Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-02-14
Stauntott Spettatur.
Tuesday, Fe6rat07.u II. 1871.
The Appropriate Office and Functions of
Railroads.


IN great measure, to have lost sight of the
proper purposes for which these great high
ways are established. Every town and city
seems to think that railways are built to carry
freight and merchandise to their doors, so as to
enlarge the trade of their particular localities
In our judgment this idea is entirely erroneous
Railways were never designed to divert trade
from its natural outlets. Nothing could be
more unwise than to endeavor to force trade in
to channels into which God and Nature never
designed that it should fow.. And nothing
could be more unjust than by system of coer-
clon to compel production to submit to onerous
taxation In order that it should pass through a
particular town, or be shipped from particu-
lar port. Trade should be free. It should 90
where it could command the best Market
Farmers should be at liberty to send the pro-
ducts of their farms to those places where they
will bring the best prices, and where the return
cargoes of groceries, hardware and dry goods
can be laid in to the best advantage. Restraints
on this freedom of trade were never produc-
tive of any advantage.
Nothing can be more erroneous than to sun
pose that railroads are established for the ben
eht of few score of commission merchants in
any particular city. Commission merchants
constitute but very small class of the popula-
ton OF any State. In Virginia, probably not
more than 1000 of the entire population are
commission merchants and dealers in farm pro-
ducts; while, on the other hand, probably three
fifths of the entire adult population are engaged
in agriculture
Is 1t right or just that, by any system of high
ways, this large agricultural population should
be taxed by improper distortions Of trade for
the benefit of this comparatively small number
of commission merchants and produce dealers :?
Should legislation be framed for the benefit of
the many or the few?
The great interest of Virginia is PRODUC-
TION. That is the interest which should be
looked to in our legislation. Production is the
creative power. 1t digs wealth out of the bow
els of the earth-railroads transport it, and
commerce exchanges it. We like to see all
branches of industry thrive-we like to see the
farmer raise large crops and get good prices for
them-we like to see the brawny mechanic,
who converts our timber, our ores and our met
ais into useful fabrics, reap the reward of his
industry. And we are always glad to see our
merchants and produce dealers, who exchange
the wheat corn, and cattle of our farmers for
money, or such merchandise as they may need,
do a prosperous business Live and let live
should be the rule Of all. But we wish no one
interest to possess and enjoy undue advantages
over the Others Commerce is very good
thing in its way, but in our State it is a much
smaller interest than either manufactures or ag-
riculture. Cities and towns are very good
things in their places, but they constitute a
very small part Of the State, when compared
with the great agricultural community. We
wish to see commerce and manufactures thrive
but we do not desire to see agriculture loaded
with exactions to build them up. In word
we do not desire to see unnatural distortions of
business-we do not like to see Chinese shoes
put upon the feet of Agriculture nor corsets
bound around her fair waist.
If our towns and cities can give our farmers
the best market, they ought to be free to go
there. But if Washington, Baltimore, PhiIa-
delphia Or New York give better market, they
ought to be equally free to 60 there. We GER
tainly ought not to establish toll gates in ali our
towns and cities, and compel all our farmers to
go there merely that they may pay toll of so
cents on every barrel of flour for the privilege
of passing through.
Our towns and cities are in no just sense
markets for our produce. They are mere entire
pots Our agricultural productions 60 thither
not to be consumed; for the production of Au-
gusta and Rockingham would meet the demand
for consumption Of all of them. Our produc-
tons go to Virginia towns merely an haasitu-
en- route to the great centres of consumption
Now we maintain that the products of our
farms ought to be allowed to get to those great
centres by the cheapest and quickest routes
that can be found. We can see no reason WHY
they should be forced to seek round about
and more expensive route. We cannot imag.
Inc Why they should be required to go through
unnecessary toll-gates, and to pay heavy taxes
tor going through. Every such toll exacted is
SO much taken out of the pocket of the farmer
and put into the pocket of the produce-dealer.
1t is tax On the farmer for the benefit of the
intermediate dealer. The fewer middle men
we have between the producer and the consul
mer, the better for both classes. If by an I'M
natural system of railways our farmers are CO.
creed to send their crops by round about way
to be passed through the hands of these mid
dle-men with all their charges for drayage, sto-
rage, cooperage, insurance, commissions, guar
antees, DC, Ito say nothing Of the risk of in
solVency,) all these are so many taxes laid on
production for the benefit of privileged classes.
We are, then, for the most liberal system of
railways. We are against all monopolies. We
are against al invidous and partial discrimina-
tons and ezactions in favor of any classes Of
persons, OR any localities against other and
larger classes, persons and localities Business
Is business and favor is favor. If we are deal
ing with set Of men, We want to do it on bus
mess principles. If we want to do a set of
men favor, We wish to do it purely er qratia.
But we do not wish to mix up business and IA
vor in one confused tumble.
When We are trading, we wish to get our
commodity to the best market by the shortest,
cheapest route, and then we wish to get the
best price We honestly can for it. This is what
we call dealing on the square, and We believe
this is what most OF our farmers desire to do.
The only way to do this is to have the short,
est and cheapest lines Of transportation to
market. If by getting those lines we break up
mononoaS and dieconcort sn,hodn,-