The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-15
PETERSBURG AGAIN TO THE
RESCUE.

liJtle ltiSutV, tuo Oo"te't hONSo INV tN
with every sail set and every gun shotted.
The first broadside was poured into the
TANKS of Moncure Robinson & Co., yoster-
day morning. The case is so plainly
stated, and so calmly argued by the Cou-
rier. that we have concluded to devote our
editorial column to its views, as the very
best use we can put them to this evening.
Our contemporary says:
1.-THE case seems to be this The Alex
andria aud Fredericksburg company have
applied to the Legislature for the privilege
of building their road directly from Alex
andria to Richmond. This application is
violently resisted by the Richmond, Frede-
ricksburg and Potomac Railroad company
Both parties have their friends in the
Legislature, who are daily exerting all
their energies and abilities in behalf of
their respective favorites. 1t is charged
that the Alexandria and Fredericksburg
road movement is nothing more nor less
than an effort on the part of the Pennsyl-
vania Central to absorb all the trade and
travel now belonging to the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac road, and thus
inhict upon Virginia heavy loss in order
further to aggrandize Philadelphia. There
would be much force in this argument if it
were not for the well known fact, that under
the auspices of Philadelphia capital the
Seaboard Railroad and the Bay Line of
steamers have for the last twenty-five years
been mercilessly diverting from Virginia
large and valuable trade with North Car
DINA, beside deprving all the railroads
from Weldon to the Potomac Of an i'm
mense through travel. Mr.. Moncure Rob-
inson, some thirty-6ve years ago took UNI
bragg against the Petersburg railroad COM
pany for some cause or other and to pun
ish that concern, set himself to work to
build up the connection between Weldon
and Norfolk. At the time he applied for
the charter for bis new scheme, it was op-
posed on the ground that it would vitality
conflict with the work which Petersburg
enterprise aud Peter sburg capital had just
finished; and the general argument
was that it was suicidal policy
for the State to endanger or de-
stroy a completed and prosperous
work by building up another in direct
and almost avowed antagonism to it. The
Legislature Of that day, however, disre-
garded all appeals in behalf of the Peters,
burg road and gave charter for the Sea-
board road, which was Immediately
constructed, and upon its completion the
original scheme expanded into a line of
steamers between its Norfolk terminus and
Baltimore, and by thus doubling teams
Mr.. Moncure Robinson has had the graft
fication Of doing about as much mischief
in the premises as his most sanguine ex-
pectations called for. The Seaboard rail-
road is foreign corporation in our midst,
operating like a trip-hammer upon the
whole chain of roads between Weldon ard
the Potomac Qua Petersburg, Richmond
and fredericksburg, and of the machinery
by which this tremendous instrument is
moved, Mr. Robinson is pretty much the
master, from all we can learn on the
subject. We are not saying anything
to disparage that gentleman at all. Every
man has right to use whatever exertions
he honestly aud honorably can for the
promotion of his own fortunes. The re-
sponsbility and blame for all the damage
that has been done the Virginia railroads
by the Seaboard road, lies entirely at the
door of the Legislature that granted the
charter for it against the invocations and
circumstances of those who saw how dis
it would affect their interests.
Said Mr.. Herndon in the Senate, Saturday,
speaking on the railroad subject, ''there is
a principle that when franchise is granted
and the grantees are in possession thereof,
we shall not so legisate as to make their
property worthless" This was precisely
the doctrine that was urged by the friends
Of the Petersburg railroad in opposition
TO the cut-throat policy which was inau-
yurated in this State by the charter granted
The Seaboard concern. Experience has
demonstrated the soundness of Mr.. Hern-
lon's view and the destructive tendencies
Of the opposite ones
"But to come directly to the point-the
railroad system of the State has some very
serious defects and some very dangerous
difficulties to struggle against. The Sea-
board railroad is Charybdis on one side
Of the straight, and this Alexandria and
fredericksburg scheme seems to be
Scylla on the other The ancient mariner
used to avert both dangers by steering half
gay between them. But in the present |
parallel case the "medio tutissimus ibis" |
plan is not readily available, and the
struggle that is now going on between the
rival and belligerent companies must be
conducted and decided upon the principle
hat commonly dictates choice between
.wo evils--viz to choose the least. Our
opinion is that the Seaboard road and the
Raw line of steamers are far more DANA |