The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-09-04
Virginia Railroad Policy.


In DAYS past there was great deas o.
talk about Virginia railroad policy. Ihere
was go general concurrence as to what was
that Railroad policy. Every small town 10
the State had its view of that policy ai"'s
affected by is Interests. And II at any 'e
sion of the Legislature there was such a.,
ton as seemed to give shape 10 "''''o
,cv. 1t was very surely followed .! ~.
thing like counteraction at Inc su.. :, rs.
session that confused the mattef All" ie''
the onest,ou OF State policy more tnah
eyer in muddle.
The cause of this was that money 10
build railroads was voted out OF the e1a'e
Treasury. The improvement party was 30
weak that votes had TO be concentrated by
distributing the Improvement fund In oil
directions. Thus there was no Systemic
concentration Of the means Of the state
upon some great work looking to the pre-
servation of the integrity and unity % .n'
physical interests Of the Common"eai'n'
Snch work would have built up otnei
and husbanded the resources of the ota'e.
Whereas, under what was the m's'"i''u ).
"sy stem" that was pursued Ihc uie"nS V,
Tho State we're scattered and wasted, ana
she was brought to the very door OF pank-
ruptcy, with nothing finished and every
thing at skies and sevens.
1t is we'll that this policy was ended by
necessity. 1t is pity It had not been eho-
ed much sooner than it was.
Now, however, n course OF improvement
Of the railroads of Virginia is begun which
tp;,t without the control Of anything
named "policy," ID few years put VIZ
gipia on the way to development anu power
which could never have been opened 10 nef
Under the form of the wasteful expenditure
before the war. The sections depleted her'
and secured her but little additional wealth.
and population. Under the circumstances
that will now give direction 10 rau"a! eh'
ternrises, the public welfare will be more
than ever promoted. Capitalists, governed
altogether by interest, Will give that
direction to their enterprises that VIII yie'o
the greatest profit, and this motive Is en-
tirely consistent with the public welfare.
Toe lines OF largest freights leading 10 the
best markets will be those chosen by The
capitalists. They will not be sectional, nor
will they be at all directed by demagos'
ism. Money has no sentiment ana no poil-
tics. Trade and travel will receive SUCH OIL
rection under the influence OF corporate III
trrests as will yield the best results, ana
therefore be in the highest degree promo
tive of public convenience and the enter
prise and thrift Of the community.
The change from the old poltcy-so
called to the new order is gratifying. VIZ
ginia will be largely gamer by the chahSe'
Her resources will in few years be so
multiplied that her public debt will soon
disappear, or be not at all burdenSomc.
The advantages Of individual enterprise,
and the interests of capitalists ut the head
of Virginia railroads, have already begun
to show themselves. Changes have been
inaueurated which must inevitably lead to
0 hers of incalculable advantage to the
State. This city. once The object of ridl-
Guile by the alliance Of small communities,
has become an objective point OF great I'M
portaDce, and will, under the influence OF
the new motive, WHICH se's as'ee "eS''"i''
al>,n and demagosuci>m, flourish with won
dertul rapidly.
The lar.seeing men, whose tact and
energy have accumulated fortunes, are bet
ter Judges of practical advantages and the
ways to promote trade and prosperity than
sky.scraping politicians. They are now
prospecting in Virginia. They do not fail
TO look into the advantages Of this city, ana
in no case have these advantages failed TO
make a decidedly favorable impression
upon all such men. Their unanimous
opinion has been that Richmond must be
one Of the greatest inland cities in the
Union, and it is, as we know. an objective
point i'll railroadine upon most extensive
scale.