Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-08-02
Very respectfully, your obt sery't,
Central Executive Committee.
BALTIMORE, 26th july. 1870.

To Mcssrs
nj Hartman Alex III n Stuart
Jos A Waddell Hugh w Shelley,
Thos Niche, Travers Phillips,
James 81 Skinner, Jno Echols, Isl
George Baylor, Nicho X Trout, ala.a
w A Burke, David Fultz
John B Baldwin, 81 M Bell
Jno NJ Hardy Hope
w II German, Thos G Elder
@ Harris Jed Hotchkiss, Sec,
Staunton, Virginia.
GENTLEMEN Il have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your communication of the
18th instant, inviting me to attend mass meet
ing of the citizens of Augusta county, on the
Both day of July, to aid in your efforts to secure
subscription by that county to the stock of the
Valley Railroad. t
should be most happy to be with you on this
occasion, and regret, therefore, that engagements
of an imperative character will deprive me of
the pleasure.
The enterprise you have in view I recognize
as OF the highest Importance to your community.
Rarely in this country has line of railway
promised greater and more valuable results to
regions so extensive and fertile
The construction of the Valley Railroad will
be great undertaking. and will require large
amount OF capital which should properly be con-
tributed by those interested in the enterprise and
who will derive rich frultion from its compile
ton.
The other counties in the Valley to be affected
nave responded earnestly and appreciatively land
yet have acted really with but an enlightened
selfshness in granting their aid by the subscrip-
tions they have authorized.
The question now remains whether the great
county of Augusta will join her sister counties
IN promoting common and most important in
terest. Perhaps no section upon the line will be
more signally benefited by the completion of
the Valley Railroad than the county of Augusta.
The reduced cost of transpOrtation-the enhanced
net results to the farmer and to the manufactu-
| rer, and the consequent improved values of land
and property, cannot fail to produce early
and large remuneration for the expenditure
which may be made.
The city of Baltimore, with far-sighted liber-
atty, has, by a vote of her people, consented to
aid in the work to the extent of million of dol
lars and, in order to assist in completing en-
terprise which it believes to be of not only the
| highest Importance to the entire region of Vir-
| ginia, which will be so largely benefited by it,
but of national Importance, in developing i'm
mense interests, the Baltimore & Ohio Com
pany has also assented to aid to the extent of q
| million of dollars.
It requires varied and great interests to COM
bine to build this costly but most interesting and
| important line. It is because regions of great
productiveness and power will be affected and
vast results achieved, that these great interests
have thus combined. There is no bond more re-
| liable or productive of higher fruition than
that bond which is founded upon and secured by
such mutual relations as Will exist IN this case,
and which must be maintained by such co-opera-
ton as will effectively advance the social, fnan-
cial. and material interests of the connected COM
| munities.
| 1t is my conviction that the interests of your
people-their immediate and prospective inter
| ests-will be greatly benefited by the favorable
! action of the citizens of Augusta county upon
the proposed subscription. 1t may be that other
suggestions have been made which are purely
speculative; it may be that other lines may be
proposed which are of that character, which are
| without substantial basis, without combinations
| of reliable capitalists or communities. and which
may be merely organized for the purpose Of
postponing or defeating your enterprise, which
| is so essential to the progress and prosperity Of
| the Valley of Virginia.
| l trust that as the ablest statesmen of your
| entire region are unanimous in their convictions
as to that which is best for the interests of your
people, that similar unanimity will prevail
among the voters of the county of Augusta and
that such favorable action will result that at an
early period this enterprise-so long ,contem-
plated, so highly appreciated by the mos1
thoughtful and sagacious of your citizens-wli
be commenced and prosecuted vigorously;
have no doubt, if the action be favorable nc
voter of Augusta county will ever regret the ale
( he has extended to work which cannot 1ai te
| produce results most desirable, advantageou;
| and permanent.
| I am, with great respect
| Your obedient servant
JOHN w. GARRETT.