Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-26
H For the Spectator.
The Valley Rail Road Subscription.

In the last Spectator | presented some
reasons in favor of the proposed subscription,
by this county, to the capital stuck Of the Val
ley Rail Road.
Inow propose to examine an objection which
has been urged with some earnestness and ap
parent sincerity. The objection is, that the
interests of the city of Baltimore, and the
Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road, are suf1i-
cIent to secure the extension of this Road
to Salem, passing through the entire length
of our county, without any contribution
all the advantages which will flow from it. and
incur none of the burdens of its construction.
The people CT the county are therefore advised
to fold their arms in lstless inactivity, and wait
until according to correspondent of the Spec
tator of the l2th), Mr.. Garrett finishes the
road to Staauton This mastery inactivity,
so vehemently recommended by the opponents
of this subscription calls to mind that Hero of
Greek fable, Sho coming to rapid and deep
stream which poured its dark floods athwaIt
his pathway coolly and deliberately seated him
self upon its banks to wait until the turbid wa
ters should flow by, and permit him to pass
over dry shod. And had he not, according to
the philosophy of the SPECTATOR correspon
of events was surely in his favor the current
being rapid. Now, is the interest of the city
Of Baltimore iii this enterprise, sufficient to JUS
tify her IN incurring the expense necessary to
its completion? Let us examine this question,
briefly, in the light of facts.
Baltimore has already secured the trade of
the Valley as far South as the county of Rock
ingham She is. likewise connected by the
Alexandra s Orange, and Iynchburg and
Tennessee Roads with all the Valley South of
Salem these roads also connect her with that
system Of railways running through Tennessee,
Northern Georgia, Alabama &c. The only
country then whose trade she can hope to Sc
cure by this extension is that of the counties Of
these she will have to share with Richmond,
by means Of the Chesa. & Ohio Road, in this
county, the North River improvement in Rock
bridge, and the James River & Kanawha Ca
nal in Rockbrdge and Botetourt.
So that all the advantages Baltimore can Sc
cure is a part Of the trade Of the three
counties have named. (lt must be res
membered that the extension Of the Val.
ley Rail Road to Salem will secure to the
to the city of Baltimore. no new railroad con-
nection, for she is already connected with the
road Southwest Of that point. Now is this
sufficient to justify, On her part, the very large
outlay necessary to carry the Valley road to Sa-
lem? AS fertile, prosperous, and enterprising
Is
Of securing their entire trade be purchased at
too high rate, if she should pay for 1.-THE
whole cost Of building railroad from Harri-
sonburg to Salem?
That the city of Baltimore has large inter-
est in this extension is evident, but it is not
enough, by great deal, tojustify her in under
taking it alone nor to warrant US IN depending
upon her in matter so vital to our interests.
Yet it is enough to secure her hearty co-opera-
ton, valuable assistance and liberal contribu-
tions of money. In fact, without her aid the
counties Immediately interested cannot build
the road.
But in order to secure that aid we must put
our own shoulders to the wheel. If under the
advice OF the opponents OF this subscription,
we do nothing but fold cur arms and call upon
Hercules we will be left sticking in the mud
for all time. The only way in which we can
secure the extension of this Road, SO essential
to our interests, is by just and fair contribu-
tion Of our own means | think | may well
ask if it comports with the high spirit, and
Just pride of an honorable and chivalrous com.
munty to be influenced by appeals, to such a
narrow and heartess sel6shness as is involved
in the objection [ have been considering? Ad-
dressed to narrow minded and penurious peo-
pie they might have influence, but with the
citizens Of this noble county, who have always
been characterized by generous and public
spirited conduct. they WILL tee! sure, have less
weight than the lightest down that floats upon
the summer breeze.
There is another branch to the objection |
have been considering which | wish briefly to
notice. 1t is that the Baltimore & Ohio road
will extend the Valley road, at least as far as
Staunton, In order to ''tap' the Chesapeake
Ohio. A brief consideration Of this matter
will show | think, that there are no grounds
| upon which to build such hope. The great
object in constructing the Ches. 4 Ohio road is
the trade of the Northwestern States And
| for this she must compete with the Baltimore
| & Ohio on the banks of the Ohio river; and
if she can there at the start, offer such advan-
tages and facilities, as to secure that trade, by
what process is the Bait. Il Ohio road to de
prive her of any part of it by tapping" at
Staunton. or anv ether point on her line? The
| Ches. & Ohio road can effeetualy prevent any
diversion of trade from her line by discrimina,
ting in her charges against all freight for the
point tapped by her rival.
The correspondent of the Spectator" re
ferred to before, has quite a jeremiad over the
fate of Rockingham in reference to her Raj
Road subscriptions and says she now owns nc
stock in the Manassas Road, but her bonds are
still unpaid. This may be true for aught
know to the contrary But this | do know
she has the road, which Is much better thar
the stock, and | venture the assertion tina
Rockingham would not to day exchange ths
road for her bonds. She will receive ever.
wear. two or three times the amount Of interes
She has to pay in the enhanced prize of be
corn crop alone. FAkMEh.
January 10, 1869.