The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-01

S,nr RAr1RoAp. - communicate on IN
Yesterdays Wing, signed Citizen ofiuss
to the attention of the people OF Kiohmonas
matter in which they are very deeply inter
e,ted. The james River Company al theh
last annual meeting, entrusted the duty Oh re-
,,;.;r. tho tolls to the President and Direc-
tors and subsequently they have revised
them "Citizen" says it had been declared
that this revision brought the expenses OF
transportation on the Canal to lower point
than those upon the Southside Railroad. But
he states that he is informed by merchant
in Lynchburg, that he shipped tobacco to
ersburg, via the Southside Road one Dof-
lar and thirty.two cents per HID cheaper
than he could have shipped it by Canai 10
Richmond. Another gentleman engagea u
the Forwarding business informed MIN ina
he could save at least one hundred dollars
mar amman in his small business by resorting
TO the r abroad instead of the Canal.
.sCitizep," in his comments upon these factf,
states that he understands that the Directory
of the Canal indulge the anticipation that the
r ailrosd cannot be maintained at the present
rates of transportation upon it, and that they
will be compelled to increase them. He then
enters into calculation by which, assuming
that l-2 cents per ton is the cost of trans
portation per mile. he asserts the Southside
Road will make at its present tariff of tolls
profit of cents per ton per mile as their av-
erage charge is 6 2 cents per ton per mile
Allowing the road $4,000 tons per annum, or
$50 tons per day, the clear profit of the road
would be $3.50, 900, or ten per cent on two and
half millions of dollars. This he thinks
would be entirely satisfactory to the stock
holders, as it no doubt would be.
We do not mean to endorse or question the
figures of the Wings correspondent; but we
are clearly of opinion that the James River
and Kanawha Company should not permit
the expenses upon the Canal to be greater
than they are upon the Railroad. If they do
allow this state of things to exist, under the
idea that the Southside Road cannot main
tain itself with its present freights, they are
pursuing course not at all in keeping with
the go ahead spirit of the times tits great
mistake TO let the competitor occupy the field,
to get ahead-in the belief that he will break
down or give out. The great point in rivalry
is not at any time to allow that to be dome
The prestige of advantage, in a struggle,
brings with it eclat, sympathy and aid on
every hand, and swells that tide of popu
larity and success, which tits hard to over
come - much harder indeed to struggle
against than it is to prevent.
We have heard much complaint about the
tolls on the Canal. If the views taken of
them are just, they are likely to mi lure the
trade of this place, and diminish the revenues
of the canal. But we cannot believe that
tariff of tolls which produces such result
will be long kept in operation by the Di-
rectory Certainly the President of the Com
pany, from his information and practical
knowledge as a merchant, will not be slow to
see the working of such an unwise policy,
aud wehave every confidence that so far as
he is concerned at least, neither the Compa-
ny nor the city, will long suffer from it.
LECTURE OF JOHN r. THOMPSON, EsQ-A
large and intelligent audience assembled at
the Athenaum on Tuesday night, to hear
this gentlemans Lecture On Paris; and the
enthusiastic commentator of the press of
Petersburg where the Lecture was first de-
livered, was fully and cordially endorsed
1t was indeed most graceful, entertaining
and instructive production, and left no regret
but that MIR. Thompson had thought proper
to impose the "hour rule upon himself, and
rather provokingly hurried us away from
scenes ofwhich we should have been delight
sd to have heard more
The Lecture commenced with rapid do.
ramic view of the more interesting points and
portions of Paris, in which we were particu-
larry struck with an elegant and touching de-
scription of the Hotel des Invalsdes, where
rest the ashes of the great Napoleon, guarded
by the rapidly diminishing remnant of the
grand army which bore his eagles in triumph
over the plains of Europe shared the disas
tiers of the Russian campaign, and witnessed
the fatal eclipse of Waterloo.
From this Mr.. THOMPSON went on with
quiet but genial humor to sketch some oftbe
frivolities and absurdities of the CAV hearted
metropolis of Frsnce-the irreconcilabIe an.
tagonisms between the Englishman and
Frenchman, in spite of their recent alliance
and then with higher and nobler purpose
proceeded to dissect, with a masters hand
the social condition of Paris.
Mr.. THOMPSON gave what we are sure
Is full though painful solution of the
inability of the French to maintain and
preserve free institutions. The view OF
the religious side" of Paris. the net work
OF espionage which records not only spoken |
words but seems to have the power of read. |
ing the inmost thoughts-the entire .bseroo
ola love of home, with all its endaar;na az
waiting and conservative infiuences-tha ron,'
less laws OF pleasure, which submit to tn-
rant if he will crafty it with feasts and CO.,
tacles-these and many other radical defao..
we're clearly and forcibly exhibited and ;l,rs
trated. In conclusion, DR. Thompson s.w
no hope for the political and moral re,en
Grafton of France, but in an entire change of
education, and with deep pathos depicted
her probable future, as typifed in a magnis.
cent picture of the Louvre.
D.,k.~ IL