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

| Railroad to Highland.
The undersigned, who were appoint
ed committee to consider the subJec
of the city's subscribing to a railroa'
from here to Monterey in Highlan'
county, and to report to an adjourn
| ment of the mass meeting of citizen
called to consider the same question
now respectfully submit the following
| report:
There is large and rich countr.
lying to the northwest of Staunton
including the counties of Highland
Pendleton, Pocahontas, and part O
Augusta, which has no railroad outlet
and which trades almost exclusively
with Staunton. The business prosper
ity of Staunton depends very largely
upon the trade of this section. more SO
probably, than on that of all other sec
tions combined, which are tributary t.
this market. Notwithstanding the
fact that the trade in said territory is
now so great, yet it is really in its in
fancy. in comparison with what it will
be when the country is opened by rail-
roads. Already roads are being pro-
jected into this country from several
different directions, two of which-the
Chesapeake & Western and the Hot
Springs branch of the g. y O.-have
reached out long arms towards the
much coverted prize. The contour of
the country favors both of these routes,
and several others, rather than the
route to Staunton, and therefore, un-
less the city offers material aid in the
way of liberal subscription, there is
every reason to think that some one of
the other, cheaper and more feasible,
routes will be adopted, than the one to
Staunton; for certain it is, that sooner
or later, and probably at a very early
day, road will be built into this ter
ritory over some route or other. The
Importance to this city of securing a
railroad into the region in question
can hardly be fully appreciated, and
cannot be overestimated. 1t is not
a question of enlarging and in
creasing our trade and business, but
of holding on to what we have-of
business life or death. For just as sure
as railroad enters this region, con-
Meeting it with other points, just SO
sure, and so soon, will Staunton lose
the entire trade with that section
probably more than half of its own
business. On the other hand, should
we bind that country to us with a rail-
road, we not only secure for all time
what we now have-for no other road
will incur the expense of extension
into these counties unless it can ex-
clusively control their trade. but we
will double, and probably triple, the
business, wealth and Importance of
our city, because not only will we
have as our exclusive tributary this
large country of almost boundless
wealth and possibilities; but, in the
matter of cheaper coal, which we will
probably be able to get at less than
half what we are now paying for it we
will derive benefit scarcely to be
For these considerations,
your committee is of opinion, and so
reports, that the most important and
material interests of this city are in
volved in the building of railroad
from this city to Monterey, and that
this city ought to aid in the building
of such road to its utmost ability.
But while your committee unite
most earnestly in the foregoing views,
they do not wish to be understood as
recommending that the city go, incon-
siderately and unadvisedly, into any
scheme that may be suggested for the
building of the road, without regard to
its practicability, and the financial
soundness Of it's projectors. We think
Staunton can well afford to pay many
thousand dollars to get the road, but
not single dollar for spectators or
visionary experimentalists. Staunton
cannot build the road itself, nor can it
afford to go into scheme whereby it's
money may be spent and yet no road
be built. Your committee are there
fore OF the opinion, and so recommend.
that the city make conditional sub
scription to the common stock of some
company. organized for the purpose of
building railroad from Staunton to
Monterey, payable only when the road
shall have been built and been actu-
ally hauling passengers and freight
over it's entire length-say ten consec.
utive days-and with additional con-
ditions as hereinafter recommended.
Your committee are not practical
railroad men, and therefore do not ven
ture to say with certainty what can
and what cannot be done in railroad
building; but they fear, from what in
formation they can get, that stand
ard gauge steam railroad over the
route named, is not practicable
though possibly they are mistaken in
this. There can, however, be no doubt
that an electric road is entirely FEAST
BILE. Such road, while probably not
equal in every respect to a regular
steam road, would, beyond question.
be abundantly capable of accommo-
dating a larger amount of freight
than that now delivered in this city
by either of the railroads now passing
here, and this by reason of the short
ness of the road, which would make
practically four round trips from here
to Monterey in every twenty-four
hours. Such a road, your committee
believe. from such Information as thew
have been able to obtain, could he
built and fully equipped for something
like $250,0O0 or 100000, and, if the
right can be obtained (as is probable)
to lay the track on one side of the pix,