
duosed scrOss the mountain to Staunton II ia best
he thinks, that the terminus If ~ continue for any
length of time, should be at some town or village
and that the road should progress from town to
town, or village 70 village. and NOT stop at any in
termedlaie point IN The woods few miles beyond a