The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-09-11
The Richmond Enquirer on Our Rail
road system

3SOLboAts WLASh VIC PiblloH Az ahStiipi AtI-
unn. On analysis, the argument in question
seems to be an attack upon General MALONE,
and the grand scheme Of which lie il the ex
ponent, and in which the interests of Norfolk
and the State are both involved. What we
have to say in vindication Of the gentleman
charged with the outrage Of which our CO.
temporary speaks, is incidental, a. he is en-
tirely capable of meeting any responsibility
which may attach to his line Of conduct, with
the most conclusive argument, based on "facts
and figures" which will require a more sy5-
tematic attack than his scheme has yet s'ls-
tanned to invalidate its force
Passing over the merely collateral questions
blent UP by our cotempcrary with the mate
rial issue, we address ourselves to brief con-
sideration Of the chief vice which has charac-
tari-ed or railroad management" in the past,
and which, if persisted in, must perretuate
the commercial and manufacturing nferiority
Of Virginia
The Enquirer itself informs lis that 1.-THE
great lines which lead through the State have
entered upon, Or become involved in such
competitions that everything is disregarded
except the interests vt the stock holders-if
even these are not compromised" These
great lines Of which our friend speaks, run
East and West, North and South The first
system contemplate reaching the seacoast of
Virginia; the second. originally designed for
the benefit Of Alexandra, has, by skill and
capital, been converted to the uses of Balti-
more. These latter AS they grow and de-
velop, will have precisely the effect ui hga-
lures on the trade arteries 0f the State, and
transfer our commercial pu8ations to our
Queenly rival seated at the head Of the Chesa-
peake. The vice. then, If cur railroad man
agernent in the past, as II promises to be in
the s~-s'are has been Just this very thing:
competition, rivalry taos al ieai,,l1sv between
the State roads and tbs towns OF yiYe;,i,
The Enquirer depreoates this ''conpot;4;on !"
and yet rejects the remedy What is the REM
edys Nothing can be easier than the solution
OF this question The remedial agency to be
applied is unity Of government, unity of pur-
pose. and unity Of action These are tlestruc-
tive to competition; these merge local rival
Ties IN grand harmonious aud coherent de-
signs these. and these alone, can realize the
dreams OF orr statesmen, and alleviate the
domestic burdens of the State Under the
consolidation of roads. as far as effected, the
trade of the great West is already seek ing an
outlet here; and to the remark that Peters
burg is 'fmere way station" we have simply
to ask, how much Of The cotton from Mem
phis, or the pork from Cincinnati it shipped
before this arrangement was made: And in
what manner the passing of this trade through
any town can infiict injury upon itS Look at
the cities which have sprung up N the line of
the Erie canal and other great trade lines
leading to New York, and tell us how the
golden stream from the great Northwest can
damage the towns through which it flows.
If We cannot use that which is brought to our
doors. can we complain that We have not the
opportunity to do 50? But in reply to this
much Of our argument, the Enquirer would
say, "Iou have not destroyed, you have but
such an answer because ii is the logical de-
Tense of the position, and Tor the additional
reason that our contemporary ezolains in the
conclusion of its article, a pretty business,
truly. if Virginia and Virainians took upon
themselves mountain Of debt under which
they now groan like ATLAS. simply to estab-
fish rival lines between B,isto! and Balti-
more, whose competition should reduce trans
portation between these two termini and all
intervening points to rates less than to and
from their own capital
The idea OF our eofemporarv eyidcntly is
that all the freight from the West is either to
be rushed on to Baltimore, OF through Nor
folk to New York. In reply to this We as
sure the Enquirer that the Yirginians at this
terminus have nobler ambition than to run
such race as this. Our object is to realize
for Norfolk the destiny which BYRD and JET
tERs1N and WRIT, and score Of other great
men predicted Iof her We desire to make
Norfolk great centre of trade and with this
consolidated government We can do If If
We CAN gel mere. say lou,uoo na!e5 Of cotton
an estimate not at all eytravagant, the ship
pers would save on that quantity by export
ing here instead OF New York, over oNt.MII-
LION DOLLARS. This is susceptible Of proof
item by item in the bills, and this being So
how long will it talks to build up the direct
trade which We have not ahand med hecanse
Of the disaster to the Ephesu.@
On the other hand, proud as we a1e Vi olr
capital" dearly as we love each historic sod
around, and every oonsecrated grave, on
Richmond, We AL our contemporary what it