The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-04
SATURDAY EVENING, FEB. 4, 1871
THE COUNTRY no THE RESCUE.

We are gratifed to see that the call
rail- line between Richmond and Wash
ington, which the Alexandria, Fredericks
burg and Richmond company propose t.
build, provided they can obtain charter
from our Legislature, meets with favor il
all quarters of the State. The people al,
sound on public improvements every
where and so is the press, where it is LEFT
free to its own honest convictions. All fee
the necessity Of increased facilities fol
trade and travel between. the North and
the South that is, if we would see this
section prosper and keep pace in progress
with other and less favored portions Of the
country.
The idea that Richmond will be ruined
by becoming the great highway for trade
and travel between New York and New
Orleans, is so silly and preposterous that
the smallest black boy in our public
schools would laugh at its stupidity. You
had better tell people that Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois have been ruined by the roads
which cross them, carrying the trade and
travel between the East and the West
through their borders, or that the States
along the Mississippi river are not bene-
fitted by that mighty stream, because the
trade of the great valley passes up aud
down from st. Louis to New Orleans,
without breaking bulk |
What nonsense! We must build and
connect roads North and South as we'll as
East and West, and this first effort should
meet with encouragement from all our peo-
pie, whether they dwell among the hills
or by the sea shore. Only private and in
dividual interests are opposed to it, as they
alone will be enhanced by the defeat of
the enterprise. tf en-
Shall we enrich the few at the expense
of tho many I? II so, then let us at once
give an exclusive privilege to the Freder-
icksburg and Potomac road, Moncure Rob-
inson ard Commodore McCready, to carry
direct to Washington, Baltimore and New
York all the passengers and produce that
may be forced to find its way thither
through our State forever, at their own
prices. We say forced, because none will
come this way that can find any other
route.
Among the many papers throughout the
State that have come nobly to the rescue
of the people from the hands of these
grasping monopolsts, we find none doing
nobler battle or more efficient service
than the Staunton Pindicator. In a recent
editorial, it takes the same broad aud en- |
lightened views of this railroad controversy |
we have advocated 10 the JOURNAL, and |
urges them in forcible language and with
disintefestedness Of purpose worthy of
imitation in other and more ambitious
quarters. After publishing the bill now
before the General Assembly to extend
the charter of the Alexandria and Freder-
icksbarg company to Richmond, our Staun-
ton contemporary goes on to say
"This looks like business in the RIGHT direc.
ton. What the people Of Richmond want,
and what they ought to have, is speedy and di. I
rect communication with the outer world
Every section of the State feels interested in
the prosperity of that city, and it is he duty
of members of the Legislature from the rural
districts to do all in their power to aid in &C.
complaining an object so desirable as an all
rail route to Washington, and thence to the
great cities of the North. At present, pas.
sengers going to and from Richmond have
to be dumped out at Aqua Greek, and
then freighted to Washington by Steamboat
This latter mode of travelling is not suited to
The age Formerly all the travel from st.
Louis, West and South, was accommodated BY
the Missouri and Mississippi steamboats, But
the progressive people of the great West,
value time too dearly to waste it in such to-
jious means OF transit, and to-day railroads
are dashing west and south of that city, carry.
ng the thousands whom business or pleasure
all to those sections, leaving the steamboat
Ugh and dry on the wharf, or employed in the
of heavy freight. Space is
hus annihilated, time economical, the country
developed, and the great ends of progressive
BUSINESS encompassed. Virginia can never be
THAT she ought to be until she awakens from il
er Rip Van Wrinkle slumber, ignores indiyid.
al schemes, which have helped to press her =
own that they might enrich their projectors,
nd which have not in view the accommoda-
ION of the great moving mass of the bushes, N
'orld. =
"The Fredericksburg and Richmond road
as been in existence for thirty years, without 3
avlng been of much benefit to the State at &C e
lrge. IL has been run in the interest, ac-
'rding to the showing of large stakeholder, I
the Bay Line of steamers between Norfolk 4
nd Baltimore, and the Seaboard and Roanoke A
silroad, which are mainly con trolled by the III
lpital of single individual. The day of
bordinating vast public interests, and the (
me and convenience CT the great, moving, 81 =.
lsy hive of enterprising people, to the greed Il,
one man, or set of men, is passed. The de- u
ands of the age and the welfare of the State
"a stop to this mode of business. Great 1
actical results cannot be contravened to add II
the Golfers of individuals.
"The sixth section of the bill presents the =
hole matter in nut she'll. The new com.
my will purchase O controlling part of The An