Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-10-10
Freight Tariffs Against Staunton-The
Remedy.

Editor indicator:
While other cities are seeking outlet for their
trade by the extension Of railroads, Staunton
seems almost dormant to her own interest and
actually promoting the extension OF the trade
of other cities. ThiS.is quite mystery to
outsiders, and by way of illustrating the mat
ter we have only to look at Basic City. What
advantages has Basic City over Staunton
This can be told in few words; she has from
to cents per 100 lbs. less on all shipments
of the produce of Augusta county to the South.
The South is the market for all the wheat and
and hay. Shall we stand idly by and see our
trade OF this city so long established Wrenched
from our hands without struggle, and how
shall we keep control of the territory now
trading with us and prevent its diversion to
Basic City on account of cheap Transports
ton? 1t is the completion at once OF the IS.
& 0. to Roanoke OF SALEM NOW l Will H.
lustrate Of the disadyantaS es under
which the trade is laboring. For instance, to
merchant who buys 800 bushels of wheat
and wishes to ship to Roanoke the rate to
Waynesboro On the e. & O. 12miles) is cts.
road is cents from Waynesboro to Roanoke,
distance of SO miles. This makes the rate
on ton of hay from Staunton to Roanoke $2.40
per ton, and a bushel of wheat from Staun-
ton to Roanoke 1-5 cents. From Waynesbo-
70 to Roanoke the freight on a ton of hay is
81 20, and on a bushel of wheat So cents.
The same relative discrimination exists as to
other Southern cities, cOOped up as we are now
by the the local tariff of the g. IL o. and the
B. & o. A ton Of hay shipped from Harrison
burg to Basic City (37 miles) is u cents per
100 pounds OF 81 40 per ton, and on bushel OF
wheat u cents per 100 pounds OF 7 10 cents
per bushel. So we see here on 81 miles (abOut
"a the distance from Waynesboro to Roanoke)
we pay double as much freight. Now what
are we to do to make us equal with Basic
City or any other town in the Valley as to
railroad facilities, and open up our markets
to the South. The open sesame to this is the
completion of the B. & O. to Roanoke OF
Salem We can then challenge Basic City,
Lynchburg OF Richmond as to cheap railroad
freights. We might compare the extension OF
the B. & O., as to the benefit derived by the
city of Staunton, to the Cincinnati Southern and
the city of Cincinnati The cost of direct
line of the Cincinnati Southern to the South
was fifteen million dollars and it has proven
to be the best investment the people of Gin
cinnati have ever made in railroads, and now
shall the citizens of Staunton Or Augusta
county languish for an outlet when it is in
their reach over only 80 miles of partly graded
road. Let every paper in the city take hold
of this matter and bring it to the eyes and ears
| of the people of Augusta county what the
building of this broken link costs-$1 &c
more per ton on their hay and 31a cents more
on their wheat and all other agricultural pro
ducts in proportion.
The city of Staunton subscribed 100000 to
the Valley road under promise OF this corpo-
ration that it would be built and completed
to Salem, and they now have a moral right to
urge the managers Or directors to fulfill theiI
obligation to the city. 2.
| St(eu1lt07a, Sept. 90.