The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-07
The Robinson Crusoe" Line

The only line IN virginia Whlcn mas paid
its owners anything since the war is the
road. With its Bay line, it is said
to be extremely prolific. With its alliances
formed with great perseverance and shrewd-
ness, this line lords it over a good part Of
Virginia and Northern and Western North
Carolna-"m monarch of all 1t surveys" 1t
is 80 broad and exclusive that it may we'll
be called the "RoBlNsoN CRusoE" hne.
By the complete arrangement between
the North Carolina roads joining at Raleigh
the Danville railroad is seriously crippled.
Every pound Of freight of the Danville
company which passes between Charlotte
and Greensboro, North Carolina, is
charged as though it had been transported
the whole distance between Raleigh and
Charlotte, being some 81 miles more than it
travels.
SO with passengers. Every through
traveller that comes by Danville is charged
rs though he performed the whole distance
from Charlotte to Raleigh, or 81 miles more
than he travels. :t'....--
Now this is an injustice that Is abomina-
BILE in the eyes Of all fair men and yet our
assailants of foreign capital, and the wise
acres who make break in commerce and
entrench their obstructive lines along
James river, plainly justify this breach in
North Carolina of the principles Of fairness,
good neighborhood, and Interstate comfy.
But the chief advantage of this inhospita-
BILE treatment Of the Danvi]le road in North
Carolina flows into the Golfers Of the
4" ROBINSON CRUsoE" line. North Carolina
has no port of her own to which she can
carry freight or travel that passes by
Raleigh. 1t all floats through the toll-gate
of the Seaboard and Bay line, leaving for
Norfolk beggarly account, which that city
can speak of better, but not more content
edly, than ourselves.
But the thrift of the ROBINSON CRUsoE
line comes still nearer home to us. The
distractions thrown in the way of the
commerce between this city and Eastern
North and South Carolina have only helped
to grease the fat sow of the "Seaboard."
Circumstances have of late swept away
nearly all these distractions, and now
comes war to change the management Of
the Richmond and Petersburg road, which
is the key to the situation.
1t is certainly an uncomfortable conjec-
ture that the Southside Consolidated Line
is in alliance with the Bay line IN the war
on the Richmond and Petersburg road.
We do not mean to suggest that any terms
are made and committed to writing, but
do believe this /: that these corporations
are anxious to subvert the present man.
agement of the Richmond and Petersburg
road (whateyer may be the result), with the
expectation of mutual benefit, some way
or other. 1t can come to the Bay line in
no way save that OF some sort of obstruc-
ton that will elbow transportation at Wei
don off to the Bay.
This is enough to create alarm and oppo-
sition to the scheme, even though in itself
it had not enough Of Objectionable features
to defeat it overwhelmingly.
We do not mean to be understood as en-
tertaining hostility to the Bay route. We
have no lliberal feelings towards any line.
We want fair play. We would demand, if
we bad the power to enforce the demand,
fair dealing in North Carolina. We would
set free our commerce in Western and in
Eastern North Carolina. We would have
all the lines free and unobstructed, and all
should have justice,
In order to secure all this we must be
liberal to other States and their citizens,
and we must guard our lines from compli-
cations-such, for instance, as placing the
president of an eastern and western line
over road from north to south. Keep
them all independent, and let commerce be
free as the wind to 60 where it listeth.
This isthe only way to secure prosperity to
Virginia and harmony among the sections.