Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-11-20
Salt.


We are glad to see that Ii. D. Bird, Esq, the Su-
perintendent Of the Souhside Railroad Petersburg,
has given notice that that company las made
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 bespeaking train Of
cars must have $500 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
Is cents. The Southside Road connects with the
Virginia and Tennessee Road at Lynchburg The
salt works at Abingdon, Va, about one hundred
miles west Of Statesville 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 day
but this is much better than to have to depend on
spectators for the article and to have to pay $l5
to $40 per sack.
There are three things which, looking to con-
tinuance 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 none for farming or Railroad pur
poses. Thirdly, company or companies should
be encouraged by State a;d to make salt on the sea-
shore South Carolina has gone into the latter busi
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 hat shall be done with those spectators
who have salt on hand, purchased for 81 to 81 per
sack, at the outside and who asking SIS to $40
for ity Will they complain at being compelled to
sell at hundred per cent. profit? That would be
S. to SS per sack. But would not fifty per cent. be
an ample profty We say let the strong arm Of the
law be LAID on all extortloners whether in salt or
other articles. The suffering poor, the weak, the
defenceless the laborious and the worthy, are too
much at the mercy of sharpers and SPECTATORS
They must be protected. They cannot collect their
honest dues ON those who might pay if they would
for there is almost law for the collection Of debts
utCtSSd ico vi diC ucu dG " tCOS
be enormous, if such people had what is justly
their own; and the back of all this salt, which
preserves life is soldat five or 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 II should become scarce
and command high prices, but few will complain;
but dearth Of corn or meat or salt will be vitality
felt and may even cripple our people in their strug
gle for Independence. +
These remarks are, Of course. general We hare
had no one in our eye while writing them. But
they true, and it viii be we'll for all Of us if we
heed them in time. So, +. :