The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-04-14
THE TRUE POLICY FOR VIRGINIA.

Va toAo'
THE TRUE POLICY FOR VIRGINIA.
Our Richmond newspapers are filled adj
nauscane with articles for and against the
consolidation of the three Railroads which
extend from Norfolk to Bristol.
The whole affair seems to be q miserable
contest between local interests, so far as con-
solidation'' goes. But there is matter under
meath in which the whole State is concerned.
| Consolidation means more than combination
Of the three lines into one. It means the
giving away by the State Of TWO MILLIONS
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS to the
new company We are earnestly opposed to
any such proposition. In the present impov-
erishcd condition of the people of Virginia,
they are in no condition to give away mill
lions of money, to advance any merely local
interest. The people viii hold their repre-
scntatives to-a strict accountability for every
unnecessary expenditure of money, and woe
to those who vote to give away millions to
rich corporations.
We think the State should hold on to its
interest in these Roads from Norfolk to Bris-
toll, until they can be made available to IL
quidate an equivalent amount Of the bonds of
the State. We believe that, by good man.
agement, that could be DONE Virginia and
Virginia Rail Roads are now attracting a
large share Of the attention Of Northern cap
italsts. We are satisfied if the Governor
were authorized and Instructed, to exchange
these stocks for an equivalent amount of
State bonds dollar for dollar) it could be
done. in less than six months What a re-
lief it would be to wipe out. $2,300,0 900 of
the State debt and relieve the people of an
amount Of tax of $l38,00O for interest on
it, besides the costs of collection
The advocates of consolidation or in other
words Of misrepresentation Of public treasure
Say that these stocks arc Of little or no
value. We deny it. We believe that they
could be used to extinguish TWO MILLIONS
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS of
State debt. If they can be effectual for this
object it is, as if they were at par.
Weinsist that the experiment shall be tried
Let the Governor, by authority Of law, ad-
vertise that he will exchange these stocks,
dollar for dollar, for State bonds, and then
we will see whether the stocks are valuecss or
not !! Until that test has been applied, we
protest against its being assumed that these
stocks are of no value
So far as consolidation is concerned, we
think it is proposed to begin it at the wrong
end, for the interests of Virginia. The Ches.
apeakc & Ohio Rail Road is an example of
consolidation in the right shape. That road
will pick up produce on the banks of the
Ohio and drop it in the heart of the State at
Richmond on the Banks Of the James, thence
to find its way to points of consumption This
kind Of consolidation does the greatest amount
of good to the State by vivifying its indus
try, &c.
We want now to see similar consolidation
of the roads from Chattanooga to Lynchburg.
Then the Cotton and other products of the
South, will be dropped at ilynchburg, which
will be made great distributing point, and
find their way thence by Canal to Richmond,
by Railway to Petersburg, Norfolk or Rich
mond, or by the Lynchburg & Alexandra
road to Alexandria or Baltimore We want
LYNcHBURG TO BE COMMON DEPOT, and
we want competition and free trade, and fair
play, at that point, with no Determinations in
favor of any particular road or city. Let
trade flow like water, and seek its proper level
and best market. The interests of the mil
lions of producers are to be primary objects
not those of the scores of commission mer-
chants.
By the plan We propose, we place this
distributing office, in the interior of the
State and its blessings will extend around in
every direction. Active competition will be
stimulated between the Canal and Rail Roads,
and each will get the share it is entitled to,
by its enterprise and good management
But, by the proposed consolidation, the
cotton, &c., Of the South will be put on the
cars at Bristol, whisked through Lyrchburg,
Petersburg, and Norfolk, and dumped into a
steamship at the wharf at Norfolk, whence it
will go direct to New York
When some Of our citizens went to Norfolk
IS months ago, they found that 1900 bales of
cotton were transferred at City Point, to the
steamer Isaac Bell" whence they were car
ried by way Of Norfolk, to New York, not
one bale having touched Virginia Soil from
Bristol to the Sea. So it will be. There will
be long trains of produce with one end in
! Bristol and the other end in the New York
Steamers, moored in Norfolk bay and ready
to sail. It will be very interesting to the
people of Lynchburg and Petersburg to see
these trains roll, majostically, by, but we
doubt whether it will pay! It is quite pleas
ant to see the wild geese fly Northward, over
our heads in the sprino but yn have novor