Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-07-26
For the Spectator.
Railroads and Taxation

Let any one examine a Rail Road map of
the United States, and he will at once see that
Virginia has fewer lines of Road in proportion
to her population and extent of Territory than
any other State in the Union. Then let him
consult the statistics Of the u s. Census and
he will find that Virginia has less material
wealth and prosperity in the same proportion
and especially In average incomes. Again, let
him look at the several amounts appropriated
by each State for internal improvements and
he will find that those States which have been
improvements and have taxed themselves the
most for the purpose are now the most pros
porous and have the least public debts, while
Virginia has made the least appropriation,
taxed herself the least, is now the most desti-
tute and has the largest public debt in proper
tion to her wealth and population These are
significant facts and tell their own tale. Verify,
In material as in spiritual things, there is that
glveth and yet increaseth and there is
that withholdeth more thar. Is meet and it
tendeth to poverty Had Virginia taxed her
self go years ago to complete the James River
and kanawha Canal, and 40 years ago to build
the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail Road Norfolk
would now be what New Y York City is, aud the
State of Virginia even far ahead Of the now
Empire State Of the North, for her natural ad-
vantages were much greater; nor has New
I ork felt her taxation half so much as the
State OF Virginia, for those taxes brought
their own means of payment by the diffusion
OF capital and the stimulation of enterprise
The mistakes of the past may be excused for
they had not the light of experience on these
subjects, but the present generation cannot be
excused for going to mill with their wheat in
one end of the sack and stone in the other to
balance it, because their fathers went that
way. 10 continue in that course of folly and
ruin is SHINING against light and knowledge,
and will bring its own retribution We will
continue to sink in the scale of material wealth
until we will be driven by poverty to seek
living in other countries, chow many thousands
of the sons of Virginia have already been) and
a more enterprising people will come in to de-
velope the resources and enjoy the blessings
which We have foolishly neglected. God never
meant that the boundless material wealth of
Virginia should be kept locked up from the
world by the people of Virginia. We can no
longer act this dog in the manger policy. We
must either develope these resources or give
place to those who will. IF we wait for others
to build our Railroads, we will find that they
also, will possess our lands and reap the bene-
fits People Of Augusta, the time has come for
you to decide whether you will fall into line and
take your place in the front rank of progress
and prosperity. or shut yourselves out and drag
along 10 the old from hand to mouth track.
On the Gth Of August the destiny of Augusta
county will be settled for many years to come !;
are you going to show to the world that you
have learned wisdom from the past, or will you
stick to the old ''skinfnt'' policy, and keep
yourselves and your county poor to save few
cents taxes? The writer knows that your own
prosperity and that of the Valley of Virginia is
depending upon your voting for the subscrip-
H. l.
commit the folly. the absolute madness of de-
feating this subscription, and thereby throwing
away the $2,9OO,OOO literally subscribed by
others, and which you reject by refusing to sub
scribe your quota
RAPHINE, VA PROGRESS.