Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-12
For the Spectator
Valley Railroad Subscription.

The people of Augusta have acted wisely in
refusing to cucumber themselves with debt of
$500, 900 for the Valley r. r. This is no time
to incur new and heavy obligations. We are
not able to pay what we owe now and it would
seem to be rash, if not reckless, to run still
further in debt With what face can we ask Gen.
Stoneman to extend the stay law, in regard to
old debts, if We forthwith incur new ones?
Let us take warning from the example Of
Rockingham That county contracted a debt of
$4,000 to pay for stock in the Manassas Gap
road Her bonds were issued and sold, and
are now outstanding The road was built, main
ly on credit, and deed of trust was given to
secure the money spent In its construction.
When the debt became due, the company was
unable to pay, and by some com promise the
road, with it's franchises, has been sold, nominal
ly to the Orange & Alexandria company, but
really las is generally supposedly to the Baltimore
& Ohio r. R. company. The result is that
Rockingham does not own dollars worth of
the stock of the road, though she has incurred,
and now owes $780, 900 Of principal, and three
or four years interest on account OF her subscrlp
ton. ~. .. ...a
If Augusta subscribes 100000 to the Val
ley R. r., she will soon find herself In similar
condition, only aggravated in proportion to the
larger amount subscribed. The road will be
built, on credit, aud matters will go on swim
mingly for while, but when pay day comes,
we cannot meet our charlottesville road
will be sold out under the mortgage. The
Baltimore & Ohio r. R. company will step in
and buy it for trife, and Mr.. Garrett will
have the satisfaction Of owning the road built
with our money, and we will be left with our fin
gers IN our mouths.
do not find fault with Mr.. Garrett. He is
pursuing a wise policy in getting other people
to build roads for him if he can. But we will
be very soft if we allow ourselves to be the
victims Of his policy.
| admit the road will be benefit to US. But
when Mr. Garrett looks to the interest of his
company, let us look to our own. The matter Is in
our own hands if we know how to improve our
opportunities. The ques ton Is not as to the
construction, or non construction OF the road.
The only question to be settled is, who is to
build and pay for it. The construction of it
is inevitable Mr.. Garrett has already spent
millions on the road up to Harrisonburg. He
will soon find that it will not pay until 1t is ex-
tended up the Valley-until it intersects the
great through lines. He will find himself in the
condition Of a man who has built a bridge nine
tenths OF the way across a stream. He Will
therefore be obliged, in order to make his other
Stanton, and ultimately to Salem.
Let us then be patient The tendency of
events is in our favor. Instead spending our
money for the benefit of the Baltimore Il Ohio
r. 4. Company, let us spend it In our own
county, and for the benefit of our own people,
by making good we'll graded McAdam roads
from Staunton and other points, stretching In
to all parts Of the county so as to give our PEG
pie ready access at all seasons to their county
town, and the R. r. Depots. This course will
contribute much more to the enhancement OF
our lands, and the advancement Of the public
interests, than the proposed subscription to the
Baltimore road
The great difficulty with our people is, now,
in getting to the R. r. with their produce. -
In the latter part of the winter and early spring,
our county roads are almost impossible to any
kind of vehicle. Let us improve them SO that
our farmers can at all times have fine roads and
the country will soon wear new aspect.
REMOVAL OF CIVIL OFFICERS Major L.
W. Gambill, the old and faithful clerk of the
county court of Rockingham. elected by the
people Of this county has been removed from
office. R. A. Gray, Esq, has beeu appointed
to fill his place. Mr.. Gray will retain Major
Gambill in the office upon extremely liberal
terms to the old clerk,
William Il. Efinger, Esq, the popular and
efficient Attorney for the Commonwealth in
our court, has also received the same kind of
notification. Colonel Charles H. Lewis takes
his place. Rockingham Register
Let US prepare ourselves to meet the STERN
practical questions of the day. We will soon
have to vote upon Constitution which will
give the negro twenty one majority in the Leg
islature, if adopted. We can defeat that, by
simply going in our strength to the polls. There
is no necessity for buster about it. If it is