Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-04-19
CONINIENTS

Under this act, if the freeholders vote for the
subscription, the county court will make it on such
terms rs will be most advantageous to the county
The county court Of Augusta will subscribe such
sum as will be necessary TO construct the road from
StauntOn TO the top of the mountain The Staun-
ton and James River Company are willing 10 con-
tract that the money that may be subscribed in Au-
gusta shall be expended In Augusta. Albemarle is
willing to meet Augusta at the top of the mountain
The grade OF the mountain varies from five to nine
degrees The grade with the road will be re-
duced to 3 TO 81 degrees. The Farmer will be en-
abled to carry from 20 to as bbls of flour al load
The cost of transporting barrel of flour to Scots
vile is now, say rs cts. Ii two barrels could be
carried instead of one, there would be a saving of
31s cents barrel in the carriage. Suppose So
OOO barrels OF flour sent to market the saving would
be SlS,15O-deduct from this sum third for in
crease of tolls, Sc, and there would still be an an
nual saving of $l2 800 10 the County on $4,000
barrels of flour alone. Far more than the annual
tax fit were to continue forever, instead Of for a
few years only There would be similar saving
on all other articles of export.
What would be the tax to each individual p
Suppose Mr.. A. owns tract of land worth $4,000,
his annual tax for the road would be So This
would continue. say for five years. 1t is reasona-
Bile to suppose that one year with another Mr. A.
raises for marker at least 20 bbls. of flour Well.
If by the construction of the road he saves in the
transportation of his flour only 25 cts barrel, his
tax is refunded to him if he saves 80 cts a barrel
he will pocket ST. 20. and still pay his tax and so
in proportion the diminuiion of the cost of trans
poriatiOn will his saving be.
Will the stock yield any dividends? The Cant
tai stock will be $i75 GOO: six per cent. on this
sum would be SIC, 500-the expense of keeping ND
the road would be about $4,000. Suppose 10000
barrels of flour sent from Augusta Bath PendIe-
ton, Pocahontas and parts of Rockbridoe and Rock
1 W hlch no L.
To transport this quantity of flour at % barrels TO
the load, would require $500 trips to Scotsville-
each trip would yield going and coming $3.50 of
tois--ths would produce aggregate Of $l2, $50
add one fourth for tolls on wagon carving iron.
corn, oats, potatoes. hay and other produce and the
sum would be Sl5,062 l-2. Something should be
added for tolls on Albemarle and Nelson produce,
and on stages and trave.-But suppose the gross
income 10 be only Sl5,062 l-2 as above stated
deduct $1,000 the cost of repairs &C.. and the nett
income Of the road would be $ll ,062 I-2-more
than SIX per cent. on the capital.
The gross income Of the Valley Turnpike com
pany last year was S23,C00, and this wear the Pre-
sldent estimates the gross receipts at $4,000. An
act was passed at the last session of the General
Assembly, converting the debt Of the State into
stock, and authorizing the company to declare divi-
dends Besides paying off the nstalmenis of the
outstanding debt, the company expects this year to
declare dividend of about three per cent. and i'm
Il short time the stock must be six per cent stock
The quantity Of produce transported over the
Scotsville road, if graded at three degrees, must
be greater than is now carried over the Winches-
ter road. The road would be only az miles long
and would necessarily draw trade even from Har-
rsonburg in word. it would be the Farmers
road. and would prove an eminent blessing to the
county.
Will there be any conflict between this road and
the Louisa Railroad Assuredv NOT so far as tho
interests of Augusta are concerned. a choice Of
markets keeps up the price of produce and choice
OF the means of transporting produce keeps down
the price of freight; that the interest of the far
mer would be promoted by having both roads If
the Louisa Railroad were extended to Staunton.
and there were no other outlet to market there
would be monopoly of the trade in the hands of
the company. Suppose both roads constructed
the resources OF the country would be developed to
such an extent that both roads would do a large
business. There need be no apprehension on this
account.