The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-02-14
RAILROADS.
From the Raleigh Confederate.

There is universal voice of condemnation be-
cause of the reckless bad management of these
corporations. If bad Quarternasters, Commissa-
ries, Enrolling officers and the scattered subordin-
ates throughout the laLd have brought, in many
cases, reproach on the government, and by evil
conduct put in peril the success of the cause; if
deserters have abandoned the ranks to become a
prey upon their home people, they not the
only the worst foes to the revolution that the
Confederacy has produced. Railroad corporations,
which ought to have been the especial friend OF
the government those fostered aud favored cor
porations which have been allowed extraordinary
immunity, in keeping their friends and favorites
out Of the service. Yet this is far from being the
case; most of them have out "Heroded Herod" in
their sordid grasping and extortionate greed for
money making 1t has been common for them to
hold at the disposal Of spectators their running
stock, not unfrequently to the delay of government
freight, and in instances to the detention of
troops, passing from point to the defence Of
another point of the country. This oecomnaoda-
, tion has been carried to such extent, that the
public eye has been offended, by the open prefer
ence given to spectators, not for the transmission
of luxuries only; but when they were engaged in
buying up the necessaries Of life, in localities
where they scarce, to be transmitted to other
places for exorbitant gain The officers Of railroad
corporations, who connve at these abominable
practices, are 20 better friends to the COnfederacy
than Sherman or Grant, and if we fail, the down
fall of our people may lie laid in no small degree,
to their charge.
Besides this criminal misconduct, the gross neg
ect, mismanagement and carelessness-and the
utter disregard of the comfort Of travellers is matter
of universal complaint.
II any wishes to pass through just that
amount of torture that is nsupportable, let hin,
take trip on the North Carolina Railroad, to-
wards Greensboro, aud, thence, over the Piedmont
to DanVille Great allowance is to be made for
the times, and the difficulties Of keeping. up the
condition of roads. But neither the times nor the
condition of roads excuse total abandonment Of
order, method, neatness, regularity and comfort.
When an Engine comes from Godsboro' towards
Raleigh broken down, and thence starts Cor Green's
boro, there is neither reason or sense in the
deavor to force it through at the hazard Of life to
all aboard; certainly to the prolongaton Of their
travel, hen Engines standing, in better plight,
at Company Shops, and there telegraph stations
along the route A few nights ago, we had occa-
sion TO witness such operation. The train was
long and fulI;-many soldiers returning to their
commands. The Engine on leaving Raleigh
completely broken down, so that the speed attained
averaged about two miles per hour. 1t was easy
to telegraph from Raleigh as to have good
Engine to meet the train at Durham's. Yet this
simple act of justice, to, heavily taxed travelling
public, wholly ignored, and were compelled
to fret and worry along through the cold bitter
night consuming twenty four hours in reaching
Greensboro, the better engine only reaching
near Haw river? AS for cleanliness or comfort,
they are gone out of date-out of recollection-and
if any unfortunate passenger should desire to OBJ
tain information, and apply to tba conductor, he
might as we'll attack bull dog. But if this is the
condition of things on the North Carolina Road,
when we come to speak Of the Piedmont ah our
pen refusts the task There they run by telegraph,
and the result is, that between Greensboro and
Danville, is engaged from ten to ffs'ccn hours
in "waiting for ORDERS" If he is fortunate enough
to get orders to move on, he may if he can keep
the track, succeed in getting through in a week or
ten days. *
God save the country, if its destiny, in any wise,
depends proper and conscientious performance
Of duty by Railroad corporations.
A committee bas been appointed by the Legis-
lature to investigate the conduct of Railroad COM
panies in this State.