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Staunton Vindicator: April 8, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

"Treason to the Old Mother"
(Column 01)

Summary: Launches a verbal defense of the interests of the Valley against the insults hurled by city newspapers. Asks why farmers should be taxed and endure tariffs just to supply cities, when farmers have to look after their own interests. Especially dislikes attacks on building Valley railroads, something the editor feels is crucial.

Full Text of Article:

Such is the language which one of the Richmond papers applies to the advocates of the Valley Railroad, declaring that they are guilty of "treason to the old mother," Virginia. We think it full time to let those who utter such sentiments in the interest of Eastern Virginia cities and of the Grand Monarque of consolidation know that the people of this Valley, following the lead and sustained by the approval of Robert E. Lee, and other eminent citizens, are neither traitors to Virginia, nor inimical to her highest welfare, when they declare, that "the longitudinal bisection of the Valley" by a continuous line of railway is essential to their interests, and that they intend to have it. In the opinion of our great Metropolitan Editors, Norfolk, Petersburg and Richmond constitute the State. They utterly ignore the great laboring and producing classes every where scattered throughout the Commonwealth. They should remember, that under our benign constitution, cities have ceased to be the fountains of supply to the treasury; and that the great agricultural, manufacturing and mining interests, and the capital invested in them constitute the broad basis of taxation and governmental support. Taxation on licenses is almost done away with; the values of property are to be chiefly looked to for revenue. It is these we wish to increase and develop, not peculiarly for the sake of Richmond, or Petersburg, or Norfolk, or Baltimore, but for our own sake and that of all Virginia. Let Baltimore and Richmond strive against each other, as they may; it is for our good the competition will be sustained. Every inducement Richmond, and the railways leading to that city, offer for our trade, is so much in diminution of the burden which would be upon it, had we only Alexandria or Baltimore to look to; and, so, the bids of Alexandria and Baltimore, and of the roads leading thitherward, tend to reduce the charges on our produce sent forward, and on the goods brought back. And this is what our people want; this is what Virginia's interests demand--free competition among the marts of trade; and free transit over the avenues of traffic. If our farmers want Smythe county plaster, we desire the same cars, which receive it at the mines, to come, by the Virginia and Tennessee and Valley Railroads, direct to Staunton. And so, when the great coal fields of the West are opened and our manufacturing establishments are built up, we wish free and unobstructed transit for our fabrics and products, West, Southwest, East and Northeast; so that we may buy in the cheapest and ship to the highest markets. We utterly repudiate all tariffs for the great protection of cities at the expense of the interests of the interior. Let the cities grow by means of their own energies and enterprize, and by the prudent and profitable use of their own capital. We protest against the metropolitan idea of building up great cities by taxation of the farmers, miners and manufacturers of the interior. And what does all this "war of the giants" mean, but this? Daily, we see in the Richmond papers such heavily leaded headings as these: "Baltimore versus Richmond," "Lady Baltimore's new domain," "Baltimore flanking Richmond," "Baltimore 200 miles in the rear of Richmond," and others of equally startling import. All the while, the eager combatants forget that there are some interests outside of the city precincts--that there are some people, who don't live in cities and who, in our Valleys and along our mountain slopes, desire cheap transportation for their products and easy access to the best markets. We ask what means this theory of consolidation--of compulsion to trade--of damming up the natural outlets of traffic, and forcing it into artificial channels towards selected localities? Why, it means taxation upon production, to sustain cities, which cannot sustain themselves. It means, that the farmers of Augusta, for example, shall pay twenty cents a barrel more to get their flour to market than they would be required to pay, if other channels were opened. Say, the construction of the Valley Railroad will cheapen transportation on all articles of traffic, in the proportion of ten cents on a barrel of flour; and, what would be the result? Why, upon the whole trade of the county the saving would be from thirty to forty thousand dollars a year. This saving is actual increase of wealth; because the wealth of a country consists in the nett results of its labor. And, on the other hand, any system of policy, or of supposed policy, which prevents this saving, is in effect, oppressive taxation upon labor, and tends to make a poor people poorer.

Let the people of Augusta, then, look to their own interests. Let them see to it, that they lose not the present opportunity to secure one more competing line of road for their trade and travel. Let Richmond news papers call them traitors to the old mother" if they choose; yet, conscious of a record of loyal patriotism and devotion to Virginia, at least, as fair as their traducers can produce, let them resolve to look to their own interests; to build up their own interests; to build up their own enterprises; to add to their own wealth and population; and, thus, will they prove themselves to be loyal "to the old mother," the sneers of Richmond papers to the contrary, notwithstanding.

In a word, let an overwhelming vote for the Valley Railroad subscription be the response of Augusta to the unkindly and unjust assaults recently made upon the people of this Valley>.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Favors all measures designed to entice the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad to locate their repair shops in Staunton. Lists all the benefits such a move would bring to Staunton and the qualifications the town has for supporting repair shops. Urges all residents to do what they can to make the venture succeed.

Full Text of Article:

In our last we called attention to the necessity of our people taking steps to secure the location of the repair shops of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad at this point which we are glad to see has aroused, to a considerable extent, the interest of many here in this subject.

We propose now to speak of some the advantages to the company of the location of their shops at this place.

In the first place, it is a central point on the road. This is of momentous consequence in the successful running of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad when completed, which we have no doubt will be duly appreciated by the energetic men at the head of this company.

The location of their shops will bring a number of employees, whose wants as consumers must be supplied to a great extent from the adjacent country.

At no point along the line can this be so readily and cheaply done as here. Staunton is the regular market for a number of the adjacent counties, and is accessible by good roads from others, and, besides, the production of Augusta alone would furnish, from first hands, without cost of transportation, nearly all that the employees and families would need, an item of great interest to those employed by the company and of consequent consideration to the Directors.

In this connection the advantages of churches and schools, of every denomination, is also of consequence. The employees can, in this respect, enjoy privileges not in their reach at any point on the line, certainly not at any central point, and even Richmond does not surpass us in point of schools. The laboring man will come more readily and remain more contentedly with such advantages, than where he is secluded or deprived of them, and this is also a matter of consequence to those interested in the great Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.

There must of necessity be a large consumption of materials--wood, iron, steel &c--in such repair shops, and we venture the assertion that this, as a location, will not be excelled in the ability to supply all demands in that line. The timber can readily be obtained from our extensive forests, the supply of which is nearly or quite inexhaustible. The very opening of this great road through the iron to the coal district will darken the heavens along its route, especially in this locality, with the smoke of Furnaces &c. The necessary consequence of this will be the establishment of Rolling Mills, Steel works, Nail factories &c., near by. Their establishment also depends greatly upon the ability to supply the necessary wants of those employed therein. In this respect the advantages of Staunton and vicinity cannot be overlooked, and hence not only the probability or possibility, but the almost positive certainty, in the near future, of the erection of these and various other kinds of manufacturing establishments here, near the great coal and iron beds of Virginia and West Virginia.

This, as a means of supplying nearly all other materials, ready for manipulation in the Repair Shops, without the expense of transportation, and consequently at the cheapest possible cost, must be looked to by the company and have a weighty consideration in the location of their shops at Staunton.

But as a people we must not content ourselves to stand by with our hands in our pockets, and merely hope for their location here. We must show the Directory the advantages at greater length then can be done in a newspaper article. We must exhibit to them all the advantages and in all their bearings and then, if needs be, make it their interest to locate here.

It is we think, decidedly to their interest to do so, and we know it is the direct interest of our people, not only of town and county, but of adjacent counties, that they should, and not a stone should be left unturned to secure it. We ask on the part of our people that active interest which the subject so imperatively demands.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Capt. Hunter will replace H. Risk as guager.
(Names in announcement: Capt. Hunter, H. Risk)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Martha Stuart, an African American woman, was committed to jail by Mayor Allan. She is charged with breaking into the house of Mr. M. A. Miller and stealing clothing.
(Names in announcement: Martha Stuart, Mayor Allan, M. A. Miller)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: William Murray attempted to escape from jail on Sunday by removing the window frame. Mr. Harlan, the jailor, heard the noises and prevented the escape.
(Names in announcement: William Murray, Harlan)

Wholesale Arrest
(Column 01)

Summary: J.T. Parrent, Chief of Police, arrested three persons calling themselves Othello Clark, William Green, and R. M. Wilson. They had horses in their possession matching the description of animals stolen from Brooke County, West Virginia. Mayor Allan committed the men to jail.
(Names in announcement: J. T. Parrent, Othello Clark, William Green, R. M. Wilson, Mayor Allan)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Augusta Fire Company elected the following officers: John B. Scherer, Jr., Capt.; C. W. Stafford, Lt.; James P. Crickard, 1st Engineer; Patrick O'Toole, 2nd Engineer; Michael Kennedy, 3rd Engineer; James O'Brian, 4th Engineer; Charles Gregory, 1st Hose Director; James W. Smith, 2nd Hose Director; B. F. Fifer, Secretary; J. H. Waters, Treasurer; A. E. White, Librarian; G. M. Fifer, Assistant Librarian; James Johnson, engine keeper.
(Names in announcement: John B. SchererJr., C. W. Stafford, James P. Crickard, Patrick O'Toole, Michael Kennedy, James O'Brian, Charles Gregory, James W. Smith, B. F. Fifer, J. H. Waters, A. E. White, G. M. Fifer, James Johnson)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: William B. Dunlap and Miss Sarah C. Brown, both of Augusta, were married on March 20th by the Rev. D. B. Ewing.
(Names in announcement: William B. Dunlap, Sarah C. Brown, Rev. D. B. Ewing)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: David C. Trainum and Miss Frances L. Smith, both of Augusta, were married on March 24th by the Rev. D. B. Ewing.
(Names in announcement: David C. Trainum, Frances L. Smith, Rev. D. B. Ewing)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: James L. Dunlap and Miss Mary A. Kerr, both of Augusta, were married on March 27th by the Rev. D. B. Ewing.
(Names in announcement: James L. Dunlap, Mary A. Kerr, Rev. D. B. Ewing)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: Mrs. Catharine McKee, wife of Samuel McKee, died near Middlebrook on March 18th after a painful illness of three weeks.
(Names in announcement: Catharine McKee, Samuel McKee)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: David W. Gilkeson died near Greenville of consumption on March 31st. He was 22 years old.
(Names in announcement: David W. Gilkeson)