The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-19
The Danville ana York River Railroads

and against the public convenience and the.
demands of commerce. "Shave-taii
must be defeated. he always makes
fight worthy Of his perverse nature. De-
feat him in this instance, -however, and his
power here will be exhausted. He will
hardly ever fight again.
The Council was liberal in its action
upon the Petersburg and Fredericksburg
connection. 1t then pursued the fair
policy of facilitating intercourse and trade !;
which is the best for those who pursue it
az well as those who trade and travel. 1t
is the policy which must invite commerce
by this way. A contrary system-that
which tries to stop trade and travel by
throwing distinctions in their path, and
burthening them with charges for portage
through the streets-drives off both, and
diminishes the chances of the community
to share in the commerce Of the country.
The railroads terminating in town are
seriously crippled in their competition
with other routes by this contracted policy.
Let US discard all contracted views, and
so at once for placing Richmond upon the
elevated position Of an enlightened and
liberal city, whose people have forecaste to
see that it is only by comprehensive and
fair system ana usage that is most accom-
modatiDg and equitable to commerce in
general that they can hope to reach the
highest degree Of consideration with the
world, and the greatest degree Of pros
perity.
We do not suppose that the Council is
now opposed to this DAnville and York
River connection as al abstract PROPOSE
ton; but, then, conditions are suggested
that must, if adhered to, amount almost to
denial of the privilege. 1t is bad enough
when material aid is denied By the city to
enterprises greatly to her benefit, but
when it is proposed to burthen such pro-
Jects with heavy expenditures not all ne
cessary it he's the appearance of hos
tility whose object is to be reached by
indirection.
Great opposition is made to the passage
of cars through Dock street. 1t may be q
matter of inconceivable Importance to pre-
vent cars from traverSing streets in Rich
mond. In Baltimore O. different idea pre-
walls; and we would certainly prefer to see
Richmond thriving like Baltimore, with
her streets traversed in all directions by
railways, than to behold her as she is, with
some of her streets little disturbed by any
kind Of trains. Pratt street in Baltimore
is the most thoroughly commercial street
for heavy business in that city, and yet
that street is the main avenue for the heavy
railroad business. And the reason is that
the main freight business is done in that
street. The defenders Of Dock street here
contend that for this very reason the trains
must not enter that street, and that the
dray and "shavc-tail" must keep up the
communication between the railroad trains
and the points of delivery or exchange of
frejghts-viz., the dock and the heavy ship
ping-houses on Dock street!
We commend the example Of Baltimore
to these gentlemen. The policy Of that
town is not at all favorable to the cultiva-
tion of grass in the streets; and is alto
gether worthy of emulation by those who
do not desire to go into the grazing bust
ness. But reversing the argument in Bal
timore, they would force the Danvile road
away from where it is chiefly needed to
receive and deliver freights, and compel it
to build bridge across the river at the
lower end Of the dock, where it must have
a draw, with all its an1oyances and incon-
veniences. This, too, when the road needs
so much money to rebuild its dep6ts, and
to make other improvements rendered
necessary by the disasters Of the war.
Much opposition is expressed on the
ground that the locomotive" will be
driven along the street to the great peril
of life and limb of man and horse. The
petitioners for the right of way asked for
no such privilege. They proposed to move
their trains with horses during the day,
and to use the locomotive only when the
streets are altogether clear Of wagons and
drays.
Let US trust that these objections will
not be considered valid by the Council.
They are not we'll founded. The injuries
and dangers unprecedented are fanciful.
The manifest interest of Richmond is to
encourage commerce, to relieve it of all
unnecessary burthens, and to exhibit to-
wards it generous disposition and fair
play. This will invite it here, and inspire |
kind feeling and favorable opinions of our
trading community. To fear that some |
trade may go through is absurd. If it
comes at all, some must go through, and to
take measures to prevent any going through |