The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-02
evening Stats go''sHal.
THURSDAY EVENING, FEB. 2, ls71'
SPIRIT OF THE monNINa PRESS.

Mistake" has an ably written artlcie prov
ing that the idea lately promulgated, tina
low through rates necessitate high loca
rates, is entirely erroneous. 1t says Their
never was greater mistake, and that only
those vindcate it who maintain high loca
rates, and they merely make the assertion
"without deigning to submit any proof
1t continues
Wherever the principle oflow rates has July
obtained the THROUGH rates are made 10 con
tribute to the lessening of LOCAL rates, ana u i
not an unusual thing to find that local irelght'
fall to pay expense of carriage, and the lou
local tariffs are only maintained from the mel
earnings on through freights. This principle
Governs where the duty Of the railroad to the
public is recognized, and the road is not made
subservient to the interests OF shareholders
alone.
To establish the correctness OF this view
of the case, our contemporary quotes at
length from the annual report of dis
tinguished official of the Nashville and
Louisville railroad, Ito disabuse.the public
mind, which assumes it to be unjust that
through traffic should be taxed at lower
rates than local freights, forgetful of the
fact that it is this ability to tax the trade
of foreign sections which enables low
rates to local tonnage. Thus the off,
cial alluded to in Kentucky, discussing
this point, shows that
Ills company, in the year 1869, realized
S8l2 $3.50 from through business, OF wnicn
So 76 100 per cent. was expended In operating
the road, leaving net proht OF S3oo,z i3,
equal to SO 47-l00 per cent. "fhus, people
living at distance, who had nothing TO 90
with the building of the road, contributed
largely towards making it successful enter
prise. Nor are the owners OF the road alone
benefited by this business? Ihe sum OF
S477 1922, operating expenses, was nearly all
expended along the line of the road, thus
stimulating trade by Increasing the wealth OF
the States through which the road passes.
aNow, if this business had not been secured
TO the road at such rates as could be attained,
itwould have been necessary to have increased
the local rates SO 47-l00 per cent
Hence, if the through bust
ness is neglected, or is forced over rival routes
ON account of high rates, the local shipper
must either contribute the whole amount OF the
loss. or the owners of the road lose the interest
on their capital, in which latter case the local
shippers must still furnish the entire operating
exnenses. as otherwise the road would not be
kept in running order for any length OF time.
The unavoidable result, therefore, would De 10
raise the local tariff, while on the other hand,
with a large, through business, the company
would be enabled to lower it,"
After showing very conclusively, that
the reason Norfolk does not grow any
faster is. because of the discrimination
made against that city in its rates by the
Seaboard road, the Enquirer slaps enter
prising little Fredericksburg on the back,
and saws, ssWell done, good and faithful"
after the following fashion
Is it true that Fredericksburg has opened
her batteries on the stagnatng corporation
that rims rail line through her borders and
demands of her representatives in the Legisla-
ture to vote for the application OF the Alex,
andria and Fredericksburg company to extend
its road to Richmond. -
Verify, it is so. This splendid cold Burg,
whose men, and women, and even children,
illustrated true patriotism and heroic chlEairy
in our late struggle, come now to ask reilei
from the sitting grip OF the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac road, which has maze
their ancient and time.honored city mere
hag-station on its line.
It also has an article in support OF rail-
road consolidation, introducing an inter-
,estine letter from distinguished English
merchant. Mr.. John Everitt, who is well
known here for his zeal in the cause OF
direct trade, to prove that the assertion
recently made by member OF our House
Of Delegates, to the effect that the policy
ST consolidation no longer obtained in
England. but upon trial had been ex-
ploded. was without foundation. We have
not the room to give the letter; but the
ENQUIRER says of consolidation
The value of CONSOLIDATION" in Virginia
being demonstrated every day, both on tn
lines from Norfolk to Bristol, and on the or
ange. Alexandria and Manassas road, and s.
satisfactorily to the latter that recently 1t ha
consolidated another road, the Lynchnurg an
Danvills road, with its interests,
ga, M = to the rescued The sluggar'
knight sees his Ivanhoe, who is still IN cog,
hard pressed and enters the lists. Every
body will recognize the initials, we sup
pose. But if they cannot pierce the veil
we shall not be guilty of the unprolessloana
discourtesy of raising it for them. ou
Richard puts on his armor again to Ugh
the Pennsylvania Central railroad throug
the columns of the Wing. He does nc
object to giving the company the right I
construct a road from Washington
Richmond, land on this point says in eS
PLANTATION of the position taken last yea
by that paper
The FIRST and last consideration with US
resnect to any railroad project is its bearir
anon The interests of Virginia II it promis
20 subserye those interests, it will have II
earnest support of the Wing; if 1t conhic
Nth those interests, it will encounter our u
Compromising opposition. Acting on tn
nr;nciule and sympathizing in the general pr
ind;ce arainst the narrow and CONTRACT
nolicv which seemed to govern in the manag
ment Of the Richmond and Fredericksoul
road we last year advocated the proposiu'
for a road from Washington to FrederIcS
burg. with the privilege of extension to Ric
mond, to be constructed by the Pennsylyan
Central, This was all that was asked Oh
and this was all that we were willing to graz
90 long as the request was thus limited, II n
our support. But, of late, the whole aspect
ahe question has been changed by the bill NJ
hefore the Legislature, and which is append
below.
He then declares that the prlvllee
asked by the bill now before the Hou
are of such an extraordinary charactt
that taken 10 connection with consider
tions South of us, they excite and just
the gravest suspicious. lie evident
thinks the Pennsylvania Central is We
big wooden horse, instead Of simple o'
TALON of iron cavalry, which is seeking
destroy the interests of Virginia, by d
getting within the walls of Richmond, a
then sacking the city. Another Ulrl