Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-17
For the Spectator.
SUNDAY Trains.


Sunday Trains.
The editorial OF the Vindicator dc es not pre-
sent the case OF the stopping the Su day mails
holders on the subject at their meet ng on the
2lst OF March, will give correct view of the
subject.
On the 9th day of March, the Board Of Direc-
tors passed resolution that after the lst day of
Aprll the Sunday trains on this road would be
stopped "West Of Gordonsville" west OF
charlottesville. That every one might know of
this action of the Board before the Stockholders
met, 1t was published in several newspapers for
TWO weeks before the meeting then the fact was
reported to the Stockholders, so that if they
should have been Of the opinion that the intend
ed stopping of the Sunday mails was improper,
there would be fair opportunity for them to
say so, and arrest the action of the Board. A
proposition was made at the meeting OF the
company to that effect, but the Stockholders de-
clned to Interfere, and did thus practically ex-
press their appreciation of what was done by the
Board.
A Stakeholder from Staunton called on the
PRESIDENT in the meeting to state what were the
considerations which induced the Board to pro-
pose to stop the trains on Sunday, west of Cor
louisville.
| In reply the President said that (waiving all
expression of opinion as to moral and religious
obligations on the question Of running mails gen.
orally on Sunday in this case, as would be seen
by reference to their report, the Board had based
their ACTION eolely on the cold calculation of
economy. Several years ago large numbers Of
Stockholders and other citizens west of Gordons-
vile and west of the Blue Ridge, petitioned the
Board to stop all Sunday running, and there was
at that time no counter petition.
1t was stated on the best apthGritT that the
nuNber OF passengers travelling on Sunday, west
of Gordonsville, was very small; that by the
time the train reached Staunton frequently there
would not be one single passenger on board
On the former occasion the existing nail COM
lped without loss Of pay, or it would have been
done in conformity with an order then made by
tine Board. The last proposals Of this Company
provided for mails only six times week, if the
Company should SO decide. The Company haY-
ling to pay somewhere about $50, 900 to the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Compa-
my, the Board felt more than ever bound to pur-
sue their policy of economy,
The President read to che meeting statement
made out from the Superintendent last Annual
Report of expenses '.per male ram, showing that
including only those charges which would be
discontinued by stopping on Sunday west OF
Gordonsville such as fuel, oil, wear and tear
&C., &C., and not including wages of men &C.,
which would continue, there would be saving
of upwards of $4,000, per annum, saying nothing
of damages for killing stock &c, 90, which b
greater on that day than any other, it being
supposed that any travel on Sunday must be
scarcely worth estimating which would not still
be reaped by the Company on Saturday or Mon
| day. l5st I
| After this, motion was made to stop the
Sunday running everywhere In reply to ques-
lions, the President stated that there was more
travel up to Gordonsville than west of it--that
by running to that point, mail and passenger
connections were kept up on the great Northern
and Southern line, and by means of the Orange
and Alexandria trains, also to Lynchburg. The
motion to stop all trains was defeated by laying
| it on the table.
motion was then made in effect to instruct
the Board not to stop soest Of Gord0nsuille; this
too was defeated by laying on the table. Thus
the whole action of the Board was virtually sns-
tanned by full meeting Of the Company, as a
measure of economy. A STooKHoLDER.
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRoLE-Reports
from New Orleans state that the Il. G.. C.'s were
in trouble. Gen Buckley, the commander, was
not forthcoming, and the Knights had held sew