Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-24
For THE SPECTATOR.
A Word of Warning.

| and largely interested both personally and pre-
culiarity, in the prosperity of staunton. he
| was deeply concerned to learn from the Valley
TIrginiaa and the Vindicator of last week
that an application had been made by The
| StauDton Improvement Company" for the
| exclusive privilege OF constructing syst m OF
rail way through the streets of the town ITO be
operated by horses, mules or such other
| motive power. other than steam, as may be
adopted" This would of course authorize the
use of electric power
While the high character of the gentlemen
who have made this application, precudes
even a suspicion of their being Influenced by
any other than honorable and patriotic pur-
poses yet in the opinion ofthe writer. 1t would
be difficult to conceive any measure that
| would be more destructive of the business
interests and property-vslues Of the town.
The writer will now proceed TO state briefly
some of the reasons which have led him to
| this conclusion.
Staunton is town that has been settled
nearly one hundred and fifty years. As orfgi-
nelly laid off INTO lots and streets. it covered
an of bat % acres in the fat portion of the
town. and probably one deemed at that
day. that 1t would ever attain its present size
and i'm portauce. It's streets as established by
| law, are only AZ feet Wide. The pavements or
| foot-ways each side, required to be
| seven feet wide. Deduc'ing the fourteen feet
OF Sidewalks thus reserved and their is eft but
28 feet for tie roadway for vehicles OF every
kind-two feet less than the width of q COM
| mon country road!
A sinrl. track railway will o,.cupv about
len feet in The midstle of the street. But TO De
OF any practical value a street railway must
have double track, or at ieast freq turn
outs" to enable cars moving in opposite di-
rections TO pass each other. This would in
volve additional surrender to railway pu: poses
OF say eignty feet thus making an aggregate
of eighteen feet gwen up 10 the Railway Com.
pany, and leaving ouly sen feet-fve on each
side, including the cutters. for the use of ordi-
nary vehiciesl
II this condition of things be established
what is to become of the trade and travel Of
the city? Two wagons. or ordinary travelling
vehicles Will be unable TO pass each other,
without encroacaipg ON the right Of way
granted to the Iailwaye How will a load OF
hay be able TO pass to the scales to be weighed,
or thence to the stable of the purchaser. with
out sweeping foot. passengers from the size.
walks, and the projecting signs of the mer-
chants from their positions!
Let any citizen take his position at the in.
tersection of Beverley and Augusta streets. at
any hour from 10 A NJ, to 4P NJ, and look in
any direction at the crowds of wagons. carts.
and other vehicles which throng these busy
high ways, ministerfg to the needs of our peo.
pie, and the profits of our dealers and then
reflect what would be the condition of things
If this railway were established! Then let him
imag inc how the difficulty Of transit would be
increased, when hundreds of our farm, ers come
to town to court or to sell their produce and
merchants. mechanics and other dealersl
or late wears our citizens have expended
many thousands of dollars in erecting elegant
new stores and shops. and improving old ones
by Introducing new fronts and extensive
plate-plass windows. to attract trade! This
was wise and praise worthy action. But what
would 1t avail If you authorize the privileged
ompauy to SO block up the streets as effectu-
ally to bar access to their stores ana shops
Our merchants ans mechanics are mainly
dependent on the trade Of the country people
and have, by their energy and enterprise,
extended their business to every part of the
county by holding out strong Inducements 10
them and their wives and daughters to come
here and deal. Most OF the country ladies
come to town in their carriages, bringing with
them such articles as they wish to sell as
butter and eggs ard other products of their
farms. They drive first TO the grocery stores,
and sell their articles, often Without leaving
their seats In their carriages, and then drive to
one or more dry goods or millinery or shoe
stores or clothing establishments, to com plete
their purchases. When this Is accom- pIished
they PICK up their parcels, or an ooiiging
CLERK does u Tor Them, and return to their
carriages Whlcn meanwhile nave been stand
ing al sn doof olsen IN charge d one OF tne
chiioren or OF some lemale companion.
Hyou establish the proposed street railway.
what becomes OF all the facilities foi barrier
and buying and selling? They will be- eftee
tuaIly broken up Lanes can no longer
safely drive Within the narrow limits allotted
to them. Constant collisions will b. occurring
between vehicles passing each other, and II
viii no longer be adm ssibie 10 leave carriages
standing before stores, "ecause they Will block
the narrow highway aid prevent Others from
passing!
What will be the consequence The ladies'
from the country being thus repelied from
their ordinary places of traGiGg. will naturally
.eeE Diner piaces OF dealing, where they WIZ
rot be subjected to su many restrictions,
Country stGres VIII spthe up in 81 psfts ~
the county. ard The llfe-biood OF The city uade
Will be drawn from II, and Gle merchants and
their clerks Will he LEFT plenty OF leisure 10
contemplate their deserted store-houses and
splendid plate 6 lass fchts. or 10 wary She
scene, by taxing ap occasional ride OF nall
mile To the limits OF the road. AT the moderate
cost of ten cents To ride out, aad ten cents to
eide back
The writer has inns far assumed that the |
,proiacted railroad wound M onerated nv borse
or m te. newer Rpt with the heavy grades |
thai must necessarily ne encountered ON on, |
streets II wound soon 10 f,una that mis- kino
of nower would he too costly To be used nroet
sbly What Then would follows steam tsex
cipted under the terms of the proposed char
tor The only alternative would he electric |
,o,,er Electric power NAV be admissible |
ubare the streets are two or three times Ms |
W de ss those of Staunton. hut who can con-
tepnlata without a shpdder the tdea of conn |
railing every borseman. countrv wagon and
o.rt and avery nlessure carriaee tn encoupt.r
and he broupht almost into direct contact with |