Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-12-22
MORALS AND RAILWAY 70
Icy"

Thu. i. the title Of son. recent able and interesting
articles in the Edinburgh Review. discussing the qaes-
ion, aad investigating tho causes why The: aii road en-
ierpriso III Great Britain has not he-n mc:e success
Eal. Tho articles are deliberately drawn l+,, aud from
a hasty perusal, would seen to establish the TACT 'hst
there the shareholders have been led into unW.so pro-
j-cts, from the unworthy. II not corrupt motives OF
Interested managers OF o great variety OF KINDS and
,!rs-es, which have not been detectc! by rsasOn Of
tho Inconvenience, If not inn racticabil,y, Of co.ope-
ration among the shareholders. The editor says;
oIs it no, manifest that tho small organized party
always uu.mau9uvres the large uuorganized onei =
Consider their Respective charactSs ana circum-
stnnces- Here are the shareholders dlfiused through
gu, the whole Kingdom, III towns and couniry.horses,
knowing nothing Of each other. and too remote TO CO.
operate, were they acquainted &c, &C.
Now, although we believe that IN Virginia, happi.
~, we are e1e,np, from any charge CT corruption III
the management of our rail roads, yet We regard the
present as a period, when It is tho duty Of all our rail
road companies Ia make q critical examination into
the system Of Enlargement aud determine whether
there is not something which they may correct, thu:
makes our rcsds Improbable. Without protesting
to be- very wise GU this subject, it has occurred to us,
that 1t may be one OF the errors W our companies to
he disf-osed 70 fcl.yw bliotly what may be regarded
as established precedents: 10 consider oil things
which aro done il tbs construction and workiu, Of
rail roaas Us re4ai.!n, professional ski!!-in a wprd,
that RAD ,ooltnS was c snrt Of craft which called in
reluisi,iou tho soieune Of the profession, and not the
common sense, practical Knowledge Of business laen.
Tho editor Of TIL RGl Road ,Jour'ull.' Published
10 New York, commenting on the article .rom the
Edinburgh Review, draws o contrast between the IL.
~cnntives TO isl road enterprises u this country, aud
tho prudence aud discretion Ill ;h,ir management. Ill
very much in their fav"r, end pereap. Justly 50 ta
grvat exteut. Speaking Of the more uniavofabis
results IN Eugluud, be says,
We showed too wa thiak, satisfactorily. tina, the
wastc ana miscociuct III tie tc.strr-:t,cR q; rail roads
Is owiug 10 the fact thet thor, who furnish the 'seons
do uot oversee its expenditure, &c, &c.
NoT thi. il tbs very roin: Of tho enquiry to which
our mind l ,urucd. Do ,ho.c Sho fu.aisl tho means
always look closely into tho cs7caiitlrel May not
the poor results ot soGN ~ OR road, tbs year, be IN
ionic uiessurb attributed " p-Gie,t q THE worry dutyl
JUDGED, con American railway companies f-lc,,a,e
themselves gu their very PROSPEROUS eoaiitiou' Arc
they really Masking money ne ttey should Dol And
have they all the mns, saustacto.y prospects befor.
.hrm'
We believe thu, in rgjl ROD! management, Gs 10 sl,
other things, 0 wise Tx! Judicics economy, enforced
by q rigid personal supervision aud inspection, and
the application OF p!ain cc,nm"n eeuse business
ksuv .cife, is material 70 tucc.r.. We Invite the at
,vr,ion Of the managers OF ali cur road, To this sub.
: iec;. Tho presen, time requires ,ha; the best en"r'
s"s Of the directors sbou!! t. eAr:ted 20 correC;
abuse, i! there are an. su! 20 Introduce rrou"lny
where Il rau wisely b, imn'.
We may i"''f 10 .!.- suij = ; :...i,; 'r ~. y:e,9H,
VIZ conclude with ~ rattac; r,.rlaa editorial oi til,
Raj Road Jornl ~hSl We heartily caiorsc % 10.
I, love-:
aThs proper test Of successful engineering, is tn,
result. An engineer who b"lt. 4 road tist paws
4 per !hs, cent a.s sl ssn 10 sDsi, slp pr saSs'S ssi w S5.st,x 'so ~si
. perty, and supply the necessary accommodation 1.
: The traveller, Is much better eutltled 10 te called sue
ocsstuL, than Que who s~acridces the earnings x a roa,
10 magnificent ~ervct;nuE, or 10 oruaneri "iHicu, uss
Tbs hrst object 10 be gained is 70 make tho ROAD use
full aoJ profitable. After these conditions arc aaas
U EEL J,uup ,rut inay follow