The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-20
Through NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Through Observation-Disclosures.
This city finds itself in situation
greatly to its disadvantage i'll relation to
the commerce of the country. 1t would
be quite enough for her people to struggle
against the capital and enterprise of other
communities: but she is subjected, IN the
midst of her miStortuncs from war and IRE,
10 the injurious influences of dIscrlnnna-
tons in the matters of trcightS ana trans
nortation that we must consider nearly
ruinouS.
Every possible accommodation is afford
ed TO all ircights from New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, and Baltimore. They are
run through rapidly at low charges, and
the treights are all collected AT the end OF
the line. But Richmond is denied the
benefit of this through shipment in many
cases, and in all eases frcights are here de
handed before the goods leave the depotS
From New York and all other places the
treirhts follow the goods-the goods being
considered security for the freightS-but
the freight on all goods from Richmond are
prepaid. This is no small matter; else why
is il in the great citicS-whcrc commerce
is thoroughly understood and SyStema-
tizcd-that treightS are not prepaid The
advancing of frcights absorbS conSldcra-
bic capital, which may as well be kept
here. Indeed, the conSignceS would as
soon pay the freight as mott would be Il
light matter 10 Notwithstanding the ag
grcgate paid out in this way 10y merchants
here is very large. Especially is this one
rous to a burnt out city endcavorlng to
recover from her miStortuncS. lfthcrc be
any reason for distinction between RIrn-
mond and New York i'll this respect, that
reason is in favor of Richmond. But most
assuredv she ought not to advance money
where New York is exempted.
This, however, is moderate grievance
compared with others. Under the schc-
dulles of through ircights, compared with
those established for transportation here,
Richmond goods are Saddlcd with charges
for transportation to places a hundred
miles from here nearly il not quite equal
to the frcights from New York to the same
points. OF course this is disastrous to the
commerce Of this city. The diScrimna-
ton against what are called local freights
only increases the disparity OF frcightS as
the distance from this city is increased,
until the charges upon Richmond shipments
absolutely exceed those upon the New
York goods.
This was the case before the war, but
the schedules adopted since that was
ended, as we are informed, only increase
the discrimination, and OF course its in
jury.
Then, again, Richmond is denied the adj
tages of the interchange of cars, by which
a vast amount OF handling and delay of
freights are avoided, and the charges are
diminished. Even the Orange and Alex
andria railroad, SO intimate i'll its relations
with the Central railroad, declines to in
terchange cars with that road, and thus
every bushcl of wheat to come to this city
from that road has to undergo transhlpment
and handling at Gordonsvillc. This is a
serious obstacle to our commerce with
the Piedmont region, so large part OF
which is DESTROYS OF sending its wheat
thither, and supplying its wants from our
stores. This is not in accordance with the
good sense and fairness which have former
" characterized the directory of that road.
Even Mr.. QrIGLEY, of the firm of QrHLEY,
JAMESON 4 Co., offered no such obstruc-
ton to the free course of commerce. Ger
tainly the present Board ought to be emu
lous of not being exceeded by concern
they do not appreciate very highly, i'll the
matter of enlightened libcrality and fair
dealing, in their system of transportation.
This subject is one that demands the at
tention of our citizens. Unless something
be done for our protection against the in
furious influences of the schedules, the
charges and regulations upon railroads,
the recovery and the increase of our com
mcrce must be greatly retarded.