Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-08-02

Clarke county, .................. ........ lOOUOO
Rocking ham county, private, 5 0.UU
Rockbrldge county, 4OOO. uO
Dotetou1t 00
hOanOKe, IoO,VoU
Length Of Shenandoah valley Railroad SsS
Contract $35, 600 per mile complete, amounting
70 ~o s0o 80
4647, 900
1t will be seen by examining the above fig
ures that if we obtain the contemplated county
subscriptions, the bonded debt of the Company
will be 4, 647 900, which bonds are to be taken by
the Contra ctors for the construction of The b V.
r. R., as fast as the work is completed on each
mile If we fail to receive the anticipated coun-
ty subscriptions, then, in that eyent,we VIII j. pc
compelled to increase the bonded debt OF the
Company to the extent of such failure. Our
contract, I considers good and an advantageous
one for the S. V. r. r.. and insures the construc-
ton of our road in two years time, Accordinng
with low grades, 233 miles in length will cost
So $4,000. Whilst the Valley r. r., 1le miles
in length. with high grades, will cost, according
$685. 1t will be seen that the S. Y. r. K. can be
constructed for $4,000 per mile less than the "
r. R.. owing to the fact that its charter requires
it to be constructed through the towns of Staun-
RE 81 %ER 5edgh GM GRABES M
the S. V. r. r. expects and requires of Augusta
county. is the right of way"
The foregoing is an authorised statement OF
| the President Of abe Shenandoah V. r. r., to
show hoa0 that Road is to be made. if at all. On
! this we submit the following comments:
| l. The Road is 239 miles long noneeof it is
done; none of it begun the above is the best
| 2. The money said to be subscribed and AN
ticipated" at the inadequate estimate of $35, GOO
mile, for 233 miles, that is So, sos. 600, will just
! bring the Road leo miles, that is. about ten or
| twelve miles North East of Port Republic
| 3. To advance the company must borrow 81
CAT 900 or stick in the woods; and whoever heard
of such loan on such road? What would
the expectation of getting any of the '.amtacipat-
| ed victims into such mash-trap I'm vain is
| the net spread in the sight of any bird"
a. Countsout the anticipated assets, and we
of SIS, 497 600 This, truly, is placing the cone
i its apex, instead of its, base. 1t must fall.
/ 5. But who are the parties who promise the
| 5000 600 subscription Why, Scott, Collins
| Company" composed of ''Thos. Scott the Col
/ Inns Brothers, four in number. John Mines John
\ r. McGovern and hosts of others'-who these
| hosts are, we do not know; we presume how
of the "hosts," he has for some time been anx-
ious to get railIoad from his Iron Works in
| Page county, to the Manassas. Gap R. r. The
meaning of this So 600 GOO subscription then is,
that the contractors take $2,O0O,00O of stock in
4 this contract; there is no money in that. aaless
\ the whole work goes through that is, unless the
A enormous loan be contracted. And this explains
4 the singular fact that 233 miles of Railroad with
i out having been located except by experimental
lines should have been let. altogether in lump,
1 and without advertisement. Scott & Co., the
contractors, say in effect, I'VE will put In our
profits, if you will give us the money to pay our
aerpenses." Where is the money to come from
Not dollar can be counted, except the county
| bonds of Jefferson and Page and some private
4 subscriptions amounting to 1858 600, which sum,
if all in money, without discount on county
Il bonds would just construct the road lSs miles
i g. This document of Pres. Borst is meant sim
i ply to defeat the subscription in Augusta. For
i among the anticipated y but great ''antlcipa-
| tions are cherished as to Rockbridge, Botetourt
4 and Roanoke. All their subscriptions are to be
/ turned over to the Shenandoah Valley-when !?
/ Why as soon-as the county of Augusta votes
down the subscription. That, In effect says
Pres. Borst, will stop the Valley Railroad and
\ then the Shenandoah Valley may be 'anticipa-
ted" To what feast of bitter regrets and dis
appointments are the sober-mnded, iudicious
and sensible people of Augusta invited by this
now disclosed project of fancy railroad making !!
Contrast the Valley Railroad with this, and see
whether our people are to be tempted to drop the
substance which they have for the shadow which
thew can new er hold If the county of Augusta
subscribes the 100000 the Valley Road will be-
made as surely as the sun shines IN heaven. Ii
it is defeated, then it is clear that the Shenan-
| doah Valley Road cannot be made so as to do
any good if it be defeated, we have warnings
| we cannot disregard, that Rockbridge, Botetourt
and Roanoke will form connections with Ma
hone and his line of Railroads; and so it will be
painfully apparent, that we will have dropped
the substance, and, clutchng at the shadow, lost
all!
4 7. If as President Borst says, the contract.ha
been made and the Shenandoah Valley Road is
to be constructed in any event; and that the
contractors are bound to take the mortgage
| bonds and if as has been said, the Shen. VAL
hov ohI Ia to- rrnO
| without asking the counties to tax themselves,
and 'knows no such word as fail, why such
anxiety to defeat the subscription in Augusta
Why are Rockbridge, Botetourt and Roanoke to
be asked to tax themselves? President Borst
says he only asks the right of way in Angus
tau This was the same appeal made to Rock
| bridge to divert her from the Valley Rail Road.
Now, however, Rockbridge is asked to go over
bodily with her subscription OF 500 OOO and pass
under the crushing weight OF q mortgage OF
$5,OOO,OOO to Sc, 600, Coo Augustus turn will
come next and she too will be invited to pass
under the yoke.
/ We are not opponents of the Shenandoah Val
ley Road. We only protest. against this pro-
fessedly causeess attempt to defeat the subscrip-
ton in Augusta, thus boldly made ty PRESIDENT
Borst If it be true, as he insists, that he can
make his Road without help, why, let hlm make
it, without interfering with US Two Roads are
better than one-three are better than two-let
us have them all, if we can get them; But. the
only way to make one sure, is to vote for the
| subscription the only rOde IN which we can
hope for a competitor with the Chesapeake g.
Ohio Road, is to make the Valley Road GER
tainty.
In conclusion, we say, that we presume Pres.
Borst was not aware when he wrote his letter, in
which he says the Valley Road will cost Sc, 500,
96s; that that estimate was based on prices when
gold was l45 for one; or, that Chief Engineer
Randolph, on the basis of actual lettings, since
made, has reported the cost of the entire Valley
Road at 81, 600 to 81, GOO. We submit
these suggestions to the calm judgment of the
people Of Augusta.
| VALLEY RAILROAD