Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-03-14
DLUE-RIDGE RAILROAD BILL.

We announced to our readers in our paper of the
last week, that this Bill had passed the House of
Delegates, with the expression of belief Of It's
approval by the Senate. We are happy to say,
that approval has been given by decided vote.-
The proceedings, with the Bill, will be found in
another column. We congratulate the county I'D.
on result proptious Ito her interests, und in its
consequences, S" harmonizng TO feeling, expanding
10 Taee, and developing TO our varied resodrces=-
We congratulate our Delegates and Senator Upon
the success of their efforts on This deeply interest
ing question. We congratulate Virginia upon the
dawn of a better day for her advancement, which
shall grow brighter and brighter, as hcr Legislators
throw aside the fogs of prejudice and sel6shness,
and elevate themselves to the true standard of wise
and patriotic statesmen
10 us, railroads are new things, and much SPEC
ulaiion is directed TO the influence of such improve
ments upon the value of property. Itappears to us
this is premature, however natural the inquiry:-
The obvious facilities to transportation, at our dis
lance from market, should be the primary subject
OF congrstulation. Large farmers, with strong
teams, competent to achieve the huge labor of trans
portsston, may to be sure feel Kgorc interest in the
increased value Of their lands. Small farmers, I'M
able to keep more horses or mules than may be re-
cessary for producing their crops, (and these are the
great majorty,) will be more interested in getting
to market easier and cheaper. A single calculation
upon single item OF our productions, will show
the benefits to Augusta from this Improvement
Eighty thousands barrels of flour marketed in Rich
mono, at reduced cost in carriage of 50 cents to
the barrel, will bean anRsa saving to the peanty of
$4,000, and in ffke proportion whatever the re-
duclion in cost may be.
II, however, speculaiiors on the probable increase
of value to real property, must go on, and men will
ihnk and calculate where their interest is concern
ed--we can present nothing better than the sub
Joined letter from distinguished source to the Ed
itors Of the Nashville Union:
From the Louisville Josusad
The following letter, wt,ict, We presume was
written by the able President of the Nashville and
Chattandoga Railroad, shows results which we
have often predicted would attend the construction
of railroads in this State.
We commend the letter to our farmers as we'll as
legislators:
NAsHvILLE, Tenn, Feb 10, IS4o.
SIRs: There was, at the time Of making up the
subscription of the lille and Chattanooga rail
road. much said, and conflicting opinions express
ed, with regard to its effect upon the value Of real
estate, growing oat Of expected eahanced value of
the products at The soil, and Increased business in
the towns IN consequence of which have taken
some pains to make up something like an average
OF the present rise above the value two years ago.
and Ind 1t varies in the country from dollar per
apr Tho l.. -.
Nashville and that the lots adjoining the city have
risen fully three hundred dollars an acre, and many
OF them more than that, AID the lands out from |
three to ninety miles from Nashville have generally
risen and actual sales made at advances VARYING |
from live to fifteen dollars an acre. And the valley
lands beyond this point in the mountains have risen
from three TO ten dollars per acre, the road line
| have then determined that a fair and very low
average rise on the lands miles each side Of the
railroad would be five dollars an acre already,
which is gain to the land holders of Tennessee,
and on the line Of road of S64 900 per mile ofroad
or S9,I20,OOO on the whole one hundred and fifty
miles, equal to over three times the OF the road
which will not be as much $3,000,000, fully e.
qulpped and under way.
The rise IN town property has been in as great a
proportion, making at least 81 300 OO which adj
ded TO the S9,72S,G00 would make $l1 OPS 900.
l his may look large to those that have not had
their attention called to this subject but it is so new
erlheess. But even if were only one half or only
one fourth it would be equal to the whole cost of
the road. Thus, when it is Iecoected that all the
money subscribed in Tennessee is laid out again in
the State, and circulated and kept at home, the
cost of the road and much more is already a clear
gain 10 the country.
Under this suspicious stale Of things what would
be the extent of the calamity if the road should fail
70 be built OF which there cannot be doubt now.
II would be much worse than the loss of debt be-
cause this debt never was certain and cannot be I'M
I'll it is paid. But when landho!der has an adj |
vance oione, five, twenty dollars an acre on his
and there is no uncertainty about it this land is
bis own, and the rise Of course his
The mountain land, the least valuable in the |
State, lying within ten or fifteen miles of the rail |
'oad line, that would not, two years ago. command
me cent per acre, is now ready sale at dollar and
upwards.
These are facts worthy of considerations particu- |
arly where there is scarcely land or city proper
y holder whose stock is not already more than re-
llized 10 him in The rise Of his property In fact,
have known Of sales Of a single piece Of property |
1t sufficient advance 10 pay the whole stock ia |
Ken by the seller in fair proportion to his whole
property.
These facts are certainly cheering. and should
,e thought Of, and act as an encouragement to
prompt, cheerful and immediate payment by stock |
holders of their calls TO enable the vigorous prose
;utiOn Of this work, upon which depends 80 much |
If the actual value Of the property of the stockho
iers and the welfare Of the whole State-for she |
would reap full share Of gain, in the increased
value Of taxable property, and in character, from
SUCCESS in 50 great work Tr0ly, S: