Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-23
Very truly, Your friend
CARNOCK.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.

FOR THE SPECTATOR.
.Messrs Edilors:- Believing You to be interest
ed in every improvement calculated TO benefit ou
good old County, hope you will allow me the
privilege through the medium Of your valuable pa
per, TO call the attention of those Immediately in
terested TO the Importance OF raising he sum OF
ten thousand dollars in order to secure the States
subsc Upton of fifteen thousand, with the view OF
constructing the road by The name Gas passed the
Legslature) of'1'he >Sraunton and North River
Gap Turnpike" commencing at The Coal Banks
in said Gap FIVE miles West Of MI Solon, and Ter
minaling a. Staunun. | am confident that the
larger portion of the people of our County are moi
fully aware of the value and importance of this i'm
provemeat. Those residing in Northwest Angus
ia only can duly appreciate the advantages, which
are To flow from it, not only 10 our own region, but
to our County seat. soon trust 10 be our railroad
depot. Lei me briefly mention some of the disad-
vaniages under which this portion of our County
abours for The want OF this work. 1t is generally
known that from Staunlon to MI. Sulon we have
the worst road in the Valley of Virginia. for SO
public a thoronghfare, the grade at. many points
being so steep that four horses are fagued by pull
ing an empty wagon over the several long hills
between The two points. II is nothing uncommon
10 hear our citizens say that they would prefer 90
ing TO Harrison5urg aud back, rather than once to
Slaunlon The writer is perfectly familiar with
The resources of this portion of our County, having
been close observer Of the facts which he intends
stating for the last IL years. We have three large
FIGURING Mills and Furnace in Our immediate
vicinity, and am confident when assert chat nine
barrels of -four out Of every ten manufactured is
hauled to Winchester, though the road from Staun-
ton is in good order in the direction of ScottsvlIe
and Richmond. Why is this? Our farmers will
e you we cannot get to Stanton with half a
load. Thus they seek the advantages derived
from the Warm Springs and HarrisOnburg Turn
pike running through our neighborhood. The pro.
duce is then carried on the McAdamiZed Road TO
Winchester and finally to Baltimore.
The writer has lately seen from IS to 30 wag
ons in une week pass The village of Mt. Solon from
the middle and lower portions ofPendleton, loaded
with wheat, shingles, tree sugar, beeswax talow,
hides, &c., &c., which were anxious 10 reach
Slaunton; but fearing the lawful bills" between
here and there, were forced TO 60 down stream to
Harrisonburg, and the smaller villages Of Rocking
ham, In barter their loads for any goods, groceries,
&c. 'fhus you will al once perceive The loss sus-
lained by your enierprIsng Merchants. We have
in our vicinity 20 Saw mills averaging for SIX
months 500 feet ut lumber per cay, making near
three millIuDs Of feet which reaches Mt. Soloh. the
hall of which we may say goes in another dlrec-
ION Tor want of good road to your town. This
article of lumber mostly barered away too for
goDd- groceries. &c.
We SPEAK from strict personal observation when
We say that at the Rockingham Courts you will
ser five men from the nplghbnrhoud where you
will see one al our County seat. whenhe distance
too is the sane. Why is lhs2 The people will
tell You, owing to the great difference IN the
roads, one good horse aud carriage or buggy will
take four or five persons 10 tarrisonbnrg with more
ease than a single rider can gel TO hisow County
town and in less lime Yes, it is proverbiaI with
business men that they can see FIVE men from
North western Augusta IN the town OF Harrison
burg nn Court day. 10 one IN stanton. Persons
going from this region 10 Stanton are rinpeled to
do SO on businpss-ii is a matter OF dire necessity
Should this be so? Ought not our County pride
arrest it2 am confident that from ten 10 fifteen
thousand dollars are yearly expended in The coun-
ty of Rockingham for vauables Of necessity which
would be spent in our own County town, II we had
better road To reach ii. am not disguised Messrs.
Editors Ia exaggerate. lspeak knowingly alter some
pains taken To get my statistics.
And moreover, Gentlemen, the worst has not
come upon US yet. Should the Manassas Gap
RafaG terminate at Hauisonburg, which it is
certain TO do and make that point depot, can
assure you there is no calculating the loss which
will be felt by our county, and your h1urlshing
town unless this OF similar improvement be con-
slrucled As certain as our streams run IN that d.
reclun and our roads TO Harsonourg are as good as
they now are, the entire trade from this extensive
and furnishing region Of our county must seek II as
a depot.
In addition to the Improvements already enumeI-
aled and nur great advantages for Goal. Iron Luin-
Der, Sc, We have, you reaware another improve
lneni ut great Importance IN our midst allude 10
the large and cummodpus Paper Mil, now III
rapid course of completion, ready In few weeks
TO Turn off from twenty To twenty i've thuusand
dollars worth Off paper per annum OF every shade
and variety, and which must seek too either oiaun-
ton or Harisonburg as Depot after the complexion
Of their respective railroads This establishment
which is an ornament not only 10 Western Virgin
ia but to the entire State, is under lis worthy aud
enlerprsing proprietors Messrs. Clarke, Miller Il
Hall, and which owing to the cheapness OF the ma
teria used here as compared with the prices in our
Northern and Eastern cities, will be of incacula-
bile benefit to us. Our Printers, Merchants and
others. will now have i, in their power "to encour
ACE home industry" and are not under the necess-
~ of going North for their paper, which they can
get here on better terms and as good if not of
peror quality. This elegant establishment is e.
recied on the most modern plan and on strict keep
ing with the Improvements in that branch Of ma
chinery.
know you will say with me the road should be
made with all possible speed. Is not then our duty
plain? Let us then 90 TO work ard raise the ten
thousand dollars forthwith. Come to our aid you
enlerprsing Merchants OF Staunion and all her pub
lie spirited citizens the tax will be light and you
will be paid lenfo6- To those along the line u
Improvement and at our terminus, would say, q.
rouse he up and doing The pad, should u axe ue
route in contemplation or even paw =. a NV,
will be light matter. Many ofthe %ots1 anu are
now graded by considerable labor ana eHpease 70
3, dee,ees Mark the prediction and marx us iui
61.nant ,oo-if This Improvement be made It IS
"no ~ the must important Of lis kind to our county
Wy H. IL .e established Should il fail, which
,rrs, NAV not be The case, we must lose Vast a.
'ao,ol II capital which will inevitably he directed
IN another chanue North, west Augusta is rapidly
IN The increase in every element Of wealth and
pr ,sprily. ''Lel us then finish the work and reap
rs advantages. MESSY CREEK.
April 1851.
95- Thos. Dmmmond. who has been in jail on
suspicion Of being one Of the murderers vi the Gus
den family. in Md has confessed, charging seve-
raj persons with the crime, all Of whom are now