The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-02-09
RAILROAD FR2IGGTS.


advantage of having competing lines of
Railroad to carry off the surplus products of
the country, we present a table of the charges
OF several roads in the State In doing this,
we do not wish to be understood as seeking
to create prejudice for or against any of the
great produce carriers, which are doing so
much to infuse new life into our agricultural
districts, and renewed animation into every
avenue Of trade:
MANASSAS GAP RAILROAD.
Freight per barrel on flour from Harrison
burg to Alexandria-13 miles 45cts
Freight per bushcl on wheat IA
CONSOLIDATED LINE.
Freight per barrel on -four from Dublin De-
pot to Richmond-s2S miles 64cts
Freight per bushel on wheat 228 miles 1scts
Freight ror bushel on wheat from Lynch
burg to Richmond-123 miles 81
CHEsAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
Freight per barrel on -four from Staupton to
Richmond-136 miles 64cts
Freight per bushel on wheat-136 miles, 18c
The above statement will show that the
Manassas Gap Railroad charges for the same
distance 10 cents per barrel less than the
Chesapeake aud Ohio Railroad, and 4 cents
per bushcl less on wheat.
The consolidated line charges, from Dub
lin Depot-226 mies-18 cents per bushel
on wheat and the Chesapeake and Ohio
road, on distance Of 1856 miles, charges
the same. From these figures it would ap-
pear that farmer who lives 1856 miles from
Richmond on the consolidated line, sends
his wheat to Richmond, and markets it, at
s cents per bushel less than the farmer who
delivers his wheat in the Depot at Staunton );
and sends his flour, at the same rate-say
20 cents per barre! less than the farmer who
delivers at Stanton.
Now let us see how this works and wheth
er there is not room for improvement, SO
that the farmer may receive the benefits to
which he is legltimately entitled:
No of barrels flour shipped from Augusta
annually, 60, 600, at 2Octs less $4,000
Bus of wheat, say 100000 at Sc less 5000
Bus of corn say 2O0O 900 at Sc less 10000
Bus of oats, say $4,000 at Sets less 1000
, lbs. of butter, say 100000 at Sc less 5000
Live stock, hay, whiskey. dried and
green fruit, Sc, 60, may be
: safely estimated at 10000
Making total of excess of SCI, 900
The above table is taken from tariff rates
actually in our possession. The question
presents itself, cannot we reduce the rates of
F freight, by the completion Of competing lines
Of Railroads, to the same extent that the
Orange and Manassas Road did, in bidding
for the freight of the consolidated line p
By this means we could save to the county
from 500, 600 to 900 annually. 1t will
be seen that the merchant in Lynchburg is
ena ~ to market his wheat at Sets per
bushel less than the Staunton merchant, and
3 cents on the barrel of -four less. This is
a direcl tax on the farmers of Augusta, for
the merchant in making his purchases, rcgu-
lates his price by TIE net profit he expects
to realize. No arguments We might advance
could address themselves with more force to
the rejecting mind than the simple argu-
nlent of figures. They are logical-they
ought to be convincing.
I CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
A bill has been introduced in the Lcgisla-
ture granting to the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad Company the right to construct a
short line route from point east of Coving-
ton to Richmond. There is to be no limit
as to points, and the road will take the gen
eral line of the James River Valley. Also,
the right to build road from point not
vest of Staupton, to connect with Washing
ton city by an air line, for the convenience
of travel and light freight; and If they deem
it desirable, the company ask the privilege of
; making branches from Richmond to deep
water.
: The people Of the Valley, especially Of
Augusta county and peculiarly of Staunton,
are deeply interested liz the airline to Wash
ington. 1t will save in distance at least 60
} miles over the circuitous route we now have
to travel. 1t will open up one of the finest
agricultural and mineral sections in the State,
and be the means of attracting immense cap
ital to the region Of country through which
it will pass, to be invested in manufactures
and furnaces
|
! The Legislature should promptly act affirm
ativcly on the application for the privilege
of constructing these various lines, and give
the Chesapeake and Ohio Company liberal
charters We want to see Railroads built
throughout every portion of the State, and
r are in favor of granting charters to response
bic companies who will undertake to con-
struct them. In this way alone can Virginia
! take the high position to which she is entitled
in the sisterhood of States, and march for
ward in the path of material greatness.
Test OATH.-The bill repeating the test