The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-16
8iehmond Dispatfk.
NV


some NoiltiSt u i"N>s
tion"-that it is a magic name, having p
miraculous agency, that will do away with
al injustice, oil partially, and promo'eth'
all prosperity of everybody and every city
,rlrthrr II be on The consolidated INC "
not,
Now. how can this be- Docs the mere
foc, thot n certain number of roads are
mcrrcd into one road render its manage
mcnt incapable Of injustice! Does such
consolidation necessarily deprive the
management; of any power to be unjust to
= community living fifty miles from the
hue thus consolidated
These arc questions which we should like
10 have answered. They arc certainly
worthy Of the consideration Of those who
arc observation-disclosures.
We should like to know whether there is
any difference whatever between q line
malc up Of two or mere roads consoli-
lated into ono aud a single road remain
ing rs originally incorporated, working on
lis own hook, under its own management
l. there any greater safeguard against
oi.ous determinations in the "consoli-
dated" line than in the other? May we
not most appropriately ask whether the
more powerful CONSOLIDATED line, being
inst MS liable to yield to temptation and
sc.ush motives as the other. i not more
dangerous, because more powerful and more
difficult 10 control In proportion to the
power Of Il corporation I'VE believe 1t has
always been found) is the difficulty o. sub
icctinc it TO rigid submission {" law.
II appears TO us that the error OF the
d"votccs Of consolidation at this time
is admiration for the gallant gentleman
who now represents that idea. He has
displayed fairness, railroadwi>c, towards
this city, and it is faith in him more than
in any mysterious benefcence in the mere
name consolidation " that ezcites cnthu-
sia>n in it, support.
But suppose this distinguished gentle
should die. whatever faith VIC have in
lin. can any man predict what man and
what policy will succeed him and his:
Il is sought to prove that "consolida-
ton" is a wonderfully good thing 10y its
fruits. What are they: Why, certain
frcights have come to this city which, it is
alleged, would not have come here but for
consolidation. When we ask why not,
tho answer is they would have been carried
off by the Orange and Alexandria railroad
by Il tacit but effective consolidation be-
tween that road and the Virginia and Ten
nessee railroad.
Exactly! And what is this answer but
n damaging confession that "consolida-
tion may lctal? BARE YRS consolida-
zion j.. Observation-Disclosures is admira-
h."' The former would have ruined Rich
.to'l-thc latter has saved her. Had
General MALONE been President Of the
and Alexandria railroad, VIC ask,
Would Ills " consolidation = on that line be
any better than Mr.. B~ARRoCR's?
i;u; the consolidationists go further, and
claim that consolidation" has brought
~ customers that we would not have had
without it. According to Richmond lner-
this il not so. "Consolidation - is
charged with losing lis trade; but it is
II truth, We believe, that all the energy of
General MALONE has been unable to restore
- Richmond that trade FROM Southwestern
Virginia which movements on the railroad
chcss-boarl have deprived her Of. These
movements left Richmond without the d.
r,ct communication and the rapid convey
au2c Which are Indispensable III these days
Mcicc. The alienation Of her trade was a
Eatura! consequence. and the magic OF
q consolidation has been unable to battle
il. THIS is tie fact.
10 "consolidation" Richmond owcs not
the value Of II chincapin. To General
NuiuNE's fairness it owes much but an
untair man ruling the administration Of the
consolidated line could have done lis far
more injury than the roads Of which it is
formed could have done working separately.
Ii the chief Of the line could he immortal.
then tao principles awarded to consolida-
tom merely might live forever in its
'"lcr: huttlat being impossible, they may
die with him.
But even the present consolidation -
81 management is accused Of uniairness
To name one PARTICULAR: 1t assesses Il
q terminal tax" (mild phrasc) of five
cents per hundred upon all freight destined
Tor the canal at Lynchburg. This is in the
teeth Of the charter of the Virginia and
Tennessee railroad. which requires the de-
livery Of freight to and fro between the
railway and the canal without delay and
free of Charge. Five cents the hundred
il q dollar Il ton, and the whole charge on
freight from Lynchhmg to Richmond il
Sl.1j per ton, Why, Il negro will SLOW
away 4 ton of coal in any house in Rich.
mon1 for twenty-five cents. This charge
.Sa!nst tuc cOusoliuatcu HlhIaSSuitA' Has
been publicly made, and We have not seen
il con,radictcd. If true, the imposition
upon trade, the injustice to one of the
principal works Of the State is very great,
aud seriously affects the infallibility Of
: consolidation"
Constellation then, per Ss<s4pprS fh'
perfection Of justice, IS it that qua
'aI.cs sss'aai Temptations which beSe
AStswcr il all phases Of life. Therefor
::cynsolidation" is no more entitled to ex
1raorlinary privileges than corporation
generally, while since the merging of seve
raj lines into one may lead to oppressiv
m~onopolies, consolidation should be autho