, 1860-05-01
THE RAILROADS AND THE Con-
VIlNT1ON.

X4AE &k!AAAhNADS MI AAA1 ~"*'-
Tho Pittsburgh, It. Wayne & Chicago, and
the Grand Trunk Of Canada, are tue only Kali
roads, we believe, which havo Jet announced
a reduction Of fare to delegates and visitors to
tie National Republican Convention-those
having agreed to carry al persons desiring to
attend, at one half the usual rates. The judi
cious and liberal movement Of these companies
will accommodate a1l Of New England, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, aud portions ol
New York aud Michigan, with tho facilities
usually granted TO the public when extraordi-
na-y assen,blages are about to be drawn to-
gc.hcr. But there remains large secticn Of
country from which by far the greater portion
Of tho visitors to the Chicago Convention is
expected, get unprevided with the opportuui-
~ to come ut leas than the everyday
rates Of fare. We refer particularly to the
states Of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota,
Missouri, aud the greater part Of M'cl'igan--
If no arrangement shall be made like that
adopted when the q. S. Agricultural Society
held its Fair here last fall, our city will b. de-
prived Of the presence Of two-thirds Of those
who expect to attend the Convention from that
entire section, and the people Of those states
debarrcd, il great measure, from participate
ing in Ill event which may never be 50 near
II within their reacl. again.
We understand that the omission On Tho
mart Of our railroad authorities to make tile
customary reduction is based mainly On the
nre.r,nr,tion that tue country merchants who
buy their stocks in Chicago will all avail them
| selves Of the opportunity to come in and do
their trading on half fare tickets. Very well.
What proportion Of the travelling public, mnk-
ING towards this city two weeks hence, will be
coming to buy goods? What proportion o1
them will come at all if the reduction is not
made? Granting that all those who have
| business to transact will come whether
| at full fare or half fare, it is or
important economical question whether
| the usual reduction would not so multpl;
the attendance Of visitors to the Convention as
! to mako up for all losses among the rnercara
tile class and leave handsome surplus in The
| receipts Of the companies. We are decidedly
! Of The opinion that it would. Of course we arc
not entitled to fix the line Of policy which they
ought to pursue, but we are at fill liberty te
present the views which seem TO us most like
| " to accrue to the advantage Of the city, Il
the benefit Of the people in the Northwest who
suppor: both newspapers and railroads, aud t.
the ultimate advantage Of the railroads them
selves. We believe that whatever gives Al
impulse to the business and prosperity o
| Chicago must add to the business anu pros
perity Of the railroads centering here. vi
believe that whatever adds 10 the good viii
Of the public towards the railroad corpora!lon
will be Of the most essential advantage Il
them, and TINT whatever excites their i'll wll
is to be avoided, within tho limits or jus
regard for the interests and rights of tho stock
holders We think that the anti-reduelo'
| policy is short-sigh,ed and unfair, in view
tile long list Of preecdcuts which can bc quot
ed against it, and we hope different decislo
| NAY DO arrived at before the great Conrentlo
| assemblies in our city.