Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-07-07
For the Spectator
Chesapeake and Ohio Rail Road.

For the Spectator.
Chesapeake and Ohio Rail Road.
Mr. EDITOR: In my last tried to point
out some of the advantages that would result
to the State at large from the construction of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail Road. In this
[ desire to call attention to some of the special
advantages, that will result to the county of
Augusta from it's construction if it is built by
the Virginia Central Rail Road Company.
First, if the road is built by the plan now
proposed, in aid of which Augusta County is
asked to subscribe the sum of $3.50, ,O0O-you
are guaranteed the short line from Charlottes-
vile to Richmond. This line will shorten the
distance from Augusta to Richmond nearly 25
per cent and more than % per cent if we take
into consideration the fac. that the air line road
will have better grades and none of the short
curves that are on the pre-, entToad. What eff
feet, Mr.. Editor, will the building Of this short
line have upon the purses Of the people of Au-
gusta? 1t will save to them and keep in cir
culation in the county 25 per cent Of all the
money they annually pay out for freigbts and
travel on the Central Road. Have you any
idea what amount that is? Turn to page 81,
Statement c., Of the last annual report of the
Virginia Central Rail Road Company, and you
will find that for last year there was paid for
freights alone at the several Depots in Augusta
County the sum Of $l44, 800, 24c, and this
amount has been greatly increased this year.
To simplify the calculations, say there is paid
by the people Of Augusta every year to the
Central Road for freights alone AS thousand
dollars. The passenger fare has not been kept
separate, but on the whole road it amounts to
about as much as the freights, it is therefore
fair to infer that Augusta County pays as much
for passenger fare as she pays for freights, if
this be so the whole amount paid out by the
county last year was 290 thousand dollars. Ii
the short line had been completed 25 per cent
of 900 thousand dollars would have been saved,
which is $72, 800 or more than twice as much
as the County will ever have to pay on the sub
scription she is asked to make.
But the cost of transportation will be re.
duced On the road in another way. 1t is a well
ascertalned fact that no rail road depending en-
tirely upon the local trade or travel along its
line ever has or can be profitable to the stock
holders, nor can it carry freight and travel as
cheaply as the roads that connect the great
centres CT production and commerce, because
company Cant afford to carry half loads tor It's
engines at the same price per ton that 1t could
carry full loads-hence if you increase the
trade and travel on road the Company can at
ford to reduce the charges, and when this road
is extended to the Ohio River it comes into
competition with other roads--competltlon re-
duces the price of transportation, and Hour,
corn, hay, lime, iron, beef, bacon and every
in the market-whilst salt, plaster, guano, gro
ceries and everything you have to buy will cost
you less on your farms.
Augusta with its immense water power, and
mineral resources ought to be great mining
and manufacturing as well as great agrcultu-
raj county. To say nothing Of her lumber, her
lime and her manganese she has immense quan
titles of as fine iron ore as can be found in the
world, but it is useless until rail road is built
to the coal mines. All that is needed to make
Augusta the richest county IN the world is
cheap transportation.
Again. this Rail Road will add greatly to the
value Of your lands. See what the Baltimore
and Ohio Road has done for the lands through
which it passes-in 20 counties lying on and
nearest to the Baltimore and OHIO Road there
are 4,5ll, ,197 acres of land, and the real and
personal property of these counties as shown
by the auditors report is $74, ,6O6,974, which is
at the rate of &c., soc per acre, while the 2C
counties on and nearest the line Of the Chesa
peake and Ohio Rail Road contain 9,5S2, ,9S2
acres and the value of the real and persona
property is $34, ,6O4, ,666 or at the rate Of $3,
6Oc per acre. This immense difference in the
the value of the real and personal property il
due solely to the Baltimore and Ohio Raj
hOau, because inc COUNTY .i"Feio0u Wy ou
rail road is superior in so climate and minera
resources.
Finally the building of this road will be al
immense aid to us in getting out Of our politi
cal troubles. Cheap Transportation stimulate
industry, increases production, brings capital
digs minerals from the bowels Of the earth
starts manufactures, demands labor, builds cit
les and brings hard working white population
from abroad who will sympathize, think, ac
and vote with the white men OF the State.
To secure these great benefits, what are tn
people of the county asked to do? They ar
only asked to loan their credit for $25O,OoO
and pay the interest on it for very short time
In other words they are asked to subscribe fo
$3.50 900, worth of the preferred stock OF tn
Chesapeake and Ohio Rail Road Company
This subscription they are. to pay with the
bonds, bearing 8 per cent interest, and to