Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-12-16

CENTRAL RAILROAD-No IL
The next SUBJECT discussed IN the report IS the amount
OF aid given to different companies besides the Common.
Weaths joint stock subscription. And under this head
have enumerated all the railroads and other internal
improvement ompaues which the State has advanced
aid in consideration Of preferred stock or in the form
OF loans, with the respective given TO each
making grand aggregate Of more than seven millions
In OF these benefactOns has the Central railroad
participated Of this the Board complain as thew did
the subject in their last report This mart of
the annual Offering this year is conceived and execu
ted in the genuine nursery strain of Namma Bill and Jim
and Dick have each got big red apple out Of the nan
try, and aint got none
II appears that the fact that the Central comma
ny have been able so nearly TO complete their work
without aid from the STATE whilst other conanie
have been under the necessity OF soliciting loans ought
- be subject of just pride and graduation to the Board
instead Of oft repeated complaint
We nov come 20 the arrangement with the Orange
and Alexandra company for using the road between
GOrdonsyile and Charlottesville" Aud although two
yet obtain from them no information beyond the naked
fact, that such an arTAng cement has been made The
Board however TO be neryously appreheusve lest
they may possibly under this arrangement be- entgapped
into carrying freight from Gorlonsyile 10 Charlotte
NlAer OeIo" cost And therefore, by OF ortfvinC
themseye, against such catastrophe thev have amend
e ~ foot note, sort OF amulet learned extract
on this subject from the editorial DEPARTMENT Of the
American Railway Review" / doubt not there s-s
ZONE farmers, near Charlottesville who would for a
small premium, guarantee them against any such cssr
~. We are. therefore. informed that A copy of the
agreement, between the Orange and Alexandra and Cen
tal roads, will be found in the appendix Bat A. vet
sm unable 10 find the appendix.
And, at this point, wish TO enquire why the Ho,rJ
annually distribute before and the meeting OF the
stockholders, edition OF their report from which are
omitted many valuable and interesting tables containing
information essential 10 clear and intelligent under
standing OF the business and management OF this impor
mt road After the adjournment of the stockholders
another edition i published containing these tables the
very existence of which is presume unknown 10 four
hiths Of those interested.
1t Is at their annual meeting and while in session that
the stockholders want the information 20 carefully exclu
ded from the report submitted them And this oni.
sion would seem TO be mere caprice the annual meet
ings take place near two months after the close Of the
fiscal year. afording should think ample time for the
preparation and printing Of full and complete report
now come 70 that part Of the report which treat Of
the damages claimed b. the public wonder If ndvidu
ais are not meant for alleged injuries done bv railroad
trains. And AZ this point the buoyant and Jubilaut
strain that had heretofore characterized the report AZ
gives place 20 sadness Of spirit and ug brius
Of tone, that rre-tbly reminds the reader NJ tho 1,b
rymOse son OF Hkah and the miry cell in the dungeon
Of Aalchiah' The whole passage il genuine iereiade
10 which the Board bewai the preiudices m, are o
ed TO be INDUCED against and the absence Of syptbv
for railroad comPanies together with the cruelty and
ingraitude OF the public in not cordially asserting 10
have their limbs fractured their stock killed and tbsi
srawrcks burned at the will and pleasure" OF railroad
employees How the residents along the line Of this rail
ROAD can De 50 unreasonable a. 10 object 20 the harmless
and ennobng pastime Of running railroad trains over
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs aud occasionally that .
less animal, man, by Of VARYING The SNORT tr,r.ra8
my comprehension, and j. conclusive Of the cruelty and
nulttudc Of the public But the novel exemption
claimed for railroads. well the charge. preferred In
this report against the public and the courts and irre
Of the country demand grayer notice
The President and Directors In this report eorsir
bitterly that the Central in common with the o,bsr
railroad corporations Of the State have been held %
pecuniary responsibility for injuries inflicted by their
trains upon persons and property And they make an
earnest appeal 70 the Representative Of those poopIe
distance from these Improvements 20 irteruos ana
shield this and other railroads from such labiHss Tbiz
appeal enforced by the grave charge that the thirty
three millions Of dollars invested IN railroads loas no,
at present enjoy the equal protection Of the Law but Il
subject 20 be cOnsCaed the will and uiea-ure If e
JUDGED juries This is accompanied by another charge
equally serious, and that coyertly and nldiousIv
sils the uprghness and integrity Of the courts tbe
selves 10 s that the "we established maxim. ofIa are
reversed DO reference % railroads and their liabilities
Willie the Board, upon this subject declare IL 10 be
their business % present facts and 10 propose
specific remedy they yet carefully avoid undertaking 10
sustain their serious and Wholesale charges bv the re
-eutaton Of single faeL therefore ak when and
UPON what occasion, the well established marims Of
law have been reversed boy the courts n order that the
property Of the Central Railroad might be "confacsted
o., the viii aud pleasure Of preiudoed juresy7 / know
OF no such CaCs The Board COudesccnded 20 state o
A. Ear ~ am informed III that our courts and iurie
have done upon this subject las been TO hold the Con
trd Road % just and legal responsibility, for Injuries
90 person aud property, by fearless impartial and in
dependent application Of The well established ma4ims
OF law"
~ With thc iuIl knowledge that they will be held 10
t7ct legal accountability for a damage done bv their
run' they yet rccklrssy and careless destroy stock
crush limbs and endsnger e, what would be the resnlt
n rc,pon,c 10 such unmanly and whining appeals as
hs Railroad companies should be relieved from the Legal
obligation 20 indemnify for such inuriesy Does not
every blazing straw rick, every broken bone and every
mnged c1rcase present emphatic protest against any
rcnHauou Of Railroad responsibility
me only suit Of any importance that am aware Of
aganst TIE Central Road for damage was that Of San
ger decided az the November term Of the Circuit Cour
OF Augusta county iu the year 1856 And To- that case
2" Tar from The weesia1shed maxims Of law being &C.
Vcred they were simply applied a they had already been
tued Dy the aiudicatOus Of the highest court Of th,
Commonwealth.
The selfish effort the part Of the Central Road ID
h relieved by legislation from W just aud legal respops
hihhes as'common cauier-' see no reason sby thes.
responsibilities should be- relaxed in favor az rib a.
powerful corporation whilst they are enforced In M
tet strngency against weaker and humber psrtie.
The costs Of The verdict in the Sanger case were
enhanced IN consequence Of the appeal taken Iv an,
Central Road from The decision of The Circuit CO..,
Bot there 3 another aspect II that case 10 which it
to eali public attention. and especially that Of the Rs
'niauves OF constituencies 0dacspf 10 the lines Of All
roads understand that shortly after the rendition n
the verdict IN The suit oi Sanger w. Central rsrosd
meeting OF the Board of Directors was held Al vbi.,
tWenty.hve cents sdded "a the passenger f,,o -
Wsen hohmond md staunton for he openly syovst