The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-29

commercial, manufacturing, snd, PCT cout
sequence, agricultural. This city. Tor N
stance, Is made to pay sdva"ee heights
upon almost all goods whlch are N'ppeo
There, while the frcigbts on goods ffom tho
northern cities are collected at the point
of delivery. This city, so oppressed win
the mksbrtunesI of the war, is compelled
| to advance the freights, while New YORK,
with her snpcrabuudance of money! shlps
everything without prepayment upon inc
principle that the goods will pay the freight.
The statement needs no comment.
II the determinations in freight are in
furious, those in fares on passengers arc
not less so. Premiums are thus, in effect,
offered to the merchants Of our own State
to pass by our own towns and 60 to those
Of the North.
We may extend the view of the evil
effects of this odious system to our mari
time interests. 1t is positively cheaper to
send freight from the southwest to load a
vessel IN New York than to load the same
vessel in Norfolk. The Ephesus, of which
so much was said, would very probably
| have saved money by receiving our freight
| in New York instead of our Virginia ports.
And thus have our manufacturers found
that they can save money by sending their
fabrics, intended for the southwest, to New
York, thence to be shipped right back
lover the route just travcllcd) by our own
doors at the low through rate of two and
half cents per ton per mile! But it is
needless to multiply examples. These are
enough. They tell their own story. II
this condition of our transportation is TO
continue, the State had as well at once
burn down her cities and sew salt upon
their sites.
Now, the question Of consolidation OF one
of the through lines is presented while this
state of things exists. 1t is question
which this community cannot decide, al
though its opinion may have some weight.
But with what feelings can we approach
the subject How deliberate upon pro-
position relating to part only when near
" the whole system is so defective and so
ruinous to the State? We may well be
tempted to cxclaim with MERCuTIO, "a
plague on" all "your houses" If there
is enough wisdom and patriotism, enough
forecaste and public virtue in the councils
of this State to resist outside influences
and protect the interests of the State in
their broadest sense, the reform will be
thorough and sweeping.
The proposed consolidation is ostensibly
| to protect Virginia interests. A letter from
General MALONE to the Wig, some days
since declared that his object was to equal
ize the benefits and uses of the line to all
the cities of Virginia; and privately he
has been understood to say that he would
give Richmond transportation at the same
rate per mile that he would Ne,o York.
General MALONE is as reliable gentleman
as any but words and pledges from nc
man will be sufficient in this matter there
must be. something moro obligatory, as
railroading has taught us all. But even
placing whatever confidence we may in
General MALONE, We must remember that
if the lines he desires to control shall he
consolidated, lac will have three different
boards of directors, whose voices are
stronger than his. lie cannot fix freights
without their authority, and cannot modify
them without their consent. And let us
remember that system Of discrimination
upon consolidated line would he more to
be dreaded than one upon line in which
several corporations were acting indie
pendently.
The disease is dccp-scatcd, and requires
the most radical treatment. The State in
her highest authority alsne can apply the
proper remedy. ,