Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-26

Gently as the last court, the people were mott
| fed to assemble and publicly declare their ina
bility to pay, with a view Of moving the Com
manding General to extend the Stay Law. Blu
suppose you subscribe, hoping to be able t.
pay, can you finish the road? Every one knows
that the money subscribed by the counties along
| the road will barely commence the work.
| What then? Will you do as poor old Virgins
| did with the Covington & Ohio Railroad, after
expendlng millions, give it as bonus to any
one who will complete the road? Would it not
be a fine game for Baltimore to play-to lei
the counties exhaust their ability, and then
give all which they have expended to the city
of Baltimore as an inducement to do what she
would have done without the bonus?
All are agreed that at the proper time the
road should be built. That it will be to the
interest of Baltimore to build it; that she is
able to do it, and that she will build it, through
the agency of her powerful Railroad Company,
are propositions equally clear.
Baltimore, through her able representative,
Mr.. Garrett, knows full we'll how to drive good
bargain with communities as we'll as individ-
uals. Through the active president of the
Valley Railroad Company, he holds out the
idea that Baltimore will not touch the road. =
But the people of Augusta have had too much
experience, to believe all they are told. When
they see Baltimore monopolizing the Orange
and Manassa Roads, and now, proposing to
connect Danville to the Orange & Alexandra
at Lynchburg, thus surrounding Richmond on
the North, West and Southwest, to the Caro-
lima border, they will justly conclude that Bal
timore regards the Valley as bird in hand,
which she will appropriate so soon as the Ches
apeake & Ohio is completed. Some of the
over Jealous advocates of the subscription af-
firm that Baltimore does not desire to tap the
Chesa. Il Ohio Road in the Valley, but will
rather build an hundred miles among the
mountains to tap at Covington. Now it is OBJ
ylous, if Baltimore is so eager to connect the
Chesa. u Ohio as to so to Covington, much
rather would she connect at distance of TWEEN
ty five miles. Baltimore will not neglect the
advantages of tapping the Chesa & Ohio when
completed, nor will she fail to extend her line
to Salem. The Valley Road is necessarily a
part OF the Baltimore system and if built by
others. it. rates Of charges and management
would be dependent upon the Baltimore Com
pany @
Why then mortgage the property and labor
Of the people in the futile effort to do what a
powerful party will soon do to advance his own
interests?
1t should be borne in mind by the people,
that it Is not merely $300,000, which they are
called upon to bind themselves for, but it is
of county bonds, paying the interest semi an
nually, with permission to run 20 years. That
sum, at per cent. for 20 years, and per cent
to the sherifs for collecting, will amount to
$693, 900. This is really the true sum for which
the people are called upon to obllgate them
selves 1t the people are not able and ready
to assume such liability, on the 9th of Feb
ruary will be the time to say no. IT the subs
scription is made and the sheriff finds any one
unprepared it will be too late to protest; and
silly to abuse him for enforcing payment. To
relieve this unpleasant aspect of the case, many
hypothetical stories are told as to the earnings
Of the road, which will pay the bonds at ma
turity. But reference to the market prices
of railroad stocks will soon convince any one
that this little section OF a cross road cannot be
expected to do more than cover the expense OF
operating 1t. The experience of the Central
Railroad will throw some light On that point =
But, 1t is said, the Increased price Of the land
will compensate Has it never occurred to
those who use this argument, that there are
very few persons who desire to sell their land :;
that if the price is doubled the taxes will be
doubled that the lands In eastern Virginia are
decreasing in value and that the power of tax
alton is in the hands of the east; that we are
now about to be placed under new system of
government which will demand heavy taxation,
portion OF the burdens, and that her land will
produce no more than at the present valuation.
Such tax upon property and labor would tend
to drive population away to more favored To-
calties y
Some are lured by the idea, that they can
make enough out OF the money expended In
the county Ia the construction of the Road to
compensate for the increased taxes; but the
experience with the Central Railroad does not
justify such conclusion; except probably, In
the case of a few favored merchants and the
legal profession; for it will be remembered that
suits and crimes were numerous. Abscondlng
contractors and itlnerant labor ers secured the
remainder. The supplies will be chiefly drawn
from Baltimore, and the labor from foreign
countries, so that, the price of produce and
labor will not be materially affected, and the
expectations of profit will prove delnsion, ex-
cept to the parties indicated.
But, why all this haste about the subscrip~
ton? 1t is said by. some, that Staunton Is
afraid that if the Road Is built by Baltimore
that it will be located either West, or East of
Staunton, on account of the superior adyan-
tages of those routes; that Stauuton is eager
to hurry up the location while the enterprise
remains in present hands and commence the
work on her route so as to make the cost OF
finishing it no greater than the cost of either of
the other routes. w neither TINS SurmlSe De
well founded, or not, there is little need of fear
on the part of Stannton, for she is made a
point In the line of the charter, and besides,
she has subscribed 100000, conditional upon
the road being located, via Staunton. If 1t
shall become necessary, additional aid on that
route can be had. She can again call upon
Hercules County Court for help, with a bet
ter prospect of success Some alarmed gen
tlemen ''snufing danger at a distance are al
ready advertising large quantities of property
for sale, with the hope of standing from un-
der in time; but, there is no need for alarm.
Baltimore has no desire to pass around large
business towns, like Staunton; but would
make heavy expenditures to reach them. Bal
timore has always regarded the Valley her
back country and she will increase the facil~
tiles for reaching it and tennessee, at the prop
er time Let the people have. patience and
save their money, pay their debts, increase
their productions, and the railroad will be made
in due time to secure their trade to
BALTIMORE.
BEAUTIFUL AND TRUE.-ln late article in
Er. 1;ar'c Mansyina this hriaf hut hpautif {, n