The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-03
The Board of Trade

This body is getting on very industrl'
ously. II has its share Of talking capa-
h;lisiss. and we do not know but that we
NAV add, propensities. But there is a
strong inclination to business and dispatch
prevailing in the assemblagc, which seems
to be always imprcssing itself upon the
speakers. Their essays are short, and the!
crowd into the time as much as possible by
speaking rapidly. II y man wants TO near
talking against time lie will be gratified by
attending session Of the BUards-and very
good talking he viii hear.
A lively discussion sprang up yesterda!
evening upon motion OF Nh. RICHARDS, OF
Chicago, TO recommend the construction
,,y Government Of two or three great rail-
road tracks from the "centre of the chic!
supnlv of grain in the West" to the At
lantic seaboard. In tho speech made by
Mr.. RICHARDS in support of his resolution
he threw out banter or two tor DEBATE
upon side issueS, which were taken up with
spirit.
Mr.. RICHARDS asSailed water transporter
t;on rs inferior to railroad, and as des-
tined to be abandoned on account OF the
cbcapness and rapidity Of railroad trans
portation. incidentally, he spoke enthusl-
asticallv Of the great improvement OF the
steel rail, which would last seventeen times
~ long as iron, and promote the safety and
rhcapness of railroad operations. On the
latter point he was taken up with spirit by
Mr.. CHITTENDES, Of New York, who de-
clarcd the steel rail problem not yet
solved. and he did not believe that the
stccl,would ever supersede the iron rail.
Mr.. RICHARDS adhered to his opinion.
On the neutrality-suspicious. question
Ncssrs. MONROE and CARRINGToS replied,
defending the water from the sweeping con
tempt of Chicago.
We can hardly understand why water
TRANSFORMATION should so have offended the
spirited and courteous representative of the
Queen of the Lakes She has water enough
in some respects too much. She has Il
better supply for the wants of her people
than any other city in the world. This
ought to inspire her with noble apprecia-
ton of the almost adorable water!
But why set railroads and canals at war!
They are congenial and auxiliary. They
work beautifully in harmony, and they will
continue to 90 on in friendship and unity.
Their union is providential, and man cam
not put it asuuder. The railroad will do
the quick and light business, the canal the
heavy. The idea that the floating of heavy
bodies through liquid is ever to be diScon-
tinucd is utopian. AS long rs water runs,
wherever il can be forced in channels deep
enough. it will be used for the safe, conye-
nicnt. and advantageous, shipment Of heavy
frcightS.
Figures, indeed, may be adduced; but
figures are often great deceivers. They have
in time led to the greatest errors and the
greatest failures. There is enough that is
patent to prove entire compatibility of the
two systems of transportation without re-
curing to the hostile and sometimes over
strained figures of the partisans who raise
issues where there is no occasion for them.
The rivalres of the public lines of this day,
and the tricks and cunning devices TO cover
up deficits and defraud stockholders and the
public, make figures very unreliable. We
believe in both lincs-that water is cheap
est, and that railroads are quickest; and
that in cases where speed Is a ruling motive,
if the difference in freight is not too great,
it will go to the railroad. But railroads will
in time thank the water for relieving them
from Improbable freights, and there must
be harmony between them.
The National Board of Trade ought to be
comprehensive and liberal, as we do not
doubt that it is, and we are sure it will not
commit the error Of involving itself in I'M
necessary issues and visionary theories.