Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-09
-. iis E.,l.asY
e Iila III 7E'Er'
THE CENTRAL RAIL ROAD AND THE "EA'
ClrEMENr ABOUT INCREASED CHARI-

-,,r cryTR.1 eA1I, Road AND THE "EX.
CiTEMENr ABOUT INCREASED ChAa''
Is"
Melsrs Editors-I AIN grati6.d TO perceive that
the Enquirer, and several other papers, have can
didly EXPRESSED their views upon the sunl-c! Oh III
crrH-ed casrg.s" on the Central Rsl Roc'. an'
satisfied that the public interest s least snoeerVe1 III
is and all other matters OF general interest," ~hen
the n-Tspap.rs speak out their views PLAINLY insesu
Of maintaining dign6sd silence. Ihe true inter-
ests OF the people large can always Do pest PRO,
NOTED by free discussion OF all questions OF genera
policy, through the columns Of the public press.
II understand your position correotIy; es express
ed in the "Enqurer' OF the l7th OF reoruaty'h Is
that 1.-The mansgers of our roads" should TRY and
make the investment profitable" irrespective OF all
other interests, except "the rail road stockhoder.
think cannot be mistaken as 10 this being your true
meaning, though the position lie monstrous ONE
liesdes, the same position is advocated by CORES.
p1rdent in the Enquirer" OF this morning, the ilh
March, over the signature Of Justice
You ard your correspondent eeem 10 think, that
tbs only incentive th. State Individuals, TO take
stock in the rail roads Of the State ia tbs prospect Of
dirsdends. sppreheud, if the projectors OF all the
public improvements Of our country had looked TO
the dradends the leading Object but few It any,
of the great ues of travel through our extended
country would have been built Ii is very natural
and proper TO inquire whether such improvements
will turn out profitable or advantageous TO iHdvidu.
row policy that looks directly to di0idends! You
| refer 10 "the Northern roads with their immense
| amount OF business. having become nearly bank
rnpt, "by reason Of their very low rates. And thus
you appeal to the Central Board, 10 know whether
they will act wisely on this subject or NOT" and you
further add, they are bound in duty 10 the Common
wealth, as we'll as private stockhodsrs to try aud
make the investment profitable"
| Your reasoning amounts to this namely: all our
public highways must charge according 10 ;ha re-
spective Gust OF their construction Hence, il the
Central Road charges four and half or five cents per
mile the Baltimore and OHIO Rail Road which coat
about ten times more, should charge fry cents pei
mile This is too absurd to claim further corsid-ra
zion. Besides, though sone Of the Northern roads
may " have become nearly bankrupt" deny i; is
I" by Of their very low rates" There nj
rosds in country which understand their true in
terests 80 we'll o. our Northern roads. The stock
holders Of these roads, az class, have not beer
moved to take aock because Of the dividends which
I they expected, but because Of the enhancement o.
their property and the general prosperity of the
| try, from which they have built up t!Ier trade ant
commerce; that is, their yankee shrewdness ha
faught them that all questions Of pubic benefit tenC
to their individual gain. This is lesson which
Southern planters aud statesmen. have yet TO learn
Some few years ago. when ihe Milwaukee and Nils
rissppi Rail nd was being located, gentleman liv
Ing III small village, near the Mississippi terminus
subscribed 500, quo which WAS the full amount Of Iii
| estimated worth He, however, occurred the road by
! his enterprise; and lhua, more than three fold Ell
HANGED bis individual wealth by the rise Of bis pro
perty
This narrow State policy, is the very reason why
Norfolk, Richmond, and other towns Of Virginia, a.
well as the State at large have not become more popu
uus and wealthy. The people Of Alexandria with
very limited means, have, in the last few yenrs, dis
played more enterprise In their public spirit, thar
| Richmond and Norfolk combined. with their superior
wealth and natural advantages. Virginia must iearr
to make heavy appropriations, without any direc
prospect of revenue. in order 70 reach important point
Of trade then will che build up her towns, and ferti
lizs her soil. am pleased To observe that you MIR
Editor. have been urging this subject upon the con
sidernon of your readers. But your reasoning will
no, affect the Legislature if you insist upon "proffa
bile Investments" having direct reference to d'ui
dends; because this is obviously itnpractoabe. Blu
il is esay demonstrate that by extended line Il
the Ohio river, Richmond and Norfolk would sool
command an immense trade with the West, and thu
build up Virginia in wealth and commerce
| March 4th 1858. OBsERyER.