Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-03-29
SUBSCRIPTION OR NO sUBsCRIP-
TION2

in the county and must be answered on Thurs
day next. We are glad to believe, from the
best information before US that majority of
the vote about to be east on the important
question will be in favor of the proposed sub
scription. There is, however, we learn some
opposition manifesting itself in certain quarters
formed as we are, convinced, on either inter,
ested or mistaken views in every instance
Besides the few who are sustaining the con-
dition of things which for years has existed
among us in regard to our railroad facilities,
the opponents of subscription may be readily
classified follows
First. Those who whilst they recognise
the great importance of additional and COM
peting roads to those already available by the
people of tho county, are yet unwilling to sub
nit themselves to the taxation they suppose
involved in the act proposed. They are most
ready and eager for the advantages which they
are sensible will accrue to them and to tho
community at large, but they would greatly
cost. This would doubtless be very desirable
but in the nature of things is very impracti>
cable. All enterprises looking to the develop
ment of the resources of any people require,
for time at least, some sacrifice. This they
should be able to make wherever there is a
reasonable prospect that sooner or later it will
result in public benefit. 1t has been esti-
mated. (aud VIC believe that no one who has
carefully examined the estimate attempts
TO controvert it, that the excess annually
paid for transportation, beyond reasonaI le
rates, by the existing means of shipment,
of the products of this county, reaches the
sum of fifty thousand dollars. That is TO say
such competition as will reduce the costs of
conveyance Of the crops of the county to a
fair and profitable standard will yearly save
the large sum which we have Just named. If
then the two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars of subscription should be. instead of
subscription, an actual gift, twill all have been
recovered at the end of five years and from
that period onward, for all time to come there
will be yearly saving Of fifty thousand doi-
lars. Nor does this aspect Of the case present
all the advantages which will be rcaped from
this enterprise. In the wake Of such inn
provemcuts come population and the establish.
ment Of home markets for the consumption of
home products. There will then lie not only
q reduction on the carriage to market, but
there will be condition Of things which will
superscde transportation at ali to distant
market.
Now what is the sacrifice in the way of tax
alton Involved in the attainment of these most
desirable objects?
The subscription ts25G.0OO) asked from
tie county will secure an equal amount ofth
stock Of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Company. 1t is true, that, during the process
of construction of the work, the interest on
the county bonds or subscription must be met.
Should, however, the road be pushed on
rapidly TO completion. as We have every as
surancc it will be, at the end OF two or three
years the payment of interest will practically
cease-the dividends or the stocI, Of the |
road enabling, and in all probability more |
than enabling, the county TO meet its interest |
as it accrues. There will then be six per cent |
bonds represented by a paying stock, and
should the county desire to cease its connec-
ton with the road, it needs but to sell out its |
stock and pay Gifts bonds as they may become |
due. These bonds will doubtless be issued |
payable at long dates; and there is reasonable !
hope to believe that before one of them shall !
have become due its payment may be pro-
vided for by the sale OF stock held by the !
county.
Should this be the course pursued what |
will be the cost of this great work to the
county? Simply nothing more than the paw
ment of two or three years interest Or $50. 900 !
or S45, 900 at furthest. Nor must it be under
stood that this is to be set down as capital en-
ployed for which no return is made. On the
contrary there will result from its investment
not only large reduction as we have seen,
and as it has been conceded, on treights, but
there will be added hundreds of thou
sands of dollars in value to the property ofthe
county which will become a new subject of
taxation and thereby be continuing source
of diminishing taxes in the future.
Instead then of the tax payers of the county
opposing the subscription. it is clearly and man
ifestly their interest earnestly to support it.
There is second class Of persons among
whom will be found some opponents of the
1roject in hand. They are citizens who would
| e willing to vote for subscription provided
always the road would be located through
their own property, and enhance to the
greatest possible extent the value of their own
lands. This of course is an impossibility, and
we submit that it is a very narrow and con-
tracted view to take Of great public ques
ton such as this is