The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-08-31
Richmond In terests-Through Freights.

N
Richmond Interests-Through Freights.
The animated, entcrprising prosecution
of through freishts upon the railroads OF
Virginia is not suggested by the threat OF
competition or detrimcnt from lines of
transportation outside Of Virginia. 1t is
altogether q struggle between domestic
lines resulting iniariously to domestic IN
tercsts. The injury is two-fold. "mle
every advantage and facility is offered to
through frcights and through passengers,
in conformity with . principle adopted
many years ago, the local fares and ire's'"s
are taxed dsproportionatcly high, since
they can resort TO no other ron'c' hho no
escape from such charges rs may DC
deemed most profitable TO the lines they
emplov. Under the operation oil tins
through and local system, the commerce
originating and located in this State suffers
most seriously. Ii is brought into direct
connection with that Of wealthy and pow
crful communities, with all the advantages,
all the favoritism, thrown in their scale.
II is needless to enlarge upon the charac-
ter and the effects of such competition
rs this. 1t is disastrous to the domestic
interests Of Virginia and ruinous to her
prospects. Yet this state of things i,
wrought by the very corporations who owe
their existence to her favor and clcmency
As We stated yesterday, this city is the
greatest sufferer. But this city (and We
hesitate not to say it, is the largest city II
the State, and more decidedly than any il
represents the interests of Virginia. A.
she is tho largest Of Virginia cities, the
best strategic movement to break down
Virginia commerce is to aSsail her. Or
the other hand, the most certain means OF
securing the ruin of that commerce is t.
weaken the point asSailcd, as is done under
this system Of through frcights and local
determinations, which are all against Viz
GINA and in favor of the powerful COM
munitics of the North and which, if not
countcractcd, arc to make this community
bcwcrs of wood and drawers Of water, and
Virginia the commercial Ireland of the
nation, laboring for the good of others,
while she remains a paupcr among peoples.
These are simple and undcniable truths.
Now. what becomes the State in such an
cXigency, We know; but it is not in our
"hat hnnnn,ns ~
know, and we may accomplish. We
briefly stated the main points of the duty
of our people in this emergency yesterday
We must look TO our internal improve
mcnts. We must encourage the construc-
tou of our northside connections with
salt water. We must make a railroad to
Lynchburg, so that there will be Rich
mond-and THEREFORE, VIRGINIA-roadt to
the southwest. We must secure the COM
pleticn of the Covington and Ohio rail.
road, and we must, if possible, carry the
canal to the Ohio river. These things
must be done, not only for this city, but
for the salvation of the commerce of the
State and all the grand results that depend
upon it.
Therefore, men Of Richmond, you mus
cmbody yourselves for the work before
YOU. You must form Board of Trade
appoint committees, and go to work. 70,
must look around you and see what is go
ing on to your detriment, and to the last
ing and, We may fear, irretriovable iniur.
of Virginia. If you continue in you
present attitude, each man taking care O
himself and leaving the general interest
to take their course ON the "tuciliS deScen
Sus," it will not take many years to bring
you all fiat down upon the hopeless auc
helpless platform of permanent tributari
ness and vassalage. You will be taken il
detail, and in detail "gobbled up" But
if you combine and fortify, and adopt the
system of countcrmining and defence IL
earnest, and with the true spirit, you vii
triumph and make Richmond really great
city. In that way you will help to make
ether hourishing cities and stimulate the
general prosperity of the State. Without
something of this kind Of effort there mus
be mere languishing and feeble condi
tion Of all commerce, all industry, and
Virginia continue to fall behind in the rae,
of States.