Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-09
The question Of more railroads for washing.

eED OUTSIDE FOB INTERESTING 7HLl.
RAPHlO AND eTHIB HATTIE.
The question of more railroads for Washing
ton rs naturally the all-absorbing topic here;
and from the powerful interests at stake in the
Congressional action proposed is attracting
wide attention everywhere throughout the
country. Tits curious to note how the matter
of self-Interest over-rides every other in the
discussion of the question. New York has
had SPECIAL cause to be aggrieved by the mar
row-minded barriers put upon commerce and
trade by the neighboring state of New Jersey
and the press of that city have for years been
invoking the aid of all the powers that be to
break up these odious railroad monopoIies
But the moment prospect of aid is held on,
through the only agency capable of af0rding
relief some OF the same papers SHRINK back
with alright at tie stately proportions of the
genii they have summoned. The New York
Hsrid thinks ssthere is too much ground" for
the Invectlves OF Senator Sherman, &c K
out. If existing railroad privileges are nodded
with by Congress, it may come next to canals
and then the Erie C.nal, which yields SUCH
a revenue 70 the Stat OF York may suffer.
so the HOrld neryously hopes that the Con-
gressional plan OF dealing with railro ID mo-
nOpolies will be abandoned. Come, Mr. World
this won't do! You have buc killed. on your ar.
NOR and done good service to the public in ex-
posing the lightweight frauds of the corner
grocers. Don't shrink now from tackling the
colossal railroad-monopoly frauds because of
squint of danger to your local canal inter-
ests The New York Herald, with character
lstic pluck, opens the war upon the Suites
right monopolies in way that makes the fur
ny; and We are glad to that the Baltimore
AnerIean, no ways inimidated by the power
ful influences surrounding II, maintains its
able advocacy of tree railroads and the aban-
donment OF monopoly restrictions. We quote
from that paper Of to-day the following apt
remarks:
III railroads were conducted on principles of
public good, instead of private srDoIument,
there might be some claim to protection. IT.
for instance, the baltimore and Ohio Railro I'd
were to convey coal from Cumberland TO Balti-
more al fxsd rate that would pay them fair
pront, n would oe the means of adding largely
10 the commerce Of the city. But instead OF
TINS, ~ has drawn from the coal trade the ut
most farthiDg that il could possibly yield, ami
instead OF developing the mineral resources of
the State, ans making Baltimore a great coal
market, II has dwIndled and dwaried the trade
down TO the smallest possibl compass So
also with its through traffic-the rates from
new hoik to 81. Louis being about the same,
or less II any thing, than IRON Baltimore to ST
Louis over the same road.
There is certainly nothing of the character
OF puonc oenefacnon IN Anything connected
They are money -makIng investments, the same
as q newspaper is, and have NO nc ore right 10
protection from the establishment OF rival lines
than the publisher has 10 protection from the
starting of rival journals.
I'VE contend that every company or individ-
uai VINO desires 10 build a railroad should
nave me largest liberty to do so TO the fullest
extent OF his or their means. If the States will
not pass free railroad laws, we regard il as the
uuty OF Congress TO charter such compaulcz
ana give th-m all the rights they may require
Western States Ilvr
strueuons 10 the building OF parallel or COM
petiDg lines Of railroad, and the conseQ uence Is
that those States are sgridironed" with the iron
ran. Livery city, village. and township in the
state mas railroad passing through it con-
neCung with all the main roads of the country
Tne ioea Of asking protection for railroads hiss
iong since been exploded IN these States, and
the result Is that not only the people of the
States are benefited, but the old throu Oh lines
nave profitrd by the change, and both in pas
doubled.
at Is not only protection against rival lines
mat mas been demanded by these ..public bene-
factors, but they iasist that all lateral lines
snail either be under their con Lrol or n AZ NO
De built at all They are the railroad k.ngso
the present day, and they want 10 hand down
10 tneir neredl tary successor like the mon.
archs of old, increased territory and dominion
To n ad some OF their reports, il might b. sup.
posed that they were sacrificing their time
iaoor ana money solely for the public good,
and for the benefit Of humanity in general
That they owe any thing to the people VINO sup
port and sustain their rolds, and from wno-e
pockets every dollar Of toe large dividends
they declare Is extracted. is wholly ignored
They announce the laying of a double track
or the building of a branch, road, as a measure
solely for the public good. The putting on
their roads of new cars is a Humanitarian pro
Ject, entirely intended for the increased Gun
tort OF their passengers emitting To state the
Iact mat me old ones were kept running until
there was considerable danger OF their tumblng
TO pieces on the road.
I'VE are thoroughly Disguised with this
species OF railroad humbuggery. Railroad
corporations ale entitled 10 all the protection
mat u given TO the shipowner, the merchant
the Manufacturer, and the man Of business
generally, but not TO one iota more Fourteen
distinct lines Of railroad centre al Chicago. All
OF them are doing heavy business and II will
De good thing for Baltimore and MARYLAND
should we ever succeed in having nalf that
number here"