Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-12
RAILROAD MEETING.


The President on taking his scat explained the
object Of the meeting, and introduced to the audi
dence Col. FoNrAINE, the President of the Louisa
Railroad Company, to hear whose remarks ON the
subject Of the extension of said Poad to the Eastern
base OF the Blue Ridge, they had assembled.
Coi fontaine entertained his hearers with an a
Die address, OF considerable length, wherein he re-
verted to his presence as delegate. in the Inter
nal Improvement Convention that assembled here
last Fall. lie spoke of the laudable spirit of inn
provement which then manifested itself in the peo.
pie OF Augusta. He regretted the apathy that now
seems to prevail, which appears unaccountable
since the liberalty of the Legislature has been SO
unequvocally shown by its prompt passage of an
act Tor the extension OF the Louisa Railroad in con-
forInity with the expressed wishes of that Conven-
ton. Tie was happy to learn, however, that this
apathy was in great measure attributable to the
false impression that has gone abroad that the Road
# extended at all, in this direction. would certain
~ terminate at Charlottesville an idea which is
not even entertained, at present, by the people of
tiiat place. They sec that an attempt to step the
improvement there must inevitably turn it away al
together. The Company are not to be satisfied
with the plcayune business Of 90 miles extension
then to stop. They look forward to the day when
TINS line OF Improvement is 10 tap the Ohio river,
and are therefore, unwilling to bind themselves to
mat. consequently, Il Tho people of Abemarle claim
CharottesvIlle as the final terminus, the COMPANY
VIII abandon that route altogether and 1ro to tho
mountain by Stanardsvillc. which is about the same
distance from Gordonsville that Charlottesville is
and thus secure to themselves the right under the
recent Act of Assembly, to pass the mountain at
iuture Day Another argument opposed to the ter
minatlon at Charlottesville is drawn from the fact
pretty well ascertalned, that it will cost within
$5O,OO0 as much to make the road to that point as
1t would to make it to the foot of the mountain by
the Stanardsvllle route. The cost from Gordons
vile TO charlottesville at fair and liberal calcua
ton will be about $4,000 per mile, or $500. 600
for the whole distance. Under the late Act the
Company are authorized TO increase their CAPITAL
stock S25O,OO0, which will enable them to reach
the mountain by Stanardsville; and they are, thus
iar, independent OF Alhemarle, SO far as the mere
object of ginning the Blue Ridge is conccrned.-
The main question therefore is, which route will
present the strongest claims for the benefit of extern
sion. Albemare has already subscribed S6OOOO
towards bringing the road in this drection-she has
other and powerful claims to be consilered-but
Will she be unaided-will she be able to accomplish
her landable purpose? 1t is feared not And even
IL the Company are preposscssed in favor of the
route. 1t is necessary that Augusta should step for
ward to secure 1t, by placing it in an equal attitude
with the Stanardsvle route before the meeting of
the stockholders of the old road. We must sub
scribe literally, so that the Company may decide
the question on It's merits, and not be driven to a
dopt The tc0rs route, whichever it may be- because
the means are wanting TO pursue the other and the
best Rockingham is moving in this matter, and
II we lie idle. her efforts will place her in higher &
more commanding position than we will or can &C
cupy when the question is to be decided between
us by the Company, be the natural advantages Of
our location what they nav
lie made comparative estimate oP the cost IF
McAdamzed and Railroads over such country as
that East of the Blue Ridge, showing clearly that
the latter has the advantage in cheapness of con-
structlon, and therefore preferable
lie also presented an argument drawn from facts
In favor OF cheapness of transportation by Rail
road from this place to Richmond, over that by
McAdamZed roads and Canals The saving To the
farmer by the Railroad from the base of the Blue
Rldge would be about so cts per barrel on his
Flour, or So on every l2 bbls., thus enabling him
Tor every ~ bbs. OF Flour he has TO sell annually
to take share of stock even if there should be no
dividends The So saved in transportation amount
ing to the annual interest one share of stock =
But the present dividends on the road stock, not
withstanding it runs through the most sterile DOR
ZION Oh virginia, Is per cent; and if so extended
as to reach the Valley trade it must, almost GER
tainly, reach per cent. He did not wish to be
understood as disparagng, in the slightest degree
NcAdamlZed roads, or the efforts of any Of our cit
Izens In favor of one to Scottsville; bnt from the
appearance OF things he feared it would be n Iona
time before such road would be made. and that
those In favor of that improvement might well aid
IN this without derlment to their avorite scheme.
Another advantage of having Railroad even if we
had the McAdamized would be the competition he.
tween the and consequent reduction of rechts
Another important consideration to the farmer as
well as merchant, is the promptness with which he
can avail himself OF rise in the markets. by the
rapid transportation ofhis produce on the Railroad
and the great increase of the productions of our
county, such as Lime, &c., &C., for the distant
market, (Which woud necessarily follow this i'm
P'ovemeht III our means of transportation deserves
particular attention.
In conclusion, he desired that we should throw
every safeguard around subscriptions for our
own protection. All he asked was that we should
stand OH an equal footing with other sections inter
ested Let our subscriptions be conditional so that
II we do not get the read we would have notbiDp tn
pay; but give the Company guaranty that if we
get IL we VIII assist in IFS constructions and thus
leave them unerbarsssed by mere speculatons as
70 our intentions and ability, when the important
question comes up for dccsion--who is to have the
road?
why should we hesitate? WHY remain behind
Rockingham, now so actively engaged on this i'm
poTtant subject? IL we let the moment OF action
pass, thd work is gone, iuetrevably gone, from u.s.
The above is brief, feeble and imperfect outline
Of the general course of remark pursued by Col.
fontane IN his able and interesting address on this
subject, OF so much importance to our best interests
Alter Col. F. had taken his seat, John l.. Pey-
ton, Esq, offered the following resolution which
was unanimously adopted
ReSofued, That when the meeting adiourns il
Will adjourn TO meet on the 18th Monday in August.
and that William Kinney, Lytteton VVaddcI and
DIR. F. +. Stribling, be and they are hereby an
pointed a committee 10 invite the Hon. w. G
Rives. Thos J. Randolph Valentine w. Soutball
and Gen. WIN. F. Gordon, and any other distin,
guisbed gentleman friendly to the extension of the