Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-10-17
RAILROAD.

Cars shall pass through the tunnel Of the Blue |
Ridge! If not the commencement OF our prosperi |
ty, it will give date to the removal of the greatest
obstacle to its advancement-a distant market and
toilsome transportation.
Had it not been for the native energy of our pop-
ulation. these mountain barriers and weary roads
would long ago have chilled all ardour in the march
OF general improvement. With this energy, accom-
panied by frugality and care, we have advanced a
galnst opposing circumstances, and to an extent
whose chief limits physical and insurmountable
distractions. We of the Valley have been noted
tor putting up dwellings the Springs, for con-
venlence and economy-for placing barns in favor
able positions to the fields, with view to the in.
gathering of the crops and the outgoing of the ma
nures Many have resorted to the expedient Of con-
verlng their grain into stock and spirits, by way
OF facilitating and condensing transportation to dis
tant markets.
linus tutored in the school of necessity and driv-
en- to all sorts of shifts and turns TO better their con-
dltion, no people ought to hail in louder and more
congratulating tones the opening up of great high
way of trade the prosraon of barriers to the great
emporiums, and the rapid conveyance ,hither of
their Astounding productions.
NS - 10 'o' III lot transporting The
existing staples alone. that our advantage will be
found by the Improvements in progress The in
HANGED value of lands, the developments Of new
sources of wealth. and the stimulus to industry and
enterprise, will be natural consequences On these
points, we have the sure testimony of experience in
other sections of the country less favored than our
| own. Facts are truths not admitting of argument,
and OF these, there is an array which must satisfy
the most skeptcal. Independently Of these, rational
| reflection would lead 10 the same CONCLUSIONS
What causes Pennsylvania lands to exceed ours so
far In marketable value? 1t is idle to talk of slave
labor and free labor in reference the precise ques-
ton here stated Slave labor will always he emf
nenty profitable where the owners lead the work,
instead of driving the hands. Universal experience
proves that whenever the driving is suspended, the
work languishes. The hardy yeomen of this sec
ton of country know far better how to manage this
matter than the "chivalry" of other sections
"Come, boys" not ego, boys,' is our policy
Two considerations only, solve the question pro-
posed above-easy transportation for production
with the increase Of production itself, by the free
use of lime. Ours is lime stone country Every
farm almost in Augusta excepting the pasture re-
gion) a5ounds with this article which has so much
increased the value Of Pennsylvania lands. And
why is 1t not freely used by our farmers? Give
them the means OF dsposng of, at profit, the sur
| plus OF their kllns, which Pennsylvanans enjoy
and lime will come into free use not only to the en-
rlching of our lands but to the replenshng Of our
pockets, by sales in other sections TO u.s. where
e-stone is not known and yet, in prepared state,
equally adapted TO the soil. To effect all this, no.
| ff,in 81,
Lime, then, at present comparatively Improbable
| article, must become by means of these improve
ments, profitable in triple view; as an article Of
traflic-as valuable manure, and as thereby in
creasing the value of our lands.
But this is not ALL We heard gentleman re-
mark, few days since, that so soon as the railroad
was completed to Staunion he should engage in the
hay trade. Providing himself with pressing ma
chine, and purchasing from the farmers meadows,
he anticipated large profit in the Richmond mar
ket whore Northern hay sells for more than $50
per ton.
More than this-the lumber business is destined
to become exceedingly profitable, Astounding. as the
County of Augusta does, in valuable timber for
shingles, slaves, plank and scantling. Steam Saw
Mills must come into use here well as elsewhere
as they would have done long SINCE but for the
want Of that which we shall now have, cheap trans
portation 10 ready markets. And last, in the pre-
sent enumeration, but not least in the estimation Of
profits, the iron manufactures and trade which
under the operation ofa "judicous tariff" even for
revenue, with cheap carriage, would render our
mountains and hills more permanently valuable than
The placers Of California.
, Many othor considerations might be presented,
connected with the influx of population and capital,
f with the advantages TO higher schools in this
the most saubrious region Of the State, shortly to
be rendered accessible through the agency Of Steam
Let these suffice for the present. as hints for The re-
3 Elections and calculations Of the considerable
The social and political influences Of this and such
improvements greatly enlarge the field OF vision and
interesting reflection. The binding together Of the
Eastern and Western sections of the State By inds.
soluble manifestations, between which jealousies
had been felt--6onds, which revolutionary and
still later "reminiscences should never have per.
milted to decline in stTeDgth-ths single con.
} summation makes epoch But when il 10 re-
: membered, that ours is but a link of manv chains
Of improvement which shall bind the union Of
the Staies-wben, moreover, the discoveries OF
modern science have set aside former notions, as to
the extent Of Republic, the heart swolls upon the
one view, and the imagination faers upon the 9th
er. Finding ourselves "out Of the record " we deem
: ii prudent TO recur 70 the first idea-What day
for Augusta when the first train Of Cars shall pass
through the tunnel Of the Blue RIDGE