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Staunton Vindicator: July 15, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
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Summary: Editor responds to a Richmond paper's insinuation that the former was not aware of a consolidation attempt by Railroad officials to secure a salt monopoly in Lynchburg. Insists the consolidation scheme is legitimate with no hint of a monopoly grab. Only wants to protect the best interests of Virginians.

Full Text of Article:

The Richmond Whig, of the 9th inst., has another article on the subject of consolidation, and gives as a reason therefore, that the propositions of Mr. Wilson, and Col. Baldwin, as counsel, were in the interests of a salt monopoly, and very considerately says, that it supposes that the Staunton Vindicator was not cognizant of the fact, that the object of the above named parties was to create this monopoly, by preventing the transportation of Liverpool salt beyond Lynchburg and establishing a price for their Southwestern Virginia salt that would pay for the Railroad in two years, and professes its unwillingness to believe that the Vindicator would favor a project, which would so burden the people.

The Whig is correct. We were aware of no such fact, nor can we glean it from, nor see it concealed in the propositions of either Mr. Wilson or Col. Baldwin, which the Whig publishes to sustain its assertion.--On the contrary we see the greatest fairness in these propositions. A positive assurance against discriminating tariffs, and the Legislature even requested to make any stringent amendments to the charter of the Va. and Tenn. R. R. Co., it may deem proper to prevent any discriminations.--Hence we repeat that we can see no salt or other monopoly lurking in these propositions. If the Whig can, it must have other data which it has not given to the public, and which, for the satisfaction of the people and in defence of its course, the Whig ought by all means to produce.

We believed that the consolidation bill was wrong in several particulars, and that it would produce a monopoly, against the interest of the people and State. Time will tell whether we were correct, but as yet we have seen no cause to change our belief.

We are, as the Whig supposes, opposed to unnecessarily burdening the people, and hence one ground of our opposition--the virtual giving away of near $6,000,000 of the State's interests, and especially at a time when our people are ground down with taxation.

This however, is one of the things of the past. Consolidation succeeded. If it prove beneficial to the interests of the people and State, we shall be much pleased, but we can not believe that will be the result. As all that can be said will not avail just now to reverse the fiat of consolidation, we shall await patiently the developments of the future, to sustain or condemn us as to our course on the question.

The Whig, we trust, will always find us, (as we believe we were on the consolidation question) advocating the best interest of the people. This, at least, shall be our endeavor.

The Valley Railroad and the Tax
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Summary: Prints an opinion article by an anonymous contributor giving an elaborate justification for subscribing to the Valley Railroad. Outlines the minimal costs and enormous benefits waiting for the town if only its citizens will support the measure. Pleads with Staunton residents not to let Augusta County lag behind the rest of the country.

Full Text of Article:

It it estimated that in making the Valley R. R. through Augusta County, $1,360,000 would be expended and put in circulation in the county, within the next 2 years. Now if there is 40,000 inhabitants in the county, this would be $34 for each man, woman and child, white and black, in the county. By the new Act of Legislature, if the county votes a subscription to the stock of the Valley R. R. of $300,000, it will be by a loan for 20 years, upon which the interest will be to pay yearly, by a tax, until the dividends of the stock held by the county will meet the interest, which will probably be about two years after the county executes its bonds. This tax will be $36,000 in two years, or 90 cents in two years for each man, woman and child. It is said that a man once bet 1,000 pounds Sterling, that he would stand on the end of London bridge and offer to sell genuine gold guineas at a penny a piece for a whole day without selling ten of them. It is said he won his bet having sold none. The offer was so good none would believe it. The people of Augusta are offered $34 good money for 90 cents, but the wiseacres shake their heads and say such bargains will ruin them. This is the way it stands for two years. After this the dividends will pay the interest and, in a very few years, this dividend will be increased to probably 9 per cent per annum. This estimate is made from the dividends of similar roads having no better opportunities than this one will have. This will make $27,000 a year, or $9,000 over and above the interest, for a sinking fund toward paying the bonds, and allowing a fair average of business and profits to this road for the 20 years, it will bring, in dividends, enough to pay both principal and interest, and leave the stock in the hands of the County, the dividends on which will nearly or quite pay the entire State tax yearly for all time to come. This is no Utopian idea. It has been done over and over again. There are many towns and counties in New England, which are entirely free from taxation by having bought stock in a successful Railraod, the dividends on which paid nearly or quite all of the principal and interest of the purchase money, and there is not a town or county in New England which would not accept such an offer as Augusta County has, by an unanimous vote, and, however much we may dislike the sentiments and politics of New England, any one who will travel through, that county, with his eyes open, must admit that they are wiser in their day and generation in the things that lead to material wealth than we are or have been.

To enumerate the many advantages to the county of having the road speedily completed, is to repeat what every one ought to know, and to reason with those who are so far behind the age, or so dull as not to be aware of them, seems like a hopeless if not a useless undertaking.

I can only say, sum up anew and compare the advantages and costs. Do it calmly, fairly, and at once, for the time is near at hand when you must decide whether Augusta County is to have a great through line of Railroad from North to South or not. On the 6th of August you will be called upon to vote for or against this subscription. Remember it is a question of a Railroad or no Railroad--a final decision whether Augusta County is to join in the great march of progress, or to lag behind and be left to decay.

Rapbine Va. PROGRESS

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Summary: Arthur Harman, H. A. McCue, and S. M. Williams, all of Augusta, have been appointed cadets at the Virginia Military Institute.
(Names in announcement: Arthur Harman, H. A. McCue, S. M. Williams)

[No Title]
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Summary: Some of the convicts laboring on C. R. Mason's work beyond Milboro mutinied. One guard was killed and six convicts wounded before the revolt was quelled. Two convicts escaped.
(Names in announcement: C. R. Mason)

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Summary: Mr. Funkhouser thanks the members of the Augusta Fire Company and the white and black citizens of Augusta who helped save his building and stock in a recent fire.
(Names in announcement: Funkhouser)

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Summary: The plank-kiln of Mr. Lushbaugh and Bro. caught fire and burned down last Thursday. The fire consumed a large amount of lumber in the kiln and did several hundred dollars in damage. Lushbaugh thanks the Augusta Fire Company for their quick assistance.
(Names in announcement: Mr. Lushbaugh)

Drowned
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Summary: Conrad Hensley, son of Robert Hensley, drowned near Waynesboro in Blackwell's Mill dam while fishing. He was 21 years old.
(Names in announcement: Conrad Hensley, Robert Hensley)

Died
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Summary: Jethro B. Bailey, a native of Rhode Island and formerly of New Orleans, died in Staunton on July 11th. He was 62 years old.
(Names in announcement: Jethro B. Bailey)

Died
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Summary: James E. Ross, son of W. O. and S. A. Ross, died in Mt. Sidney on July 1st. He was 8 months old.
(Names in announcement: James E. Ross, W. O. Ross, S. A. Ross)

Died
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Summary: Miss Melvina Whitlock died near Mt. Sidney on June 29th.
(Names in announcement: Melvina Whitlock)

Died
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Summary: George Patterson died on South River on July 7th of consumption.
(Names in announcement: George Patterson)

Died
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Summary: John Areon died near Salem Church on June 27th.
(Names in announcement: John Areon)

Died
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Summary: Miss Maria Harrison, daughter of Henry Harrison, died near Staunton at the residence of her father on July 9th. She was 16 years old.
(Names in announcement: Maria Harrison, Henry Harrison)