Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-05

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arm. that eyihssa sas abssues Of sdeS'fs e prem
by the public needs, That was nss SO po''ee"DS
has NOT been az lasting in other quarters. ~
-esoDt dsv we believe they carry the sis "iI" s
- Of COMPENSATION, though their expenses
u, many particulars have increased hul"'S
., IT. charges for Government transporleaoH.
raIl, are out of all proportion less than thesin'
s.a.se5 cost of working the roads. The same may
10 said of their charges against cnizehS, 'ho"s IN
less degree Before the war the rates oil these eci'
papes were generally acquesced IN as reasonable A
with reference to the prices of the productions Of tne
country Tie farmer was willing 10 pay the value Of
bushel of corn for travelling twenty-five niles, eS-
tmatng his fare al four cents miles and his corn at
one dollar a bushel. At the rates now charged, the
farmer can travel more than one hundred miles Cor
the market value of bushel Of corn. AbGuf' inc:
same proportion, we believe, holds good: as. to
freights. We fancy that to fare aud freight the
companies would be glad TO compromise with 'pe.f.
patrons by: accepting one-haf former rAeds':H pau
in the production OF the country, at peace prices:
Railroads can scarcely now be regarded Nsprivate-
apterrrises OF tor private eoEyspispce: They con-
,titutc part and most material part, or the psnsi
i.e,pces. Ii our people do not regard thehl, aud
spst,p them. as important agencies IN Pnr defence,
IA m the oo.qyest Of our independence, there can.
4. no doubt of the sstwation in which they are
h.ll hy the enemy Their frequent and dttsyg'lol
,it.put, TO destroy them leave no doUbt on;ihiS
pont 1t becomes, therefore, question Of non'cnt,
whether the public mas Eo 40 more good. and better
promote their own interests By lsss VI somplains and
fault finding and more Of encouragement snf hG!p 20.
Ia tlrti IL aflfi
Th roadway and superstructure, the rolling stock
and machinery OF every railway IN tire Conleder2cy
are III seriOus state Of dilupidaton, II will require
large increase u then charges, and liberal aIpli-
cation OF thci receipts, 10 sustain the III ah eiiicent
condition Does the Government PROPERLY aiPreci.
ate tins fact u.thg compensation 1t allows i0T the sea-
VIC. OF tne railroads, Are our citizens willing 20
ado, TO th. sums they pay advance prcpotnoned TO
tbe mytei.td prices they receive ior tie articles
transmitted over rhe roads These are questions
worth con- iierng; torH Is certag that iy tits iSaas
on .un, ,th,r these roads must be kept W., Or the
pubuc iutlrcs5- lu,st Nuicr dlsastously.
la 1860. the Virginia road. charged, rs VIC hare
indicated. from To cents per rOiLe for passengers,
aua from 60 +, cents per ton per mile itr freight.
those prices enabled the companies TO keep up
rJIiS. and "a lew oil tleh CoWt1 ucStbtS WV
,M.I, of from to per cent. The roads were
i,uttcss worked at a minimum of c::rrusr III moss
.,,-. .s labor was easily obtained and supplies NJ:
mos. lorced upon them at the lowest rates. These
.,,7aes az the be ginning OF the war utderIoUk' to
.ar.. ,,o,uusicnt passengers and lreigli ~ less
han half thest rates, ana, owing 20 the Increased
.u,i., ot travel diL Iiue business the hra year
81 the war. kepam>. At As true were not fully
sspt up. as most persons thought the var would
,0Y l., over and that such work could then be done
Al Ala. old prices. But tic war continued the
prce, OF supplies advanced labor Geelihe scarce and
ut.I. aud the companies were compelled 20 advance
amen, ta,y,, still, however, ncglcctins repairs in
everything which could be postponed. ~ this date
,he Virginia cIpaucs are changing individuals from
20 10 - cents per mile for passengers, an14rom ~
60 80 cents per ton per mile freight, and about halt
dies, rate, 90 tlrc Government. An average would
probably show an Increase q about three tnnes tie
rat, Tor travel aud Eve times the:od rate fol ,,
,r,i.lt the great tuik Of transportation Icing On
Government account These are the railroadchhges
AT present Let Us see Visit the companies are pay
hg. .-..*. -
one months supply OF certsiR srtties.'O NOME
production on one OF the Virginia roads, list OF
which has been furnished Us, is as foIews: -