Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-01-21
The Valley Railroad,

From the Baltimore Sun of Saturday lest,
we copy the following:
There are nov in this city an important dele
cation from the Valley of Virginia, who have
come here with the view Of having reccnciled
the misunderstanding which has arisen with
cur finance commissioners, delaying payment
Of the city's subscription of 81 100000 to the
Valley railroad, and by which the putting Of
tie read under contract beyond Stauntcn is for
the time frustrated. The delegation consists Of
United States Senator John L. Lewis, Hon.
John I. Harris, Of Harrigonburg, Col NJ. G.
Harman, Of Staunton, Judge Fl. W. Shelley,
Of Staunton, Col. Wm. Allan, of Lexington,
Col. Edmund Pendleton, of Botetourt, Col G..
". Hanabrough, of Salem, Capt. ". r. Tams,
Of Stanton, and James z. A. Gibbs, Esq, OF
Rockbridge.
This Valley road, as all the citizens of Bati-
more believe, is to be one of the greatest i'm
portance to cur city in the future; and when
the city made its subscription, and the people
ratified it on the condition of So 200, 900 Of ad-
ditional stock being subscribed by other parties,
it was no doubt In dead earnest on the subject,
and expected thereby to secure this great work,
carrying us through that rich valley clear down
to a connection near Salem with the Virginia
and Tennessee railroad, leading thence far away
into The whole Southern and Southwestern
country By the system of roads in that quarter.
Those required subscriptions have been secur-
ed some time since, aud now, as is known, the
hoc.r oE
Interpretation by the city attorney Of certain
provigo of the ordinance about no payment
On the city subscription being made until they
De satisfied that tie means are provided by
additional subscriptions of stock CT otherwise"
TO complete the road. A writer in Lexington
VA paper reasonably takes exception to the
whole strength Of the ordinance being conferred
in this one proviso, and says:
1T is known that the meaning and under
standing OF the trainers Of the ordinance, OF
most (if not a) the members Of the council
that passed i. Of the then mayor who approx
ed 1t, and every subscriber to the stock Of the
company. whether individuals, corporations or
counties, was that 10 10 poss!bla way could the
read be completed, except By mortgage, in ad-
dltIoG to It's stock subscription, and that the
words or otherwise in this proviso were insert
ed to meet this identical point. "
AS we have indicated before, the city could
not have been otherwise than in earnest about
this road, and hence this is fair presumption
in regard to the ordinance Yet, while the
technical Interpretation given to one clause may
bo felt TO be Imperative By officials charged with
its execution, there can hardy be doubt that
the spirit of the ordinance as whole is broad
and practical, with the purpose Of insuring the
construction Of the road, and as it is estimated
to cost neariy $4,000, 900, Baltimore will secure
that expenditure by investing G single million
on her part. If, oo revision Of the subject, a
satisfactory soiation cannot be arrived al, it is
understood that application will be at once
made to TIE mayor and council fora decIaratory
resolution On the subject.