The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-27
The Observation-Disclosures.

The Railroads Consolidation.
The subject of consolidating certain
lines of railroads running through Virginia
is suddenly revived by an effort so to con-
troll the appointment Of proxies by inc
Board Of Public Works as to effect 'h'
consolidation Of the Norfolk and fe'efs
burg, the Southside, and the Virginia s"s
Tennessee railroads. The purpose % s"e.
consolidation will be so to reduce through
fares and manage the operations oi TUG
line as to afford the lowest 'fe'e"'s !.
through transportation, and give 10 '"e '
TRANSPORTATION the greatest faciiitF OF .'''
and rapid transit. The State would mus
h..ome a carrier at rates which may DC
destructive TO her improvements to benefit
or,s;de interests, while her local trade is
oppressed and preiudHed by discrimina-
,ions against i, that are rninous.
Does anybody imagine that the consoli-
dated line will not be partial and selfish in
its regulations and charges for transporta
ton? Have not the lines now proposed to
be conSolidated-or rather those of them
over which General MALONE presidcs-
practiced injurious determinations against
this citys Why has Richmond never had
a car upon that road since the present
system of interchanging cars between the
roads has been in operationi Simply be-
cause of the discrimination against her.
II costs less to carry box of tobacco
from Lynchburg to New York than it
does to bring that box from Lynchburg
to this place How, then, can there be
any employment for the Danville railroad
cars upon the Southside railroad?
If General MALONE is put at the head Of
consolidated line from the seaboard to
the southwestern boundary of the State,
Richmond might well afford topresent him
with handsome residence and fortune
of 100000, provided he will make this
place his residence. Does anybody doubt
il? 1t is no reflection upon General MA
HONE to say this. His residence here
would most assuredly secure fairness in
the railroad business towardsus. VIC should
certainly not suffer from determinations
AGAINST us. Now, should the State concur
in q measure which gives to one man the
power so to favor the local interests OF
city as to Justify its citizens in bestowing
upon him SO decided proof Of their csti-
mate of his power and the value of his
friendship? If his friendship is so impor-
tant to one city, his hostility may he fatal
TO another. Even his indifference should
be feared as calamity.
Should the State or its representatives
contribute towards the installation Of any
such official dignitary, whose words, nay,
the very crooking of whose finger, may-be
fatal to important commercial interests Eof
the Commonwealth
The question of consolidation was de-
cidcd adversely to its advocates last win
ter by the representatives of the people.
Should not that decision rest as the will of
the State for the present Assuredly the
Board of Public Works will not aid in dis
turbing it at this critical period, when our
cities are laboring with all their energies to
revive their commerce and rebuild their
fallen fortunes. Is this the time to go to
work for the benefit of communities outside
of Virginia? Rather let them look Il the
local schedules Of the roads and the canal,
and see what may be done for our local
trade by reforming them. Let the State
see to i, that hogshead Of sugar or bag
OF salt shall be transported from Rich
mond to Bristol at q less cost than the
same articles may be conveyed to the
same place from Ne,o York.. Now it costs
more to transport these aud almost any
other article of trade from Richmond to
any place beyond Lynchburg than from
New York! This lisa matter worthy Of their
attention. But as for the proposed Railroad
King-that sort Of despot Of transportation
now urged upon us, who will have the
power to build up or destroy as he plcascs-
Virginia does not need him. The scheme
puts in too much peril the great local inte
rests Of the State. This city pays about
o"e.fo,uh of the taxes Of the State; and
are the interests of her citizens to be ig-
nored, and their commerce showed off as
wayside local bartering too contemplate
for railroad accommodation, too trifing
for Railroad Emperor? .....
We trust that the Board Of Public
Works will consider the question we'll, and
hesitate long before inflicting an injury
like this upon this State and this people.
Indeed, we know they will.
If there is to be any consolidation, there
should be one for the whole State: . con-
solidation with reference to the protection
of local interests through diminished local
fares, and through compulsory facilities,
giving TO all communities equality. But
this Is quite another question from that of
the consolidation under General MALONE,
who now receives $4,000 for managing 2O3
miles. Of railroad, and, as matter Of
course, should get $4,000 when the
Lynchburg and Tennessee road, 2O4 miles
long, is added to his dominion. I"
s..m - a.-
The Radicals and their Blindness.
r, Drrr mo g Ana1oUy IF Natural and |