Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-10-06
Railroad MANAGEMENT.

The following remarks from the Richmond En-.
quirer in relation to Railroad management in Vir-
ginia, apply SO forcibly to some of the Railroads in
our own State, that we adopt them in lieu of re-
marks of our own:
"RAnRoAD MANAGEMENT.-There is no business
so very much misunderstood in State, as the
proper management of our railroads. Under most
suicidal policy Of high reights, the Directors Of Vir
ginia roads actually cause their business to Ian
guish prevent dividends, and make their roads
worthless as investments. Freight is actually driven
to other roads beyond our limits; local traceL and
neighborhood freghts made to bear the expenses
of the road. Unjust discrimination for foreign
Through travel" is made against the local travel,
though nearly ten way passengers pass over por-
tons of the road, where one Through passenger"
travels the entire line. The roads actually lose mo-
ney on the "through passengers" which is made
up by charges on the "way." Virginians are un.
justly taxed their own roads to pay the passage
money of foreign travellers.
The State has taxed her people millions to build
these roads and foreigners alone reap the advan-
tsge. the people along the lines paying the passage
money of travellers, who were never taxed dollar
for the cost of the roads. We venture the assertion
that any "way passenger" that travels fifty miles
over any road in the State that has the Through
ticket system, pays more money to the road than
the through passenger" pays for travelling one
hundred miles over the same road. We make the
assertion at random, and shall be glad if are in
error.
We told that it is necessary to lower the price
of Through passengers" to draw the travel-that
the competition between the various Western and
Southern lines render the reduction necessary. We
told that more through passengers will travel
the road the lower the passage money All very
the wisdom of the Virginia boards of directory as
far as it goes.
But. we ask why not carry wise principle still
farther? Why not extend accommodates the ap-
plication Of principle that is found to work ad
mirably with passengers? If it is necessary to re-.
duce the price on through travellers" in order to
draw travel why not necessary to reduce the price
on merchandise and produce, to draw trade to Vir
ginia roads, which is now draw" by the working of
the same wise principle to other roads, over crcu
itous and round about route?
policy prevails that initiates against the
credit of the State the necessities of the farmer and
the demands of the cities ''Thr,ugh tickets" at
low rates, for passengers, is policy detrimental to
the interest Of the State. The railroads may carry
thousands of through passengers but to compete
with other roads, rapid time must be made, at the
cost of great and tear of rolling power and
road. But, worse than this. instead of Virginia
roads becoming portage roads, for the transportation
Of the produce and merchandise Of the State, they
are being made passenger roads. What good will
ever enure to Virginia from the transportation of
passengers over the various roads? Is it expected
that the dividends the States subscriptions will
be increased and taxes essened? If so, it is vain
calculation. The expenses incident to the rapid
time required for a successful passenger road, will
consume the profits of low Through tlcket" sys-
TEN. The through ticket" system has been adopt
ed at the expense of the freight business of the
road; the energies of the roads expended upon
the passenger trains instead of being devoted to the
great interests Of the State the agriculture and
merce of Virginia.
The people Of Virginia it to themselves to see
that all future Boards of Public Works shall be
elected with reference to the question of Loo eights
We advocate no increase Of the fare on Is through
travel" If the roads satisfied that by the re
duction of the fare the os0est paying price, they
have been able to increase their business, then we
demand the same reduction proportionaby on "way
travel" 1t can cost the railroad more to carry
sway" than Through" passenger. Our princi
pie is the reduction of fare in all TO the looest
paying price" g .z=i 4@Ts : 5SEs
furnished the Democrat with the following state
ment:-- ...s
| "Five hogsheads of Bacon, weighing about 1000
| pounds were shipped from Baltimore to Newbern
and thence to Charlotte over the Atlantic and N.
Railroads. at q cost of $62 10. The freight from
| Baltimore to Newbern was s. O0-from Newberr
to Goldsboro' $40 85-from Goldsboro' to Char
lotte $40 IS total 500 10.
"The same number OF hogsheads, and same
weight. shipped by way Of Charleston, cost $35 80
from Charleston to Columbia $i4 15-from Colum
bia to Charlotte $14 15-totai SIS 80.
"Showing difference in favor of the Charles
| ton route Of $26 80"
This statement compared with the distances