The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-22
endeavor to increase their magnitude by

] envy and provokes the application OF the
spiteful word "sclfsh." II has but little
weight, and seldom disturbs the successful
who arc consoled by the results OF their
honest energy and prudent forecast.
The " straight line to the sea was con-
coctei Ivy visionary men, whose grand OK
pcctations have, We think, already failed
though people desire to try it further. 1t
was carried by straight line when IT might
have taken Richmond in its route with the
loss Of only four miles in distance. Rich
mond was the largest town in the State
she was the goose Every much of goose
for ncglecting her own interests us she did
that laid the golden cggs-and yet four
miles could not be sacrificed for her. The
great leader who supped on figures, and
hreakfasted on figures, md bad figures
made into pate de fol qras to spread on his
bread for snack, predicted everything.
We were to have town on the " Seaboard >
| bigger than New York, and line of ships
! across the ocean 70 continuous that We
should have daily departures for London.
What do We see Why, according to the
| report Of the combined line, of all the
| freight that was brought over that line, Nor
| folk last year got some $50 tons. one
small shir-load The Winifred or the
Annie Warwick, of our ante-war Rio line
conld take it all at one load
Now, for such result this city was pre-
termittea by the Missionaries and the men
| who cried .:selfsh Richmond" And by
| this pretcrmitting her, Richmond has sus-
tanned an injury for which the State has
been in no rise compensated hy gain any
,rhcre.
Now, it is against this line that we ap-
pear on this ground. And we assert that
the integrity of the commerce of Virginia
demands new road which shall give all
possible advantage to the principal town Ill
the State-the old goose that has laid the
golden egg. 1t is necessary to the welfare
of the State and the protection of her best
interests. Aud we claim that the consolida-
ton of n line which is justly amenable TO
there objections with the trans-Blue Ridge
line does not mend it. That the freedom oil
competition east of Lynchburg will be pro-
per protection for the commerce of the East
ern Virginia cities, and equally so for the
SINNERS in Little Tennessee and the South
west.
We establish this fact by this PROPOSE
ton: The cost of transportation from Rich
mond to New York is the same as that from
Norfolk to New York. Therefore the rail-
| road charge, say from Petersburg to Nor
folk, would be saved hy shipping the
through freight from the Southwest for New
York rin Richmond. That charge is about
two dollars per ton; and as there were
about II l33 tons transported on the South
side combined lines which took ship at Nor
folk for New York last year, s22, 26G could
have been saved by shipping the same at
Richmond. All this would have been saved
to the producer; for II 1873 tons are no
thing at all in the matter of affecting prices
in New York. Now, let us ask whether
Richmond would have a chance for through
freight on the proposed consolidated line
Complaints have been made of dlscrimi-
uu,iuns on the lines under General MALONE.
We have not entered into them. We he
lieye he ia as fair az he we'll can he. We have
discussed the question on broader grounds
wider than the narrow gauge OF fLAGG,
with his tons magnifed into pounds: Rich
mond's 55,0ll tons IA couple OF shlp-loais)
INTO eleven and odd million pounds; the
Orange and Alexandria railroads 3,5l3
tons into eleven and odd million pounds.
We regret that General MALONE, with his
activity, quick wit, and undylng energy,
were not better conditioned for the display
Of his talents. 1t is not very strong line
from which travel drops away III its middle,
while liz terminus should be its fat end.
We hope better things are in store for him.
As part of the line of argument we
have pursued we have contended that cities
! are built with reference TO something else
| than salt water. Nearly ali the large cities
are high up on rivers. Saluhrity, health,
good water, outcroppiug rocks, and undula-
| ting surfaces of land to help in purifying
the atmosphere and in drainage-con-
formity with the commercial law, which,
for the cheupness of water transportation,
takes the imported freight as far into the
interior rs ii is practicable, and causes the
sea going freight to seek shipment at the
nearest point were vessels are he met. &c.
These are elements not to he overlooked in
the matter of building cities, while water
| power is an additional agent that is invalu
| able in manufacturing, which is the great
est source of the growth and power of cities.
See Paris, which is built up in the main
hy her manufactures. Therefore, We have
contended that the idea of salt water gu
prcmacv, under which the attempt Was
made to sacrifice Richmond, was Il vision
ary one, and has cost the State millions.
We have lost trade by it, and it has become
necessary to build another railroad at the
cos, of several millions. For the present
southside lines cannot answer the demands
of our commerce no more than they can
properly protect the interests of this State.
We DO not undertake now to enter into
the Wigs argument about increase of
railroad freigh, 10 Richmond. How
much the road has taken from the canal by
the charge for transhipment, and how
much OF that which came to Richmond
could reasonably have gone anywhere else,