Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-02-07
FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. =, 1879
THE CANAL-RALLROAD BILL.

THE CANAL-RAIL BILL.
It is to be regretted that the Richmond
papers did not see fit to report, at least,
the chief points of Gen. Echols' speech
against the Richmond & Alleghaney R.
R., and that the only report of it SO far
furnished to the public is meager sketch
from the pen Of Richmond correspon-
dent in our neighbor, the sSpectator.
The correspondent writing with the fervor
of being also himself an opponent of the
bill says that Gen. Els speech s'fell like
bomb-shell among the advocates of the bill,
spreading dismay and confusion through
their ranks" Upon reading the sketch,
which the writer says is incomplete, we
find that besides Directing to the bill on
the ground that the safeguards are INSULT
cient-an objection in which, if well
grounded, he will find many to agree with
him, Gen. E. also opposes it on the
ground of the value Of the canal, in which
opposition we venture to say he will find
very few even in his own county to join
him. Virginia's position is that of
having costly coat bought in better days
and which represents good deal of money
sunk. She has gotten too poor even to put
the necessary repairs on it, and the last
flood strained her to the utmost to put a
new lapel on at Rockbridge and close up
some seams near Lynchburg. 1t has been
SO tattered that for fourteen months she
has not been able to wear it, all the way
from Buchanan to Richmond, and yet be-
cause it has velvet collar in the shape of
the basin and locks at Richmond, and a
couple of good buttons somewhere else,
and because the energetic tailor who last
put it IN temporary repair, said a good
word for it, and above all because it cost
a good deal of money to make it, the oppo-
nents of the Richmond & Allegheny bill
want the poverty stricken state to go on
shivering in it and never exchange for
something warmer. Where would the
Chesapeake & Ohio r. b., have been if
Virginia had adhered to the policy of not
swapping away old clothes which she was
not able to mend? The disastrous history of
the canal for the past year or two alone
and the PROSTATE financial condition OF
the state is sufficient answer to every
arguement that might be used in favor of
retaining the water line. 1t is practice
against theory.
But as far as safeguards go, we go with
Gen. Echo OILS or with any one else that goes
within reason. The amendment providing
for restitution of the goods if the con-
tract is not complied with 10y the new COM
pany was wise one and its adoption was
wise. The people don't propose to part
with anything with even the slightest
show of not receiving return for it OF
getting back there property if they do not.
But the mere fact that the corporators OF
the new road are styled adventures, rail
road gamblers and the like by the oppo-
nents of the bill does not make them SO;
and even if they are so what matter? Ii
we haven't men in our legislature capable
of doing business with all sorts Of men and
able besides to prevent these all sorts
from getting the best of us, then we are
unfortunate. The most valuable Ito the
people, not the stockholders) improve
ments in America have been built by just
these gigantic railroad SPECTATORS worth,
as has been said, a million on Monday and
not cent on Tuesday. Virginia must be
smart enough to take care of herself if she
wants to do business and not hold back
and lament that she is afraid somebody
wants to cheat her.
Make the safeguards strong, and at the
same time reasonable but don't be afraid
to trade at all because you fear the other
man is the smartest. Above all don't fold
up the old coat with its velvet collar and
put it back IN the trunk for the moths Of
time and poverty to finish, so that the next
time you take it out to trade it won't be
worth exhibiting. We trust, and public
opinion in this vicinity seems unanim GUS
in the hope, that our delegates will give
the railroad bill a hearty support when the
safeguards are satisfactory to them.
We are obliged to say that we cannot de-
eide Gen. Echols position from the re-
port we have had the opportunity of read
ing. At one point we find his argument
dwelling on the Importance to the State
of the canal, and at another his point is
that we do not retain sufficient interest
to warrant our surrender OF it to the rail
road. We presume, however, that the lat
ter is his chief ground; we could hardly
imagine him declining to swap the present
bankrupt and defunct water line which is
stone dead the better part OF its time, fol
bona 6de railroad with a real locomotive
running oyer it. The imputation Of local
and selfish motives to him by the friends
of the bill is we think unjust and ground
less. AS for Staunton she has already been
as completely left out in the cold by the
Chesapeake & Ohio railroad as the Rich
mond Sc Allegheny r. r. will ever leave
her. and her people are not selfish enough
or short sighted enough to oppose an i'm
portant benefit to the whole State, mere
" for some local trade that their town
gets now and then by our neighbor Rock
bridge being cut off from the world through
the destruction of the unlucky water line
by high water.
We are pleased to learn by a telegram
last night that the House Of Delegates
yesterday took the proper view OF the
subject, and by the very decided vote of SO
to IS passed the bill to its engrossment.
THE PROPOSITION OF THE
CREDITORS.
The event that has been looked forward
to with so much Of hope and anxiety-tl.e
meeting of the representatives of the cred
itors of Virginia at Richmond, began on
rn1...-ado.z Loot There ruas some nralimi.