Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-09-09

with such pests, your committee re,
ommend that another condition of tb
: city's subscription be that it shall b
t that it shall not take effect or be bint
ing. until at least 100000 of simila
stock be Internationally subscribed
for, in good faith by other persons O
3 corporations of undoubted solvency.
The exact cost of building a roa
cannot now be told. and it will depen
great deal npon whether an electri
or regular steam road be built, and i
the former, then upon whether tn
right to use the pike can be obtained
but however that may be. it does no
much concern Staunton, if the road i
actually built. II it is not built an,
completed, we cannot afford to ray
anything for it. If it is built, you,
committee believe it will pay the city
to subscribe (on the conditions suggest
ed to at least $5O.OOO OF it's common
stock; and as we SO recommend.
In the opinion of your committee
the value of such road to this city,
will depend largely and materially up
on Staunton being now. and for all
time, one of it's termini. Should the
road pass on to some other point,
Staunton loses all the benefits of its
shops and other terminal works, and
Is certain to be Disseminated against
in freights and charges, as witness the
Chesapeake and Ohio, which hauls
coal past our doors and delivers it at
points far east of here for less than we
can get it, and numerous other in
stances that might be cited. A rail-
road pulls down and builds up it's way
stations as it chooses, but never dis
eliminates against it's own terminus.
Your committee, therefore, recommend
that another condition of the city's
subscription be that one of the termini
of the road be and remain permanent
ly in Staunton.
Finally, in order that the city may
not be indefinitely tied up with COM
pany that is not going to build the
road in a reasonable time, your COM
mittee recommend that the final con
dition of the city g subscription be that
the building of the road be begun with
in, say six months, and completed
within, say two years, from the date
of the subscription.
These conditions, if properly provid-
ed for in contract prepared by com
petent lawyers, your committee believe
will amply protect the city's interest
and secure its getting what it pays for,
or else being released from paying it
at all; at the same time they cannot be
reasonably objected to by any compa-
ny that really means business and in
tends to do right.
Your committee do not feel called
upon to say in this report leven if they
knew what men the city should open
negotiations with on this subject
What we want is to have the road
built, and it matters not to the city
what company builds it. Your com
mittee recommend that the city coun
Gil be requested to pass a resolution to
the effect that the city will subscribe,
on the conditions herein set out. to
$50, 900 of the common stock of com
pany to build road, either steam or
electric, fsom Staunton to Monterey,
and that as much publicity as possible
be given to such resolution to circles
where men, likely to undertake and
put through such an enterprise, are
apt to be met with; that in the mean
time the boards of supervisors of High
land and Augusta counties be COM
municated with on the subject, and &C
tion along the same line be suggested
to them. Then, if any company or
syndicate come forward Gas your com
mittee believe they willy to accept the
offer, let their bona fides and ability be
inquired into; and as soon as satisfac-
tory parties can be found let the pro
per steps be taken to valididate the
subscription. and lei a formal contract,
prepared by capable and reliable at,
UOIAcy6s O0 CALOl00 lAUO OOUWOOA oAAO
city and the company whereby the
city will subscribe to $50, 900 of it's COM
mon stock on the conditions named
herein.
It may be necessary for an enabling
act to be passed by the legislature to
authorize such subscription (this the
city attorney should be requested to
look into); if so, your committee sug-
gest that such an act be secured, If
possible, in the legislature which meets
this winter.
Should nothing definite be accom-
plished about the proposed road before
the legislature meets, your committee
suggest that, in order to secure the
franchise and prevent its falling into
the hands of speculators or obstruc-
tionists, the chamber of commerce be
requested to take steps to secure as
liberal charter as possible for the
proposed road, in the names of a COM
mittee to be named by the chamber, as
the corporators, with the understand
ing that the charter is to be turned
over, if desired lat actual cost to such
company or syndicate as the city may
hereafter actually contract with for
subscription as hereinbefore recon-
mended. Respectfully.
A. G. BRAxToN,
RO. w. BURKE,
VIM. WHOLLY,
]. r. TAYLOR, Jr.,
s. BROWN ALLEN.
A woman never really KNOWS tne
meaning of happiness and content un-
til she is the mother of healthy, hap
/ DIV child. The health of the child de-
nends on the health of the mother,