The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-28
The Railroads. Consolidation.

patch, to which We make, in justice to &C.
neral MALONE end to ourselves, some refer
ence, in the beginning of what We now
propose to say. Nothing was further from
our intention than to intimate that Gencra'
MALONE could be approached in any man
ner affecting his integrity and honor. an
the hypothetical remarks OF the aa'an-
tages this city might derive from ms resi-
dcncc here. nothing more was intended
than might be intimated with reference to
the residence in this city ofany gentleman
holding similar position; IL e., at least
;mpar,iality in his railroad policy towards
Richmond, his dwelling place: and that, as
Richmond has suffered so heavily from
determinations against her on the very
line of roads which it is now proposed to
consolidate, she might we'll afford to pay n
large sum to secure impartiality in the
transportation and charges upon that line.
], j. urcdlcSs to say that towards General
Nj HONE We entertain no other sentiments
than those of respect, to which he is en-
titled alike by his character, talents, and
services.
This city has been the victim of the most
odious determinations and the most vcxa-
tious delays in the transportation of freights
on railroads. She has for years suffered
from partial regulations by these corpora
tions that were ruinous and unjustifable,
and she has demonstrated in vain. The
mighty cities of the North were enabled
to place their goods west of Richmond,
'rithin the limits Of Virginia, at less cost
than was assessed upon the same goods from
Richmond. For years Richmond could
send nothing through Petersburg without
copsipning it to. q merchant there, who
levied his commissions upon it before send
ing il on to its destination. The same was
the case in Lynchburg. And at no time
and in no direction has she been relieved
from the wrctchcd and monstrous sys-
tenn of unwarrantable determinations
against local treiyhts. She is q taxpayer
TO the extent of not less than one. fourth of
the entire revenue of the State. Yet she
has been the victim of this sort of oppres-
sion for many years, and no arm has been
interpoScd to protect her from injustice.
Richmond is the largest city in the State,
and besides paying more largely in State
taxes to the constru ction of railroads than
any other, has, in her corporate capacity
and through private subscriptions, paid
more money to construct railroads than all
the other cities in the State put together.
To prejudice her trade by injurious local
determinations is to afflict the most libe-
raj supporter of improvements and to in
hct Il serious blow upon the prosperity and
power Of the State-in no other mode of
assault upon our commerce could the Com
monwcalth be SO deeply hurt.
Yet these corporations have not hesita-
ted to perpetrate this injustice. For a
series of years the enterprising merchants
of this city have struggled to keep up their
intercourse with the interior against what
has all the potent adverse effect of a con-
spiracy to defeat them on the part of those
controlling the media through which that
intercourse was alone to be maintained.
BY the system of local determinations all
the commercial communities of the State
were subordinated to the vast cities out
side the State. Freights were conveyed
for those great and powerful communities
ot xI,o tau nd fha MI III Snn fnh
afforded them by the interchanging of cars
and their unobstructed passage from one
end to the other of the through lines. All
those advantages were denied the mer-
chants of this city. They paid local fares
on the ground that they could use no other
routes-they were made to pay the cost of
breaking of bulk and commissions, and
were subjected to consequent delays: so
that shipments from New York made on
the same day overlook and passed those
from Richmond before they had gone be-
You'd Lynchburg; and before they were
$50 miles on the route, the New York
freights had fallen below them, and the
disproportionate charges continued to the
detriment of Richmond to the end of the
line.
This policy was neither consistent with
patriotism nor with loyalty and fealty to
the State. 1t was and is a CRIME-and
one Of most gravs and grierous nature.
If this agitation upon the subject Of the
consolidation of railroads rips up this cry
ing abuse of the dearest interests of Vir-
ginia, and exposes it in all its enormity, a
great public good will have been done.
For upon the complete exposure we trust
some remedy may be discovered and ap-
piled. These corporations are, many of
them, Of the most tortuous and mysterious
character. We learn every day of alli-
ances, the most dangerous as well as
the most powerful-allauces hostile to
Virginia commerce and Virginia pros
perity. The people Of Richmond should
arouse themselves and look to the perils in
which they are placed, and see in what
way they may protect themselves. They
may well fear the consolidation Of set Of
corporations from which they have never
had equality of treatment. And as far as
lies within their power, they should en-
deavor, under any modification which may
take place in railroad management, to Sc
cure that Equality of privilege and charges