Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-11-21
The Junction Turnpike and the
Kail-rOaG.

Railroad.
The Lexington Gazette seems to have taken our
"edic" rather more seriously TO heart than we in
tended. We only meant TO express little pigue
at the course of our contemporary towards Stanton
and Augusta County, in reference TO the junction
Turnpike. man laboring 10 bear one heavy bur
den would naturally feel somewha. vexed at being
abused because he did not promptly shoulder anott-
er. The Gazette does not know, or has overlook
ed the fact, that, with the exception of tho noun
tain section, our county is making nearly the whole
of the Railroad now under way West of Charlottes-
vile.
II affords pleasure TO dissipate the fears OF the
Gazette, by stating that the citizens OF Stanton do
not wish to arrest the progress Of the Railroad at
this point On the contrary, the universal desire
is, that it should be extended practicable
not only to Covington, the Gazette suggests, but
to the Ohio River, and thus ultimately form link
in the great chain of railway connecting the Atau-
tic with the Pacific Ocean. The word "comple-
ted" as used by us, evidently referred to the en-
tension OF the road to Staunton, at present projected
and did not convey the idea which the Gazette
AS to the comparative advantages to S,aunton of
the Railroad and the Turnpike, the Gazette says
zone of the most practical and far SEEING men in
Virginia" has expressed himself in favor of the lat
ter. Strange opinion, truly The opinion of such
men generally, is that the chief if not the only adj
vantage OF the Turnpike will be as feeder to the
Railroad. Suppose the Turnpike made, and, as the
Gazette says, ga large portion of the rich products
of the whole region of country extending from the
Tennessee line down the rich and productive Val
ley of Virginia conveyed into the lap of Staunton"
What then without the Railroad2 in the words
OF certain stump orator, 'the market would be so
completely glutted that there would be neither in
gress, egress regress' 1t is apparent, however,
to every one, chat the Railroad clone can attract
trade in this direction-and hence its primary inn
portance.
}he Gazette states fact, if fact it be- very tit
tie calculated TO encourage citizens to subscribe
to the Turnpike. Ii seems that ''the upper por-
ton Of Augusta and the County of Rockbridge,
whose interests have always been identified, have
another string TO their bow (besides the Railroad
The James River Canal will answer a better pur-
pose TO convey their produce 10 market than the
railroad ever can" We then are called upon to
make road to CARRY The produce from our own
neghborhood 10 the Canal in Rockbridge, yet, zone
of the most practical and far seeing men in Virgin
ia asserts that this road sis of more Importance to
Stanton Than her railroad can ever be-" In one
paragraph, the Gazette represents the products of
the Valley as poured into the lap of Siaunton by
means of the Turnpike in another, it represents
them as turned directly away from Staunton by the
same means. Which will be the case? We think
the former, and, therefore, we advocate the Turn
pike.
30 much by way Of answer to the charge Of lib
crafty and want of public spirit brought against our
people, for not taking up the Turnpike with the
zeal that its importance would demand, if the Rail-
road were not still on hand We will not pursue
the subject further, or longer appear quarrel with
our friend of the Gazette. We fully agree with
him in reference 10 the desirabeness of the Turn
pike. We, however, insist upon the principle of
securing the more important work first, and of at
tending TO the other in due lime and in proportion
TO our means.