The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-03
OFFICE NArI0IAL ExyIBss1
AND fRANsPo RrArIox C0MPAKy,
GuARIRzrar YuIv ~ lRh1 y

,- CHARLssroS, July q, isSs. )
Dear Sir,-lt Is reported to me through Jour
clerk that you have box 10 send TO MARION Court.
house for party who have instructed yos to send
by the Southern Express on account Of the greater
chespness OF their rates. The box In question
weighs sis pounds, which, am informed, the
southern Express will carry for ESQ. We cannot
carry It at this rate for the thss cannot
afford to pay for the privilege Of carrying freight.
The Southern Express, - we'll % the National.
Day 70 each rosd-the Northeastern and the Will
mington and Manchester raliroad-at the rate Of
one dollar per hundred pounds. They therefore
pay for the carriage Of this box TO the ratlroed
$40. This leaves apparent proft Of four cent?.
We all know, however, the great outlay to which
an express company 10 subjectsd. Tho Adams
Company (of which the Southern Express b .
branch) have IN this city a superintendent, IN
agent four clerks, fvo messenger, large store q
high rent, four wagons, six drivers, and eleven
horses Between Charleston and Marion Court
house they have not less than ten way agents, with
hired laborers for the reception ana removal Oh
goods You will also note that In every particular
euume rated their expenditure ID greater than ours
with the exception Of the amount paid the rai-
roads. The salaries OF all their employees arg
higher than ours, the rent Of their o1dce 10 nucn
higher. and they support = larger number. Of
horses. And yet, although our expenses are less
than theirs, We know, from careful calculation,
that at the rate Of charges proposed by them 70
Marion Courthouse We would sink at least tweniy'
Ave cents every hundred pounds.
The purpose Of this remarkable accommodation
of the public scarcely needs comment. But now
Is the tax their resources supported rar'iy
by the enormous capital, secured by high charges
through many years OF monopoly, enapiin8 tnem
to afford present loss In order 70 OBTAIN insu,e
gain after ths destruction Of = dangerous rival.
But they also Indemnify themselves for losses here
by high tariff on tho railroads where tho Ma
tional Express Company does not compete wish
them The losses at point are made up by
large gains at another. This system OF unde'bid-
ding therefore cannot last long after tie infroduc.
tiou of our competition over all the roads where
the Adams Express is running.
We are willing to submit charges to the scru.
tiny Of the public, and can show that, though our
rates may in some instances exceed those VI the
Adams Express, yet our prohts are very smaii.
We confidently appeal to substantial and intelii-
gent men TO sustain us in charges that will allow
small profit. They know that . southern COM
pany, in It's infancy, cannot otherwise DO sup
ported. II may be light tax as compared with the
temporary charges OF the Adams Express. VINO
have an important object to attain In the future ~
sinking money for the present. But II We are
maintained Il will be found In few months tnat
the charges OF both companies will DO about equai,
and both at reasonable rates; whereas, II We are
driven of by penny wise and pound foolish po'
cy, the rates OF the Adams would be at least dou.
bled, most probably trebled. We are tho only
competitor in the Geld Of the South who stood Z
chance Of success. II Q company. started under
the auspices OF General J &. Johnston, appealing
to the southern people on the ground Of patriotic
sympathy and mercantile Interest, fail, who can ex
pect 10 succeeds
The communications Of the company have re-
Gently been extended through Montgomery 10 No.
bile and New Orleans, by the Albany and Gull
rosd TO Thomssville In Southwestern Georgia, and
TO jacksonville. Florida. The route hiss also beer
re e-opsned ria Wilmington and Weldon, after le'
| gal contest. The stockholders have shown tens
city and determination 10 support their enterprise
| that deserves success and we deem Il demonssrs'
BILE that Il s for the real and permanent interest o
the community that II should be sustained By theiI
liberal patronage. E.GF+5 @5"Fi
Very respectfully, your obedisnt ssrsant,
W. 8. WALKER, Agent.