The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-09-27
From the Richmond Enquirer.
EXPRESS COMPANY.

N"Js oiuce INC 'II4amlner stated that the South
ern Express Company sent by rail sixteen pounds
SOU miles for twentyeight dollars. This is at tho
rate of a dollar ton per mile. We have likewise
learned that ffty;fve dollars barrel has been
charged on flour by the same Company for a sim-
lar service This office holds the recent of the Ex
press Company for S3, 3,216 80 for the transporta-
tlon and delivery of ninetyone bundles of paper
weighing some ten thousand pounds, from Forrest
VILE, n g., to Richmond, 277 miles This is at
the rate OF about thirty-onc cents pound Now,
this shows either disregard for the wants and
sufferings OF the Southern people, or disrespect
for the Southern currency. We will be told that
the Express Company carries large sums of money
and renders other very obsequious services to the
Government. VIC do not doubt that the Presi-
dental packages are delivered with more than
oriental scrupulosity. 1t is probable that the De-
partments are obeyed with much alacrity. Posi-
bly,, government employees en- route are accommo
dated with rest and refreshments in the Express
car. Should such an arrival occur as q govern
ment official having ration of tobacco or whiskey
the packages may be perhaps put through, whilst
food bought for starving women and Children i
lett to tight Its unaded way to the hungry and des
titute. Railroad, telegraphic and conscription of.
fcers and others whom favor or fear may render it
proper to conciliate will testify no doubt to the
Express Company's devotion to Southern interests
But the great fact that this Company charges the
common people at the rates mentioned, proves that
if the concern be bona .Jfde iu the hands of men
living at the SoGth, the spirit of Adams & Co. ar
imates its transactions.
Do our friends know for what these extraordi-
nary and exorbitant charges are made? Not for
the expense of moving the freights which they de-
liver-that is done by the Railroad Company; but
it consists of the charges of the Railroad Compa-
nies for the transportation and the profit charged
by the Express Company for presenting the bill.
They may tell you that they are insurers; as if all
common carriers were not insurers. You may be
told of vigilance and activity displayed in the SER
vice. But it is just this: The railroads transport
the commodity and the Express Company presents
the bill and charges their profits upon it. The
Southern Express Company has not built one yard
of the Southern railroad they run on; has not re-
paired one engine that draws them; does not, in
FACT know care for rails or engines at all; has
not, perhaps, dollar of stock in one of the roads
from which they derive such magnificent divi-
dends. The people of the South chartered, built
and equipped the railroads of the South The
Southern Express Company contribute to trans
portation capital stock an iron safe, some wag-
ons and horses and few cxempts to carry its
packages.
Is raid upon the railroad apprehended?-
old and boys of the country are marched from
their homes to guard depots and bridges. Does
the raid come? These old men and boys shed
their blood for the defence of the public property
Is the road destroyed? The labor and lumber of
the people is impressed to repair it. What part of
this risk and responsibility does the Express Com
pany share? At the earliest symptom of raid its
agents promptly and properly betake themselves to
agent rcappears, with his gold chain, diamond piu
oiled hair, special car, and private whiskcy.
Does our long suffering and long-eared friend,
the public, require an explanation of this unequal
contribution and dividend? 1t is not the fault Of
the Express Company at all? The Express Com
pany represents those common qualities, love of
gain and fear of bullets, which exist North and
South. God forbid that we should put ourselves
oat of temper against qualities which are, unhap-
PLY, part of our natures. The fault of this i'm
position upon the public lies in the law, or the
want of law, and on the railroad administrations
The railroads will not make connections with each
other. Any freight coming over road and con-
signed to another, even of the same guage and
grade, must be transhipped and remanifested upon
the second road. The delays and expense upon
such freights are interminable and intolerable
Now, whilst the railroad companies will not con-
vey through freight from one road to the another,
they will hire to the Southern Express Company
the privilege of running freight on passenger
and mail time. The Southern Express Company
being, then, the monopolist of through frcights,
may naturally exact their own prices for the use
Of the public roads. Let us illustrate: A gallant
Southern boy pours out his blood in the trenches,
DR. in the charge; his bereaved father seeks his
corpse, wraps it in its cerement, and it is hauled
by exacting Southern hackmen to the depot A
nouchalent exempt smokes bis briar root pipe as
he makes out its manifest, and it is shipped. At
the first junction with another road the sad burden
must be laid down and new bargain made for its
further transportation. There may be perhaps
delay of one day, perhaps more. II must be
watched Its mortality becomes painfully obvious
to the senses When its last journey has been
performed, the last sight, the deep gush of afec
ton over the loved remains, is impossible.
OF course all such cases must be committed to
the Southern Express Company, because it alone
can forward them. The tax which they require
from sorrow and affection, perhaps we maSkaVe
some occasion to mention at future time. AySin:
A citizen of Richmond escapes the extortion Of
the baker, and purchases -four from farmer of
Wythe. He must store and re-ship at Lynchburg,
aud again at the junction. The Rail is the same
from Wythe to Richmond, yet the shipper cannot
get through transportation. But the Express
company can. Consequently, the purchaser en-
ploys the Express Company Does the public see
how this is? The Railroad Company is prohibited
by law from taking thar fixed rates for trans
portation 1t has only to refuse to make conncc-
tion, and the public must employ an express. The
Railroad Company can exact any price it thinks
Ia NJ