The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-19
transportation, Charges. &C., ON Rail.


roads.
Mr.. BALDWIN laid before the House tho
following letter from Mr.. Whitcomb, su.
perintcndcnt of the Central railroad, with
this endorsement upon 1t: "This COM
munication, which comes from one of the
most intelligent and reliable railroad of.
fccrs in Virginia, is respectfully sub.
mitted for the consideration of the Com
mittee on Roads," &c.:
RICHMOND, December Is, 1866.
The present railroad law OF Virginia is de-
fe,IiNe. audit is 4 work we'll worthy Of your
efforts 10 remodel IL. Read over lis nroyisinns
as TO tolls and compare the charges which the
companies make, and You will see the {! iiliculty
While eight cents per ton per mile il suf-
hclrnt for long distances, il is not enough for
he short, while the charge for storage allowed
Is altogether indefinite. The law should COM
pei all the companies in The State in which
she has an interest 10 adopt uniform ClasSi-
hCatlon on their freight tariffs Their freight
farms should he governed rs follows, namely
a regular charge for handling and storing cach
class, and 10 this regular charge Tor trans
nortation should be added pro rdtd per nile
The maximum rates should be iiAed by law,
and think it fully rs important 10 TX The
minimum rate, which Is the mere cost OF
carriage.
At present the minimum rate is very high,
owing TO the small amount of produce and
merchandise to he carried. 1t probably amour Is
on any road IN the State 10 four cents per ton
per mile--that is 10 say, the whole tonnage
actually carried should bear this charge 10 pay
eNpepses-allhough larger amount might be
carried at Il lower cost, and articles which
would not bear four cents per ton per m lie
might be carried at a little over two cents.
When the tariffs are fixed, all companies
should be- compelled 10 allow their cars TO be
used on other roads of the same gauge NJ q
~.
be responsible for damages, and no company
10 be allowed 10 charge for handling which IL
does not do; that Is, freight passing from one
road 10 another should be charged by each
road with only one-half the rate for handling
and Il IL passes over a third road, the interme-
date road must make no charge. Each
road Il 10 be- allowed 10 fix its own tariff ON the
principle stated that is, by a combination OF
SnTgeS for handling, which are constant foI
al distances and the rate tor transportation,
which varies according to the distance, and oil
course between the maximum and minimum
rates established. THIS tpyuid abolish diScrimt
nGiiDl. IN frCOr n Gay one city.
If now IL Is necessary 10 reduce the rates &c
compete for through tonnage, let II be done by
deductnG pr cs,t0gs, say ten per cent 10 one
point, twenty 10 another, &c. but these de-
Guctious to these points without the State "a
he available to towns and cities in Virginia
also-ihat Is for instance, If il Is necessary "a
reduce twenty per cent, 10 carry freight from
New York TO Memphis, the Norfolk merchant
-
A. well as the New York merchant. On al
classes carried by mail train, the companies
should be allowed TO charge fifty per cent. adj
ditional No variation 10 be made from pub
liShed freigh; tariffs, under penalty, unless
said variation be made general so that al
persons may avail themselves OF il.
Free tickets, except for charity, should be
abolished; aud If done, perhaps the maximum
rate allowed for passenger fare might be low
cred Ii may be well 10 allow yearly tickets
TO be- sold ut low price My opinion Is that
there should be absolutely no free tickets, e&-
cept FOR charity and 10 persons engaged in
operating the road, and Il list OF those given
should be made aud reported under oath. The
present system tends 10 corruption.
il may b. well to combine, say, the preSi.
dents Of the several companies, into a general
Board Of Directors, 10 carry out this scheme,
which / think would make our roads pro!ita-
bic DO away with local Determinations
abolish the discrimination in favor of north.
ern cities and large operators, and enable per'
sons TO send produce and goods anywhere
throughout the State, with through receipt
wherever interest may desire. This or some
similar plan should be adopted. We have no
system now.
The above is thrown out for your considera-
tion. and i of course not for publication
have no time 10 put the plan in readable shape.
but am willing 10 explain more fully before
House or Senate committee.
H. ID. WHITCoMB.
Hon. J. B. Batlrin, Speaker House Of Dele
gates.