The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-22


lotto. Strange and shameful II is that the
Danvillc Railroad Company should enter
into this unholy alliance with a foreign en-
envy in order to crush the Richmond, Fred
and Potomac railroad, and after
the Pennsylvania Central has used its infu-
encc in North Carolina to span the gap be-
tween Greensboro and Charlotte, it may
then turn its attention to the Danville road
and bring to light its alleged mismanage-
ment, pick it to pieces, and finally crush
1t, as it is now trying to crush the Freder-
icksburg road, for the advancement Of its
owh interests. What the Danville company
really wants is southern connection, and
the aid of this company is needed to enable
them to gain those connections.
THEY REALLY DO NOT WANT AN OUTLET AT
ALL,
and have not needed it. For all they do
bring here for shipment, they have the
York River railroad, leading to deep water,
as we'll IS the New York steamers at Rich
mond. The charge had been made that the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad had broken down the York River
railroad by undertaking for freights and
passengers, and this charge was the only
one made against them that he believed
unanswerablc. He considered their course
in this regard as business crime, but
nothing more than could be laid to the ac-
count of every railroad and steamboat cor
poration, and even Of packet-boats on the
canals and stages In the mountains.
ANOTHER GRoUSDLEss CHARGE.
Colonel GUY then noticed the complaint
that the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac railroad vas managed in the in
tercst of the Seaboard and Roanoke rail-
road. He had taken pains to investigate
the charges so freely circulated to this effect,
and had been astonished at their ground
! lessneSs. 1t was said that the Seaboard and
Roanoke railroad, owning the Weldon
| bridge, had such n contract with the
Petersburg road as to prevent freights from
| coming on equal terms towards Richmond,
and forcing them to turn off towards Nor
folk. He had procured q copy of the con-
tract in relation to that bridge, and at this
point exhibited it to the House. By this
contract it was shown that the Seaboard
and Roanoke Railroad Company, instead OF
using their bridge as means of diverting
freishts from Richmond, Petersburg, and
| Alexandria, had with
4 GENEROSITY AND FORBEARASCE THAT WAS
REMARKABLE
and commendable, allowed the Petersburg
road to use their bridge, and are still allow.
ing them 10 do it, without any Limitation
at all as to freights bound for Virginia
cities. SO that if the Petersburg road
chooses to bring cotton TO Petersburg for
nothing, and thereby damage the Seaboard
road herself, and draw off freights from
! her, there is nothing in this contract to
forbid it. The Seaboard and Roanoke road
point to this contract as
| THE GROWING GLORY OF THEIR MANAGEMENT,
and are entitled to the gratitude of the
people of Petersburg, Richmond, Frede.
rickshurg, and Alexandria,, for forbearing
to use their ownership Of the Weldon
| bridge to the prejudice of the trade of those
| cities. He was proud to do them justice i'll
| this matter, and of being the humble in
| Strument Of bringing the truth in regard to
| it before the General Assembly.
IF ABUSES EXIST, WHAT is THE REMEDY:
The question then considered was wheth-
| or it was any remedy for these abuses, even
| if they existed, to break down the Frede-
rirksburg Company, and put its franchises
in the hands Of that far more powerful mo-
nopoly, the Pennsylvania Central. This
would be mere change of masters, and
would not he likely TO tighten our sup.
posed abuses. If burdens really exist,
and he believed the complaints had been
greatly exaggerated, and that there was
not railroad in the State against which
the same charges could not be justly
| brought that were brought against the
| Fredericksburg railroad company; but il
they really existed, he was willing by any
| proper legislation, to remedy them, but
would never consent to create the
| STILL GREATER EVIL
of grand trunk line from Richmond tc
Philadelphia, worked in the interest Of
| Philadelphia, and her northern system Of
railways, whose sole purpose was to drain
| from the railroads of Virginia all theil
freights and pour them into the lap of Phil.
adelphia, and to reaclr through Virginia,
and connect with u southern system OF
roads, which system, it had already par
italy perfected and advanced, for the pur.
pose Of collecting, in like manner. the pro
! ductiOnS Of all the southern States, and
hurrying them over this same trunk line
to the city of Philadelphia. 1t was expect
! ed that Virginia would lend herself to this
purpose. and make herself 4 mere
HIGHWAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF THE
PRODUCTION OF THE SOUTH TO PHILADEL-
PHIA.
1t had been said in reply to this that the
mere drippings of this immense trade ought
to content Virginia and her cities but is
it possible that the sons of Virginia in this
Lesislature-poor rs she may be-are will
inS to sit at the gate of Philadelphia,
LIKE LAZARUS,
who was borne to the rich mans gate to
feed from the crumbs that fell from his Ia
BILE: Is it possible that we can consent to
abandon the policy in regard to railroads
inaugurated by our fathers, and which it
ought TO be ours to perfect? Abandon the
policy of extending our roads West and
South for the purpose Of building up our
own cities and seaport, and gathering into
the lap of Virginia the wealth which the