Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-27

must 90 under. But Baltimore hass.always ia
ken the stand that with equal chances she IS
not going under. Applause.
History in the past shows that all those an
ticipations which some cities have INDUCED OF
being overshadowed by the enterprise OF others
are not necessarily truthful Why, for instance.
has not New York dwarfed Philadelphia and
Baltimore or Baltimore, Philadelphia and
New York? Each of them has stretched forth
her strong arms and grasped for herself foun-
tains of trade And so for other cities-say
Richmond and Norfolk-the palm is within
their reach.
After referring to Prof. Maurys Physical
Survey" and recommending it to the study Of
Baltimoreans, the speaker continued: This
Valley Railroad is no new idea. 1t has advan-
tage of being the revival OF an old track oftrade
I recollect when quite a little boy seeing the
wagons coming by my fathers door which had
started from Baltimore and were gong to
Knoxville. This was the old Baltimore and
Knoxville trade route. This trade forty years
ago was the fertile source Of large fortunes,
with which many Of your old citizens, some OF
whom are now living have been blessed we
are not calling on you, therefore, to venture
your money in new enterprise, but simply TO
replace the old wagon team with steam horses
to carry your trade from Baltimore to Knox
vile and the great Southwest.
You, gentlemen Of the Council, are the rep
resentatives of the third city in the Union, CON
tanning population of $4,000, with taxable
wealth of 1912, 000,0 600. What was it when you
broke the ground in 1926 or ~ OF the Batl-
more and Ohio Railroad? LIZ 1880 your popu-
laton was SO,OOO and your taxable wealth at
that time was $25 100000. In 1910 your pop
ulation had swelled from eighty to one hundred
and two thousand In 1850 it was 169, 900; in
1860 it was 235 200; now it is $50, 900, and your
taxable wealth has increased from 1926, 0000 900
to $212 OOO,O 600 What has caused this expan-
sion of population; this increase Of wealth? Is
there any one cause for it but the building OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Applause
That Is the secret of your wealth and prosperity.
But not only have you extended your arms
to the North and West, you have bravely open
ed up new avenues of commerce with the exte-
rior world by land and by the sea, all Of which
must make Of you an assured frst-class city on
this continent.
Now, desire to know whether you think it
is worth your while to increase the area Of your
competition for trade. Volney. very bad au-
thority on some subjects, but very good on this,
called the great Valley of Virginia the garden
spot Of America-the granary of this continent.
Especially when | remember what has trans
pired there in the past few years, may this re-
mark be fttingly illustrated. When the poor
Confederates would be huddled round their
camp fires, with their faces as long as General
Lee sword, they would sometimes say to the
old chiefain there tremendous applauseI,
eve have no rations;;" and his reply would
be, Squeeze Augusta Rockingham and Rock
bridge little more" and he never squeezed
without getting what he wanted. Applause
and laughter. There is something in a blue
sod soil to keep US from remaining poor aud we
don intend to stay poor either. Applause.
The value of our lands is $50, $780, It is
true there is a difference between country land
and bricks and mortar in Baltimore. There is
especially one great difference One constant
ly produces grain, cattle, &C., and the other
produces, sometimes a sense Of regret that the
money is in bricks and mortar. Laughter.
By the proposed route $2,60O,O00 Of traffic
passes through your hands; and merchants
know what clippings they can take off of that
sum, in the shape of storage, carriage, freight
age, and especially ratage-l never could I'M
derstand rataae. Laughter Yet the re-
sources of this great Valley are not recounted.
The speaker then went on to describe the many
natural mineral and manufacturing resources of
the Valley, all of which, together with the ag-
ricultural wealth and the great enthusiasm of
the people, gave assurance that the investment
sought would be safe one, and would rebound
to the general benefit Of Baltimore.
The charter of the proposed road provides,
he continued, that counties and corporations
shall be prohibited from imposing upon it any
taxes at all, and the State only in proportion to
taxes on other works of improvement. Be-
sides this the local interests are of themselves
guarantees and pledges that Virginia will do
nothing to the prejudice of your interests in
voIved in it. Baltimore has the opportunity
now of accepting these great interests. If they
are rejected, why we must wait. In the mean
time our charter will be taken from US, and our
trade connections must settle themselves in
some other direction.
In regard to the manner of paying the
amount asked for Mr.. Shefey suggested that
the city take from its treasury million of dol
lars worth of the stock Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company placed there forty
years ago-that has long ago accomplished its
purpose-and put it in this. new, and he be-
lieved, better enterprise. This would be what
the lawyers would call transfer from one in
terest to another, and as to the importance of
this interest he would now only further say that
it was so thoroughly appreciated by one who
nc longer occupied a position in public life
General Lee) as to have induced him to retire
from his post at Lexington for few days to
come with u.s. and, in our humble and modest
way, help us to accomplish this great public
and national good. Tremendous applause.
Following Judge Sheffey's interesting ad-
dress, Mayor Banks introduced Major J. b.
Dorman, Of Rockbridge county, Virginia, who
said it afforded him the greatest pleasure to ad-
dress the citizens of Baltimore, and especially
so as the objections to the proposed loan had
been SO well met by the able address which had
just been delivered by Judge Sheffey.
We regret that We have net the space to pub
fish Maj. Dorman's address.
Upon the close of his address, Mr. Crout
arose and requested the audience to be seated,
and leave the eastern aisle open as it was the
desire Of General Lee to be presented to the
ladies. With considerable difficulty the aisle
was cleared, and the ladies passed from the
west side Of the hall over the platform, passing
the General, who shook the hand of each cor
daily, and in return was complimented by all
the ladies, number of whom saluted him with
kisses. After the presentation was over, the
General escorted by Mayor Banks left the
building, and on reaching the side walk was
greeted with uproarious cheering, and the
greatest enthusiasm prevailed among the large
throng that had assembled at the doorway
After liberating himself from the many friends
that continued pressing forward to shake his
hand, the General entered carriage and was
driven to the residence of Samuel H. Taggert,
ESQ.,, whose guest he was during his soiourn in
Baltimore, the crowd following the carriage for
several squares, cheering loudly.