The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-01
,,<a1ta dispatch.
:, %,,,snAv MARCH !, 1870.
"The Invitation to Strife"


"The Invitation to Strife"
We invite attention to the communica-
,,on Of "R. L. l." in this mornings DIS
match on the subject Of the pending bill in
the Legislature for the extension Of the
southside railroad to Clifton Forge. The
writer briefly narates the history OF the
railroads on the south side and those on the
north side, SO far as they relate to one
another, and 80 far as they bear upon the
pending proposition.
He expresses very reasonable sur
prise at the proposition from the southside
and southwest consolidated line to under
take new enterprise diverging to the
northwest before it has completed the sreas
consolidated scheme which was, under sne
so1emnity Of law and upon its earnest
anneal. given to its hands with oil the sup"
mort and protection it could derive from the
authority of the State. The grand act
which incorporated the Atlantic, Missis.
s;ppi and Ohio railroad, and whose title
ran thus: "To provide for the completion
"of line of railway from the Virginia
eeaboard to the Mississippi rivers by
" facilitating the construction of the Virgil
ME and Kentucky railroad" was passed
18th April, '67 yet no effort seems to have
been made to finish the Virginia and Ken
lucky railroad, commonly known as the Cum
berland Gap road. 1t was 6 road whose pro-
misses were not overrated as glowingly as
they were represented by one OF the ablest
md most lucid writer's in the State. There
could be hardly higher motive to one am
bilious of fame in the line OF promoting
the practical interests of his State than the
completion of that road and the establish
ment of an active intercourse between the
Virginia eeaboard- and the richest part OF
Kentucky, as much an Eldorado " now So
il was seventy years since to the people OF
Virginia. 1t does seem strange that such
project should be laid up to rot and new
one should be undertaken, and that new one
upon q line which has been the subject OF
former laws, and upon which there are
vested rights important to corporation
which, upon the faith of charters defining
those rights, has been induced to invest
many millions of dollars.
Our correspondent expresses just SUR
prise that our fellow-citizens of the South
side should inaugurate the scheme OF the
Southside extension under these clreum-
stances, and that without consulting the
Chesapeake and Ohio road as to its inten-
tons. That company has, in q published
pamphlet issued some months since, lndi-
Gated its purpose of improving its line by
changes of road-bed and shortening. of dis
tances, as it is permitted to do under its
charter; and yet, before it is well in opera
ton, before it's contracts for continuing the
rond westward are awarded, this Southslde
extension scheme is introduced, and pro-
poses to occupy the very line which ls al
ready covered by provisions OF severai
laws, in some of which the southslde ROADS
are included. With these laws and the
rights they established the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad Company accepted its char
ter, under the presumption that they were
final; that if the Southside companies pre-
termitted their rights under the laws no
further movement would be made by them
affecting its rights; and, indeed, that II
they should make such movement, the State
ha,ing favored their application once, and
accorded them all they then asked for, would
not disturb the vested rights of the CheSa-
peake and Ohio railroad by giving them new
privileges calculated to affect injuriously
the welfare of that corporation. 1t was
fair conclusion that the State had settled
the relations Of these conpanles-and 1t Is
reasonable surprise that is occasioned by
the attempt to REOPEN the subject and
award greater privileges to the Southside
companies, which did not avail themselves
of those formerly granted.
We regret this new railroad complica-
ton. 1t has been hard enough, God knows,
to get railroads built in Virginia; and this
new sign of hostilities can hardly facili-
tate their construction. Certainly the Lee
gislature should be exceedingly cautious as
to how fur it shall 90 in this matter. 1t ID
sad check to enterprise that is caused by
distrust of the respect for vested rights
. in the legislative body; and any disturb
ance by the Legislature Of the entente cor
dale between the two great State lines, as
recorded in the acts already passed, will
Justly be interpreted as breach OF faith.
Let the lines 60 on as laid down in the
charters. Let them be friends in their CO.
operative work of building up Virginia.
Let no strife be between them. Let US
have railroad peace