The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-04

road. The policy Of that road was to treat
them all alike, and upon footing of en-
tire equality. He exclaimed most en-
phatically against surrendering that road
to one of the rivals and subjecting its for
tunes to the straits and cxigencies of that
one. Under the active competition car
ried on by them, the Virginia and Ten
nessc railroad might be forced by console
dation to carry freight at less than the cost
of the motive power employed, to the
serious injury or ruin of the road and the
interests of the stockholders.
He quoted from the contract of the pre-
sent consolidation or agreement between
the several roads for through freight to
show that the Norfolk and Petersburg rail-
road in that contract stipulated to repre-
sent the steam line from Norfolk to Balti-
more, New York, Philadelphia, and Bos-
ton. BY that contract General Malone
became the embodiment and very incar-
nation of the corporation. He asked. with
such powers and such alliances, was it not
natural that he General Mahone) should
run both through and way freight, if posi-
bic, all the way through, and that he
should give every facility to their final
shipment to northern cities.
Mr.. Sheticy contended that the only
benefit from consolidation would be
conferred upon the Southside and Norfolk
and Petersburg railroads. None of the
Virginia cities would be benefited. The
freight would sweep by them all, and be
shipped off to the North by the steam line
represented by General Malone, and the
travel by the Atlantic Shore railroad.
which was nearly completed to Northamp-
ton, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and
whose first connection with Norfolk by
steamer took place this week. This he
considered to he the inevitable result of
that proposed consolidation which was to
place Il tlouri>hing corporation, as was the
Virginia and Tennessee railroad, under the
control of Il >" sinking concern" He in
weighed against such Il measure aS this
and the placing of so much power in the
hands of one man. as was contemplated by
the consolidation lie dreaded The
"one-man power. lie had seen its OPP
preston in the war. when the railroads
were placed under the control of one man.
He then saw whole communities down.
trsddcn under the heel of an irresponsible
granny.
+ iMr. Shelley adiurcd the Board to do no
sHch thing as this--to aid in the consrm-
nation OF no measure which would reduce
to the condition Of Il dependency on New
York the State whose interest it was their
duty to protect that grand old Empire
State in mind, in spirit, in physical wealth,
and all the clements of great common
wealth.
The Board adjourned its meeting until
: o'clock y. VI. There are several speak
crs vet TO discuss the question. which
grows III interest.
EVENING SESSION.
At 3 o'clock the Board met according to
adjournment.
James Barbour, ESD. was the first
speaker. lie said that few questions OF
more Importance had come before any as
sembly. This effort for consolidation had
been brought before the General Assem-
bly of Virginia. but they had not thought
proper to grant the consolidation now ask
rd at the hands of the Board of PUblic
Works. He urged that the Board should
wait sixty DAYS, until the Legislature should
meet. The members of that body will
come fresh from the people, and know
their will on this matter. Something the
Board of Public Works could not know.
He entered into legal argument to show
that this consolidation could not be made
without violating the plghtcd faith Of the
State. If the Board passed this thing the
courts would set the law aside.
Governor Pcirpoint.-I have never seen
a man who proposed to co,S"Ed0te these
roads. but to c0nlb;nc them.
Thomas Branch E>.l.. Of Petersburg, adj
vocatcd the consolidation with much cl"-
quencc.
The Board then adjourned until 10
o'clock tomorrow morning.