The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-04
--,-.r,,;a and North Carolina.

limited. Years ago Petersburg stood as u
Chinese wall between us and the Nol'h
State. Not pound Of goods co"id NC
sent through Petersburg without peihs
trsnshipped by the intervention OF COM
m;ssion merchant. and charged for the SER
vice rendered. This obstruction was az
embargo upon any trade with Richmond
in face of the complete alliance existing DC
tween the Bay boats, the Seaboard rallroao'
and the North Carolina roads. Baltimore
of course. had the monopoly OF the North
Carolina trade, Notwithstanding that klch-
mond was Sc much nearer, and notWlth.
standing that goods and machines could be
bought here rs low as they were sold in
Baltimore.
But at last, after years Of struggle against
what Governor FLOYD called the shaved
tail mule and niger interest" connection
by rail was effected through Petersburg.
Then, thought we simplctons here in Rich
mond, we shall have " free.tradc and sail
ors' rights in our commerce with North
Carolina.
Not bit of it. The gun hung fire. The
powder was wet. 1t fixed horribly. There
was mystery about the matter. Things
didn't gee we'll. The Petersburg and Rich
mond road was hardly ever in time with its
mind. 1t was slow to decide. 1t was eX-
orbitant in its rates. There was no dis
patch, no harmony with the lines further
South. There was trouble about rates or
something else. In short, the working OF
n,,r @hro,,rb fr,6o NTH North Carolina was
very much like that of baulky team. But,
mind you, all the time the Seaboard road
and the Bay boats had been " sucking up
the swill." They had had an uninterrupted
monopoly. That aoas the point in the game,
and was the sequel to the banking and dis
agreements so disastrous to Richmond,
and, let us say to Virginia for what Sc
riously Injuries Richmond seriously hurts
Virginia.
But in the course Of time our Petersburg
friends find that their jealousy Of Richmond
is divertins their attention from serious
"enemy in their rear" The Seaboard and
Bay route was swallowing up the lucra-
tive trade Petersburg once enjoyed, ana
this discovery opened the eyes OF our TEL
low-citizeps in the Cockade town to the
truth that there is really no hostility be-
tween their town and Richmond, but ION
the contrary, quite the reverse" IheT
interests are altogether sympathetic.
Hence we have seen Of late some Impor-
tant changes in the management OF the
Richmond and Petersburg road, in which
Petersburg was, we believe, the chle'
mover, and it is understood that the Peters
burg and Weldon road is in entire harmony
with this "new movement Ill 1t Is not IL
ought to bc-and we would further sa!
that ii it is not it is altogether delinquent
in its proper appreciation OF the Interests
of Virginia rs well rs those OF Petersburg.
With this "ncw movement" we had
hoped everything would go right, and that
Richmond would reap that lucrative COM
mcrcial harvest in trading with North Car
DINA which she is entitled to by every con-
si,leration Of advantage in distance, fair
ness and liberality in trade, and social SYM
Dathy.
Let us say that in North Carolina there
sprung up some time since strong desire
to trade with Richmond. The Weldon and
W IlllllilplUI Ioau anu luC " aiiV
Manchester road and their connecting lines
southwark were exceedingly anxious 10 get
the advantage Of the freight business for
Richmond. They wanted to carry the
nails, the railroad equipments, machinery,
tobacco, -four, and what not that our man-
utacturers were shipping to the southern
Atlantic towns and cities, as well as those
on the Gulf In return we were to receive
the products of North Carolina, including
especially the tine lumber of that State.
BY the persistent efforts of the southern
roads stream of that sort Of transporta.
ton was set in motion.
Who prottcd by our injury in the check
ing Of the free and liberal commerce be-
tween Virginia and North and South Caro-
Lima? We have only to look ut the
course of the trade thus turned from this
line to see. The things to be sent from this
city to the South had to take the water lines
to Baltimore or to New York, and there
find shipping for the South ; and the lumber
had to be shipped via the Seaboard road or
the sea to Norfolk, and from thence sent up
to Richmond.
We know that there is a disposition in
North Carolina to open a large trade with
Petersburg and Richmond. Upon the Will
mington and Weldon road number of our
own people are already settled, engaged In
trade and in the lumber and turpentlne
business. With the proper encouragement,
with free and unrestricted railroad inter-
course between Richmond and that coun-
try, trade of very great magnitude may be
promptly established. The changes that
have already been made In the freightlng
and passenger business between Richmond
and the thrifty communities along the Well
don and Wilmington and the Wilmington
and Manchester roads, have given decided
impulse to our communication with them.
If this commerce be permitted to continue
without interruption, a few years will run
it up to millions. It will open the way for
the transportation through Richmond via
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad of the
entire supply Of North Carolina pro ductions
for the lakes and the upper Mississippi
Valley.
Now, then, people of Ricbmond-nay
of Virginia-everybod having any interest
In Richmond-is this u trade to be tritled
WITH to be submitted to the hazards Of
unfricndly and mysterious manipulations
Assuredly not. We want open and unre
stricted communication with our NORTH
Carolina friends. We want no Intervention
from doubtful agencies. We want clean