Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-11-16
Salt.

We arc glad to see that H. D. Bird, Esq, the Su-
perintendent Of the SouthSide Railroad Petersburg
has given notice that that company las made ar
rangements with the Virginia and Tennessee Rail-
road by which salt can be procured from the salt
works in Western Virginia. and delivered in Peters
burg at fair rates. The conditions upon which the
salt will be sent for by the Petersburg Company are
that spectators must have nothing to do with
it, and the party or parties bcspeaking a train Of
must have :, 800 bushels ready to load at the
works, and hands to load it. The charge per hun
dred weight from the works to Petersburg, will be
Go cents. The SouthSde Road connects with the
Virginia and Tennessee Road at Lynchburg. The
salt works at Abingdon, Va, about one hundred
miles west Of Ststesve, in this State We learn
that several of the farmers in Chatham county,
and many persons further west, have sent their
wagons to the works in Virginia for salt The
article will cost them from $40 to Sl2 per sack,
making full allowance for their teams per dav
but this is much better than to have to depend on
spectators for the article and to have to pay SI5
to go per sack.
There are three things which, looking to con-
tnuance Of the blockade and the war, ought to be
done at once First, a connection should be made
between the iron and coal region of Chatham Coun-
ty and the Railroads of the State Second, manu-
factories of iron ought to be established for unless
they are, iron will become exceedingly scarce We
shall have little or for farming Railroad pur-
poses. Thirdly a company or companies should
be encouraged by State aid to make salt on the sea.
shore. Carolina has gone into the latter bust
ness and it is expected that in the course of few
weeks large quantities of salt will be produced at
some point on her coast.
But what shall be done with those SPECTATORS
who have salt on hand, purchased for 81 to 81 per
SACK at the outside, and who asking sI5 to $50
for it? Will they complain at being compelled to
sell at one hundred per cent profit? That would be
81 to IS per sack. But would not fifty per cent be
an ample profit? We say let the strong arm of the
law be laid on all extortioners, whether in salt or
other articles The suffering poor, the weak, the
defenceless, the laborous and the worthy, are too
much at the mercy of sharpers and SPECTATORS
They must be protected They cannot collect their
honest dues fom those who might pay they would,
for there is almost law for the collection of debts
The necessares of life held at prices which would
be enormous, if snch people had what is Justly
their own; and the back of all this salt, which
preserves life is sold at five six times its value
while corn, the very staff of life is being turned for
gain into whiskey. We say nothing against good
whiskey in its place, but do protest against dis
tng it in large quantities from corn or wheat, or
rye at a time like this. When the poor ask for
bread, will ye offer them whiskey? Keep the corn
for hungry MOUTHS and let whiskey take care of it.
self while the war lasts lift should become scarce
and command high prices, but few will complain;
but dearth Of corn, meat salt will be vitality
felt, and may even cripple people in their strug-
gle for independence. r-s u
These remarks are, Of course, general We have
had no in our eye while writing them. But
they are true and it viii be well for all of us if we
heed them in time