The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-05-22
talIty Railroad Let from StaNhl
Salem,

Salem,
We received dispatch on Tuesday morn
ing from Col. II. G. Hartman, dated at Bal
timore, conveying the intelligence that the
VALLEY Railroad had been let to contract from
Stanton to Salem, to c R. Mason, Ed Me-
Mahon j. c. Green, Thos X. Menifee, Den
mis- Flannahao, and A. ". HarmaD.
The Baltimore Sun Of the Goth, gives the
resolutions embracing the terms of the con-
tract, authorizing the President Of the road
to accept the bid Of the gentlemen above pa-
med at the estimate Of cost made by the Chief
Engineer Sept 3Gth, 1872. The Company
reserve the right to re let h5 miles OF the
road at less rate than the estimate, to par
ties solvent an J able to construct. and 10 the
event Of such sub-letting, no claim shall be
made BY the above pamed contractors, &c.
It is further provided that said contract so
to he made shall be of DO effect, and that the
said contractors shall have no claim because
of the same against the Valley Railroad Com
psny. unless and until the counties and towns
and the city Of Baltimore shall have made
payment of thirty per cent. Of the amount of
their respective subscriptions to the stock OF
the Valley Railroad Company.
The Baltimore .4neracoA of the goth, has
the following on the subject:
We recently gave to the public the only
publication which has been made Of the rea
sons of the commissioners of finance OF Bal
timore for declining to pay the thirty per
cent. of the city's subscription of 81, 900 goo
to the stock Of the Virginia Valley railroad
company. As stated then, the commissioners
do not consider that the terms OF the ordl-
nance have been complied with, and they
have resolved to withhold the money uatil
these conditions are satisfied. The railroad
company have taken up the matter and come
10 the city with representations that Rock-
bridge and Botetou1t counties are ready to
paw up the thirty per cent. on their respect
i've subscriptions OF 1925 600 and 10000,
and that this addition to the payments by
Roanoke county and the towns of Lexington
and Stanton enable the company to place
the road under that reliable contract tor
building which the representatives Of balsl-
more demand as an assurance for the payment
Of the ratio of the city subscription asked for
Colcpe! Hartman, prominent officer OF the
company, presents these arguments in let
ter to the commissioners Of finance. but it is
understood that they still do not consider that
thew would be justified 10 authorizing the
payment of the three hundred and odd thous'
and dollars the railroad asks for under PRES
ent circumstances. They are cot disposed to
treat the letter Of COL Hartman as an official
communication, as it does not bear that
stamp, and pending further action will adhere
to their determination as expressed III the
letter to Mr. Garrett which was published In
the american. II does not seem as matters
stand thst the commissioners can be brought
to agree to payment Of the money. Messrs.
Vansant, Baker aud Baldwin are properly
disposed to take great care of the citys late
rests in this matter.
A telesraphic dispatch from Col NJ. G
lIarman, 10 Capt. W. II. Tams, dated Balt-
more May 2sss, says that Baltimore City has
paid her thirty per cent.
This settles the question, and the Valley
road is an assured fact.
The Enquirer seems very nervous about
ssindependent candidates this fall. and says
A.the conservatives in every county must be
united; every thing must be forgiven and
forgotten for the sake of the cause"
What cause The success of a few chronic
politicians, and the prostration of the inter
ests of Virginia? That is to be the result of
the success Of the Enquirer's policy Of race
prejudice It is the same spirit that prscip-
itated destruction upon the old Democratic
party at Charleston, in 1860, and eventually
dragged Virginia after the "Scarlet Letter ?
The pelitic,aes did that, and we all know the
resait. Are the people willing to trust them
again? Have they learned nothing within
the last eft ., years?
A BACK PAY DILEMNA.--The refusal OF
the board of education, in New York city, to
accept Congressman Roosevelt's back pay, to
be devoted to prize scholarships in the pub
aic schools, leaves that gentleman in guam
dairy The probability now is that the money
will be returned to the United States treasu-
ry. Mr.. Roosevet's friends are advising him
to make saat disposition Of it.
This Mr.. Roosevelt is about as abbreviated
a speciaea Of she demagogue as you will find
in years travel and this little trick to win
popularity at the cost Of the government, has
met with deserved rebuke from his constlt-
uents. It is about his calibre, however.
It is very amusing to notice the complacen-
CIV With which the Richmond Dispatch dis
poses Of great questions of constitutional law,
public policy, and morals, 1t is pity that
the conductors Of that paper were not inves-
tod with supreme executive, Legislative aud
judicial powers 1t would save a great deal
Of expense and vexation and simplify busi-
ness. Virginia may safely beast of having
the largest mass Of vanity sad impudence,
concentrated into a very small space, ever
knows in this country.