Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-03-10
For the Spectator. ]

\ I have no desire to weaken the force OF any
fair considerations presented In favor OF this
measure - but, when the county has no special
or peculiar interest other than her share IN the
general prosperity Of the States to be promoted
] by the proposed road, l. as one OF her citizens
1 am not willing to see her GENEROUSLY taxed for
| the special benefit of other States and commu-
mites, without lifting my voice, however feeble
and uninfuential it may be, against the con-
/ templated injustice.
| I must be permitted to say, that think Col
T. has utterly failed in showing that the bonds
of the county, if the subscription is made, will
not have to be paid. His arguments that the
bonds will be such safe investment that they
! will be sought after by capitalists and nothing
| but the interest be demanded. Now, II they
are to be so desirable an investment, why is 1t
that they are to be exchanged for stock in Ches-
apeake & Ohio Railroad at discount of ten per
| cent?
AS to the value of the stock of the road when
| completed, it is too far in the future, and de-
pendent upon too many contingencies, for pru-
dent and sagacious people to incur pecunlary
obligations trusting to its value for reimburse
ment. Railroads have never been sought by
capital as good investments and Col. f., IN
his address, informs the people that the capt.
talists, of both Europe and the United States,
turned their backs upon this particular scheme,
refusing to invest dollar in it. We all know
that this project, brilliant with splendid pros
poets and rich in golden harvests, has, as its
| friends insist, for some time, under various
charters, been begging acceptance at the hands
| OF any company, corporation, or ASSOCIATION OF
| capitalists who could be induced to administer
its auriferous franchises and, after thus david
| ling in vain year or two about Wall Street
and the Bourse, it returns to poor, oppressed,
down trodden and disfraaehised Virginia for
laid and comfort.
| COL E. thinks [ committed great error in
stating that the agricultural products of the
| West sought the great cities of the Northern
and Eastern States for a market; and says, that
the productions of the West are sent East, in
order to be exported to foreign countries. Now,
it is well known, that but very small per cent
age Of the agricultural products Exclusive OF
tobacco and cotton) OF the United States, is ex-
ported. Most of the surplus is consumed by
the non producing classes, constituting the pop
ulation of the great cities and manufacturing
towns. Before the war, when the cotton mills
of New England were in the full tide OF sue
cessful operation" [ have no doubt, they con-
sumed in starch more -four than was exported
from the entire country Col. f. says railroads
and canals have not been built for the purpose
of supplying food to the populations of the
great cities to which they converge. Upon this
subject, [ will not enter into controversy with
him, but will simply state, that if he would cut
off railroad and canal communication from New
York, he would starye the city as effectuay as
if he were to beeaguer it with Grant army. .
| am entirely willing to admit that the coal of
| West Virginia, when this road Is built will,
Notwithstanding Col. E. opposite Illustrations,
come to the Augusta ore banks. But then,
what will be the largest and most brilliant re-
suit we can safely count upon? Why, some
two or three iron furnaces along the Western
base of the North Mountain, and these could be
supplied with all the agricultural products they
would need by VIM. Dunlap, Jacob Baylor, or
S. I'll. Bell The idea that large towns, like
Pomeroy on the Ohio, are to grow up in few
years around Estaline and Elizabeth Furnaces,
is too Utopian to argue about.
I said, in former communication, that the
Chesapeake & Ohic Road, and the ''short
track" did not sustain to each other the rela
ton of cause and effect And that, there
fore, the latter could not be used legitimatey as
an argument in favor of the former The cor
rectness of this statement is demonstrated by
Col. f., when he states that the City of Rich
mond has made the ''short track" a condition
precedent to the payment Of her subscription Of
two millions; and, as the Covington 4 Ohio
Road cannot do without this subscription, they
will, of course, comply with the condition
Col. E. closes by saying, "a Farmer is mis-
taken in supposlng any persons, allowed by the
laws of Virginia to vote, this question, are to
be excluded from the polls on the 3rd of April.
!, That by an order of General Schofeld, the
voting is not to be confined to the registered
voters" This, am truly glad to learn. And
it shows, not only, how much better General
Schofeld is than the system he is called to ad
minister, but, also, how much more considerate
he is of the rights and interests of the people
than either the County Court or the peculiar
friends of this subscription. But there is one
matter in which | think Col. Fontaine will agree
5that IA Farmer is not mistaken and that is
that large class of persons will be allowed tc
vote upon this question Of taxation, who viii
not contribute one dime towards the completion
of the road, and who have not intelligence
enough to understand or appreciate any of the
important considerations and interests involved
When the Chesapeake & Ohio Road is com
pleted it will come into direct and active com
petition with the Baltimore & Ohio, and Other
roads, connecting with Northwest, for the trade
and travel of that populous and fertile region
The effect of this competition will be the reduc
ton of the charges for both freight and travel
But what people is to reap the benefit of this
reduction? Those who built the road? By nc
means There is no competition for their freight
and travel. The competition, with all its ad
vantages, enures to the benefit Of communities
who contribute nothing to the construction Of
: this road. We hear of no subscriptions in Gal
liza, Lawrence, or other counties of Ohio. But
it is the -four and other products of Ohio which
are to be carried to market at cheapened rate
in consequence of the competition created by
this very road. But it creates no competition
for the products of Augusta. She is left to ex
actly the same facilities for getting to market
she enjoys at present without this tax of three
hundred thousand dollars. In order to sustain
herself under the active rivalry that will be in
augurated between the Chesapeake & Ohio
and the Baltimore & Ohio Roads, the former
will have to keep up charges on aoay, that she
may reduce them on the through, freight and
travel And thus, by voting this subscription,
the people Of this county will not only tax them
selves in order to build road for the benefit Of
other people, but will impose upon themselves
a perpetual charge in the form of high freights,
in order that this road may carry cheaply for the
people of the Northwest.
This is no fancy sketch, but is the history OF
all the railroad connections between the Eastern
cities and the Western States. So fragrant had
this become, few years before the war, that it
attracted the attention of the New York Legis-
lature, and the Investigations Of committee of
that body disclosed the fact, that -four, from
Milwaukee, Chicago, st. Louis, and other points
in the Far West" was delivered in New York
city, at about what it cost to carry -four from
Buffalo, Rochester and other places in the
Western part of that State. And, whenever
the Chesapeake & Ohio Road is completed this
history will he reneated here Ohio fiour will