The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-02
%, IB Fbo, 2
: s.-leo cents per ton per mile.
n,~x.ar FROM WEST TO EAST.

per mile revenue. tss IL per ton per mile revenue.
The above statement shows the total ton
mage through, east and west, for the year
1865 was 53,lIl tons, for which the COM
ranv received sl35, 6sl.9s, or 1886 per
ton. or 8 I4.1OO cents per ton per mile.
Norfolk handled only 5,426 tons, or about
one-tenth Of the amount, and direct trade
to Liverpool was benefited to the extent OF
Of 1855 tons.
Petersburg sent over or received from
the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad 5,325
tons, and paid on account of transporta-
ton of the same el2, 1926 which would
leave 47,sl6 tons received from or sent to
points southwest of Petersburg, and upon
which there was paid 1922, 1888.
Al of this tonnage might have passed be-
tween the eastern cities and the Southwest,
through Richmond, at much cheaper rates
than through Norfolk. We have lines Of
steamers from Richmond to Baltimore,
philadelphia, and New York, and two lines
II communication with the Virginia and
Tennessee railroad-to wit, the James
River and Kanawha canal and the Rich
monl and Danville and Southside railroads.
From Burkeville, the point Of junction
Of the Southside railroad and the Richmond
and Danville railroad, the distance to Rich
mond and Petersburg is about the same,
and consequently tonnage can be delivered
in Richmond at the same cost as in Peters
burg. =,
From Petersburg by rail to Norfolk the
distance is eighty-onc miles, and we have
seen that the cost of delivering through
tonnage is So. SIS per ton. Norfolk is nearer
than Richmond to Baltimore, Philadelphia,
and New York. by about 120 miles. The
steamers which carry the tonnage from Nor
folk TO the eastern cities come to Richmond,
and would prefer to secure their cargo at
Richmond rather than Norfolk, and would
increase their charges but little for the adj
lit;pual distance. We will estimate their
increased charge at onc-half cent per ton
,cr mile, which would make sixty cents
rcr ton as the increase in the expense OF
carrying tonnage from Richmond over
Norfolk.
If the charge from Norfolk to New York
is s.. 40 per ton, the charge from Rich
mond would not exceed So per ton. The
additional charge by rail to Norfolk over
Richmond is s. 55 per ton; and deductlng
from this amount sixty cents, the addi-
tional charge from Richmond by water to
New York would give s1.95 per ton as the
amount Of tax to which the trade is sub
jccted to pass it over the Norfolk and Pc
tel sburg railroad to Norfolk. Let it be
understood that the cars which come over
the Virginia and Tennessee railroad with
the products of the Southwest could pass
over the Danyille railroad to Richmond,
ana then the cargo could be transferred to
the Old Dominion Steamship Company, and
carried thence to New York at saving OF
at least 50 per ton. During the year 1868,
the amount of tonnage-near so, 600 tons
which the Southwest sent and received
from the eastern cities was subjected to on
unnecessary additional tax of near $780,
600. This was paid by the people of Lynch
burg, and Southwest Virginia, and Tennes'
sector what? To build up Norfolk and
direct trade. Direct trade received 1855
tons, and Norfolk 5,426 tons
If the James River canal we're used for a
part, say one-half, Of this tonnage, what
would be the result!
One and half cents per ton per mile
would pay we'll on the canal lJ6 miles at
this charge would make say $3.50 per ton.
In our estimates We allow about three cents
per ton per mile on the railroads, which, on
l25 miles from Lynchburg to Richmond,
would amount to 1915 per ton, or Sl.55
more than the charge by canal.
Thus the route from Lynchburg via rail
to Richmond will be about two dollars per
ton cheaper than the rail route uia Norfolk,
but the canal route will save $3.50 over the
rail route to Richmond. Thus if the canal
route were used $3.50 per ton would be saved
over the Norfolk route. In other words,
the meagre trade of $4,000 tons passing
through Virginia bias been subjected to an
unnecessary tax of from 800, 900 to $751;
600. Will some friend of consolidated man
agement tell us why this trade took the most
expensive route to market? We're the peo-
pie of Lynchburg and the Southwest too
flush -of money, and insisted upon being
depleted?
We should be glad to see the reports OF
the Southside roads for 1869. We hope
they will make better exhibit. There are
certain Interchangeable laws of trade which
We think the consolidated management can
not change. JAMES RIVER.