Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-07-26
For the Spectator.
Voters of Augusta.


Voters Of Augusta.
Both sides should be heard" is the senti-
ment of an honest Editor, who is strongly in
favor of the Valley Rail Road, in response to
an article by Progress" who complains very
bitterly, that the Editor of the Spectator
should have admitted an article opposed to the
present system of building the Road. What a
terrible thing would it be for the free and in
telligent voters Of the good county of Augusta
to be subjected To the caprice, and under the
control OF a set of Rail Road sharpers, who
would rob us of our rights and dearest privil-
eges-the right to see and examine for our
selves the arguments pro and con upon every
question OF public policy and have US as slaves
to be the victims of their affirmations and
promises. When these men use tauntiEg
words, which mean little when uttered-be
cause both sides of this important question are
now before the people-are we not strongly to
| suspect some mischief working near us? We
hardly think you are prepared to embrace their
glittering phantom for substantial TRUTH and
we desire to give you this friendly notice. and
ask you to examine this important question of
voting 100000 as you would your own private
business LII your real duty, and we think
the least credulo is may see there exists some
thing like conspiracy among the Rail Road
sharpers against the best interest of the county.
ticle of Progress" We are now and always
have been in favor of the Valley Rail Road
and also the Shenandoah Rail Road, and we
are in favor OF good county Roads Let US
have them all, but we are opposed to the pres
ent system OF building the Valley Rail Road,
and 1t is to this important question we would
direct your attention N.r
Ga the 6.h of August you will be called up
on to vote to place your land under contribu-
ton for 80 years to greedy foreign corpora
tion, We consider this purely business ques-
ton, and all We desire is to give you the facts,
that you may, on the 9th of August, vote with
your eyes open, as you would buy horse or
an OK from your neighbor, but not from mere
impulse; do that only which will promote your
interest. The most remarkable performance of
these gentlemen to carry their project and In
sure success, is the care with which they pre-
pared bill, an iStdunton and sent it to the
Legislature with the following provisions
lst A majority vote, instead of three-fifths,
should carry the subscription of $30O.0O0
End The Town of Staunton, with 900 votes,
which has already, by a separate vote, SUBJ
scribed $780, 900, should say whether the coun-
ty should subscribe 100000.
And the Legislature has made it lawful for
the Town of Staunton to say your property
shall be taxed Is not this an outrageous
proposition-is not there mischief in the de-
sgn-is there not cheating going on to entrap
the people Of the county into the $500, 900
subscription We need not tell you who is do
ing all this-you know full well. Is not the
question assuming startling aspect when such
tricks are resorted to, to seze the county and
hand it over to the Baltimore & Ohio Rail
Road. IF these schemes are accomplished,
alas, alas for the county OF Augusta. We
think all good men will agree with as that the
bonds of the county should be issued with
great caution aud only where at least major
ity Of the legal voters OF the county shall order
them. Ii this is not the case what security
has any man of his property. We don't de-
sire to find any fault with our Representatives
at Richmond, but when a fault certainly has
been committed, attended with so much evil
to the county, We have right to complain OF
| our Representatives, and We do think our Rep
resentatives should have protected the county
votes OF the Town to tax the property OF the
county. We can not say in this case, well
done good and faithful servants. E5
The order of the Court fixing the 9th day of
| August, as the day OF voting in the county,
also orders poll to be opened in the Town of
| Sraunton, to say, whether the county shall
subscribe 100000.
Oh, the shame! the shame!
| These gentlemen are not in the habit of
working without an eye t9 prOHC. Ihey nave
strained every faculty and every nerve in this
labor of weeks and months, and is this all with
disinterested regard for your interests? Is
there Valley Rail Road Company? Let us
examine this for moment Alter the charter
| for Valley Rail Road was passed by the Leg
islature of Virginia, there was meeting held
in the Court House at Staunton, and in order
to SAGE the charter, there was 100000 Of stock
subscribed, and a President and Directors cleo
ted, when it will cost five million of dollars to
build the Road. This looks very much like
there was Valley Rail Road Company. But
if you could see ali the letters and dispatches,
which have passed between the President OF
the Valley Rail- Road and the President of the
Baltimore u ONO Rail Road, we think you
would Conclude with Mr. Garrett, that the
Baltimore Il Ohio Rail Road is building the
Valley Rail Road. We say this is purely a
business question:, and we should make the bes,
bargain tor the county we can. The Baltimore
& ONO Rail Road and the Pennsylvania Cen
trai are TWO great rival corporations, both rich
aud poweriul-boih have char,ers for a roac
Though the county-both have surveyed then
routes, the Valley Rail Road on the West, ane
the Shenandoah on the East side of the couu
ty-bolh are struggling to build their riva
roads. j Both OF these Roads are desirable II
the county, SO that one part OF the county vii