The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-05
Richmond 1ispatlk,
THURSDAY. 8, 1911.
Railroad Schellaing.


No man ever had the world In sling.
Men have imagined that they had, but the
sequel proved that they were only NOR
tai and were deiuded by mortal vanity
and ambition. The great railroad kings
tso.calleD Of this country are wonder
fully active and cunning in their far
reaching plans to control railroads and
freights by circumventing one another.
The railroad system in most States is yet
incomplete, and in hardly any Of them has
it found that permanent status which may
be compared to the level which water in
evitably finds. Thus the opportunity Is
wide for specializing and expanding per-
sonal authority and consequence. But. rs
time goes on, overriding circumstances
will settle down all schemes and lines OF
trade, regardless Of the plans OF corpora
tions and their partisans. 1t may lie sald
Of railroads that there is divinity that
shapes their tern,inf, rough-hew them how
they may. ......
1t IS n very great presumption in men or
communities to endeavor to prevent rail-
roads needed by other communities from
being built. It is o greedy and selfish mind
that would compel community to submit
TO circuitous lines as the route for their
travel and transportation. 1t isa rapacious
and monopolizing spirit that would war
upon lines to break them down for its own
selfish qualification at the public expense.
And there are laws established in the be-
ginning, based upon the eternal principles
IF s,,at hso1> 1,t l,r;,,
discontinue and defeat upon all such short
sighted, ambitious, and avaricious schem-
ing.
Ruinous competitions must have their
end Inconvenience and hardships imposed
upon communities by grasping and vain
men, will be abolished in time and all the
little maneuyering Of men intended TO set
at nought justice and fair dealing in the
matter Of transportation and trade, must be
frustrated.
We have just seen the folly Of reckless
competition III the conduct of several great
northern railroad corporations. which,
after having carried on a ut-throat compe-
tition with one another, have at last agreed
upon d sort of treaty offensive and dcfcn-
sive, and established peace. They are to
recognize common tariff and comply with
certain rules which will give all chance
and inaugurate fair play.
Have we not seen, too, that where u
community has been subjected to inconve-
nience by the denial of the right of way for
some little short route or the Strengthening
Of q long one, that gradually the right has
been obtained That is, this process OF
righting wrongs has been gradually going
on, and though there are many cases yet
unredressed, from what we have seen can
we doubt that these, too, will be righted!
While it is abhorrent to all just and i'm
partial men to observe how in this way
communities are subordinated to the in
flated views of men and their subscrvient
partisans, it is grateful consolation to
knowth that they and their schemes are ephe-
neral, while the influences of practicabilty
and social welfare are enduring and must
prevail.
Bringing our view down from this COM
prehensivc field to our own city, and con.
fiding our own future to the laws and in
fluences to which we allude, we have no.
thing to fear. All of them are in our favor.
We have all the conditions to be desired in
healthfulness, salubrity, temperature, and
natural advantages generally. These will
protect us, and compel the righting Of the
wrongs we suffer. The corporations are
very active. very jealous, and there is much
plotting and contemplating going on.
Well, we are content. The more of this
the better. Every effort at circumvcntion |
is assisting to untangle the web aud to i'm |
buc the network Of railroads with the fea. |
lures of fairness and equality in the mat |
ter Of public accommodation and the dis |
fributiOn Of commerce.