The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-09-03
Railroad Rates.

Why hare some Of our main lines Of rdilroa,
tu1ed 10 qB0rd as much profttO their e,OnerS
and accommodation to the public, as Nigh
hare been expected?
Were there any mystery in the answer tt
this questionable it need more than ordinary
judgment to pronounce upon matter of SC
much consequence to thousands,and we might
say millions-we could well claim public hon.
ors for its solution. But with all due mod
esty,we must disclaim any desire for fame, land
common sense, the use of ones eyes and
ears, to understand both the cause and the
cure of the difficulty.
If we travel over line of railway from q
populous city, to and through q region OF
country possessing ordinary natural advanta-
ges-and see houses ''few and far between"
villages scant, dwellings of an inferior order,
and passengers the fewest possible in number
need we wonder at all these things, when
we hear that the charges on the road are high
for all and for all alikc-that no inducements
are offered for permanent residence or bust
ness along the line-that the company has
looked to the through traffic, and disregard
ed, nay even discouraged all other?
To men of little minds, it has seemed i'm
possible, that while two, three OF five dollars
were obtained from those passing over the
whole line of a road, any profit could be de-
rived from those who paid but twenty, thirty
or fifty cents. The reasoning would be as
good, were merchant to refuse to deal in
flour, coffee or cotton, and only sell diamonds,
gold and silver, because the price Of the for
mer articles was so much less than that of the
latter. If a man fail in business from the at
tempt to carry into practice such absurdities,
few are disturbed by it; but when railroad
fails to accomplish what it ought to do,the loss
is serious to the community even if the stock
holders receive fair dividend.
On most well managed roads, we think it
will be found that the local travel is an impor-
tant part, il not the greater part Of the whole
trade In such cases we are sure to find a
liberal encouragement to residence upon the
line. One family brings another-relations
and friends visit-thc household wants must
be supplied, either directly or recty-and
an increase of freight is sure to follow an in
crease of residence. In this manner,th true
and permanent traffic of a road is augmented,
without any determined limit.
Were the right policy adopted upon some
works which we might name, the ride over
inc IOdlIS hUultl DC IllOlc CIlhClllS even w
through travellers; and although the lovers
of the picturesque might be dissatisfied at the
disappearance of the wilderness and desert,
the lover of humanity would be equally
pleased at the change to the farm and garden.
We give, in this number, an article on
" railroad rates." signed % Baltimore"
good sense and sound argument of the writer
deserve commendation-whil we are indebt-
ed to him for some details of the 'magic" arts
by which Massachusetts and her neighboring
states have performed such wonderful things
in the railroad line.
1t is hoped that the example of the Bosto-
mans will be followed here, and that a reduc-
ton will shortly be made on the lines Of all
our railroads, not only with respect to passen-
gers, but to all articles Of merchandise; that
the local travel will be encouraged and sup
ported, and the result cannot fail to be great
Iy beneficial to the railroad companies to Bal
tilnore and the adjoining country.-Baltimorc
IncYicQn.