The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-27

.,,.-.,.,..o : OCTOBER %. 1910
Ra;,roasl Policy.

,phrfs are Two htsitas va $500 ;.
;,,a,ase which are Intended 70 enr1ch tn Inc ,
nwnara ofcourse It Is not TO be presnmee,
,h.. sny policy of corporations is INTENDED
Far snvtbing else. But, as with individuals
one of the two policies above alluded i; 70
, n nom narrow and contracted heads
ana hearts. and the other from liberal and
ao,,,rrehensiye views. The narrow-gauge
nolIcy Of men of narrow heads and gram
..ire hearts looks to the coming in every Gay
~ TWO cents for every one that is paid out,
n ,,ossible. The instruction to the super
,ntendent Of transportation Is TO assess the
charges for transportation as high rs it Is
nossible to make them without stopping oil
transportation. He is charged totax what
goes over the road as though there could
never be an Increase In freight, and that the
expenses and profits must be made Quite
that neyer-to-be-increased freight. VI
course this system, by restraining the in.
crease Of freight, verifies the wisdom of the
narrow.minded directors, and comforts and
satisfies them of their wonderful forecast.
There could he nothing more fallacious,
apa little that could be more injurious to
the public welfare. 1t restraints both pro-
duction and transportation, and dwarfs the
consequence, usefulness, and prosperity o.
every road in whose business it'prevails.s
The opposite policy is. that of cul
tiyating and inviting freights-of lower
ing the rates until, like swelling volume
of water, they lift up and bear off to mar
ket everything that may be converted into
money BY being carried to market. This
policy stimulates industry, developes the
country, increases population, and swell.
the business and receipts of a railroad IN 8
hundred ways. Take single case 1: Say
that upon a railroad there is q region OF
splendid timber or mine Of valuable ore.
II the railroad puts the freight upon the
timber or the ore down to nominal price,
that viii induce men of enterprise to I'M
dertake the working Of the forest or the
mine, and an active business Is Immediately
established. Workmen and their families
come into the locaiity-mills and FORCES are
built-villages rise-and the railroad has
multiplication of passengers, increase OF
freights of every sort, and where it had not
dollar for either freight OF passenger is
In receipt of thousands. This illustrates
the whole effect of liberal policy how it
enriches railways, increases industry, and
swells the general wealth and population
OF the State. = :. .5..,.,.-s ., ~ =
This last is the policy Of wise and liberal
men. 1t is the true policy of humanity and
sound judgment.
Richmond has been a terrible sufferer
from the narrow-minded and selfish policy.
She is still sufferer, and this day her trade
is the sport and plaything of men who
think alone and most unwisely of their in
dividual interests, and hesitate not to saerl-
fee the welfare of this community if they
deem that by doing so they can add a few
dollars to their private fortunes. - S5sE \
The trade that would come to this city is
repealed by the contracted and avaricious
views Of schemels that do not see beyond
their noses; and thus Is the natural course OF
commerce yexed and fretted, and the pub
lie spirit of an enterprising people crippled
and circumscribed. We have been much
encouraged by the railroad games upon the
chess-board of late, and do still trust that
our hopes are not to be disappointed. Rich
mond is in the happy situation Of fearing g
nothing that may be worse, and, therefore:
is ready to welcome any change whatever.
Andwhat a sad management, indeed, is that!
of our own people, which prepares US to
welcome any alteration Of the course of
our railway transportation! ~ Tfsa4 ~, =,
Yes; let it come. Anything that will up
set the narrow and contracted policies
anything that will relieve us from the sys-
tenn of construction and iparsimony that al
lows no growth, no increase, and detains
Virginia in condition stationary and de-
spondent, with no hope, no sunshine in the
future, t.fs 1 -