The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-03

| All they desire is, to see the road built
and in operation. They are willing to
abide the result.
The Wing continues its attack upon the
Pennsylvania Central road, bat sit is hard
for thee, Saul, to kick against the prlcks.'
| He undertakes an uphill business VINO
writes or fights or talks against his own
convictions, better judgment aud real sym
pathies Under the heading,-"Shall Our
Cities be Dwarfed into Way Stations 2 1t
presents the very arguments against allow
ing that corporation to have passage
through the State, which we would use in
favor of it. If we can pass the produce
of the South-its cotton-through Virgin
la, on its way to Europe, instead OF by
the Mississippi river, or the Sea Coast,
or some other line,--why, will we
not be that much the gamer Is it not
better that it should go through, and give
us the tolls which it must pay In the way
of expenses of the road, and drop us the
leakings of its sealed cars, than that 1t
should pass around US on both sides
Why, what would the country think, were
every State between New York and San
Francisco that is in direct line, attempt 10
stop through trade or travel aud yet, IL
would have been better for virginia
and every Atlantic State, had a rail-
road never been constructed west OF the
Alleghanies. The Atlantic States would
now have three times the wealth anu
population they have, had all our roads run
North and South, instead Of East and
West. Roads going West, carry away not
only our own native population, the bone
and sinew, but all the foreign immigration
that reaches our shores. It is time the
Atlantic slope was looking to protection
against this loss of population. Through
lines of railroad, running North and
South, will change the current OF emigra-
ton and business We shall do for the
Atlantic States what the Mississippi river
does for the States o. that great valley /;
and this Pennsylvania Central enterprise
is the entering wedge; it is the pioneer
that must be encouraged. 1t will change
the course of empire Southwark, and re-
people our depopulated States.
The Wing, in closing its article in which |
it laments that the trade of the entire |
South will pass through Virginia, says:
But powerful combination of capital is en-
gagged in Herculean effort to seize this valua-
BILE trade, far down in its places of production,
and to carry it off, across the territory of
Virginia, to Philadelphia and New York The
agents of this bold and audacious policy have
the cheek to come before our Legislature, with
q demand to be permitted to bear off a trade
whose natural tendency is to centre upon our |
own seaboard across our territory, making OF |
our cities, which are gradually becoming seats |
of fourishing commerce, mere way-stations
betwee en- New Orleans and Philadelphia. They |
virtually ask us to run commercial wall across
our State, in order to paralyze eur own cities,
and build up their own.
The proposition is cool and refreshing one.
It is made in a manner as patronising as is ma
Lural to overgroown wealth in its habitual
manners towards worth in rags. And there
are men in our midst who are employing the
of the argument, with the poor
apothecary in the play, "My poverty, not my
will consents.
Well better half loaf than no bread.
Unless something be done to keep our
people at home, they will leave us on every
Western bound train. But we look to
glorious future, when Richmond shall have
in attractions that will be power
rul enough to stop fair portion of this
traffic between the North and The South. |
Until we do something to build up our
city and present as great inducements to
strangers to visit and trade with US as the
Northern cities can offer, we must expect
he bulk of trade to pass us by. Why, we
navnt even theatre, or other place
Of amusement, to induce stranger or
merchant to stop over night at one
Of our hotels in passing through. We are
too slow, and too close-fisted.
The Dispatch has a leader on that new
railroad bomb-shell, which caused such con-
sternation yesterday when it fell in the |
camp of the obstructionists, -the bill |
granting the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
privileges for establishing rail-
road lines or branches of their road for |
three distinct purposes, viz by way OF
James river from near Covington to or
near Richmond; from some point on its
road not west of Staunton to some point
on the Potomac above Washington; and
one or more branches from 'ponts atFor
near the city of Richmond to points upon
the James or York river, or upon the
waters of theChesapeake bay"
The bill authorizes the company to select
its route, and the Dispatch see no object
tion to it, 1t says:
We are clear for giving it the right to build
its own branch and carry its own passengers
to their Northern destiny, and let the tappers
"tap the hollow beech tree"
Richmond cannot be hurt by this. Passen-
gers for Washington and North of it will never
come BY Richmond. Let the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad provide for them and secure its
own business. 1t will only strengthen the
main line and increase its efficiency and its
ability to assess low charges upon freight.
That's the true policy. Let the roads be
built. They many conflict in some cases
with private interests, but the interests Of
the public will be advanced.