The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-25
southern Trade-"The Coast Clear"


Between Richmond and Petersburg, and
Weldon and Wilmington, and Manchester
and Charleston and Augusta, all the toll
gates are banished, and the intercourse has
no other tax than the charges for transport
tation, which are not high, and which time
will r2oderate. There's no break OF bulk
no intervening commission merchants WIFI
their charges, and the merchant ana manu-
facturer in Richmond stand face to lace Win
their customers at any Of the points ABOVE
named, with none to come bet"ee" 'h'ln
to obstr,,ct tbs freedom Of their intercourse
or to take q shaving from each end OF 'nc''
commerce.
Now, then, the merchant ana 'nanu''o-
turer of Richmond can use inc ao'"i'"So
offsred them lust as actively rs they please.
rrbere i neither let nor bindrancc 10 their
oncninc brisk and thrifty trade with
country from which they have heretofore
been dcbarrcd, and which has large COM
merce. that is especially adapted to our
CITY. The roads that connect lis with tins
thriving part of the Southern Atlantic coast
are in entire harmony. 1t Is their interest
to he 80, and thus we are assured That
whatever trade we may establish through
those roads will not be interrupted by any
untoward event, such as disagreement
amongst them or such charges 1or
transportation as will check trade ana
break I'D the relations amongst commuhl'
ties that may have availed themselves oil the
present liberal policy Of these roads.
Mr.. BRIDGEEs, the President OF the two
roads between Weldon and Manchester,
South Carolina, is gentleman OF enlarged
views and lair principles. lie Will never
obstruct trade by narrow views and narrow
policies. He is to-day one Of the most calm,
deliberate, and sayacous OF southern rail-
road presidents. His theory about the trade
over his lines is practical and liberal. Rich
mond, he contends, is the natural market
of large portion of North Carolina, and
he asserts that if it is treated fairly and
equally by the lines Of transportation 1t
will have that trade, and thrive upon IT..
With regard to the city itself, he thinks its
destiny one OF the brightest. 1t is the last
place going south where skilled manutac-
turing industry can make stand upon q
solid basis, and it is the locality where just
that golden climatic mean exists which ena-
bles man to put forth his energies with
greatest force and with the least Interrupt
ton from winters frosts and summers
heats. The advantages Of Typographical
and physical nature are not less valuable !;
whether scenery, favorable advantages TO
seaward or interior commerce, or water
power and the convenience of access to the
material for manufacturing be considered, he
believes that Richmond is without an equal.
With these views, occupying the con-
trolling position that he does, he will most
assuredly give Richmond an equal chance,
SO far as the speed and cheapneS> of trans
portation upon his lines are concerned.
That is all we ask. II with 100 miles adj
vantage in distance this city cannot take IL
large share of the lucrative trade of the
southern sea-coast, then it may be fairly in
ferred that Richmond does not deserve it.
But we fear no such result. Richmond has
never desired anything but fairness in the
administration OF railroad atflr>. Give her
that, and we know she will make a good
report for herself.
Now, we say that here is m opportunity
for our people which is of the highest i'm
portance-one that they should not neg
lect. 1t is vital. A we hope to prosper
and share in the trade directly south OF us,
we should lose not single moment in
forming the most intimate relations with
the South. WeStwardly the competitors
north Of us are concentrating all their
power and influence. There we must lose,
in spite Of our best cXertions. The war
crippled our trade, and it will take time to
recover it. But here, directly south of us,
we have the field open to us wherein we
may more than compensate ourselves for all
our losses-a field never opened to us be-
fore. 1t is rich and ever-improving in pro-
ductivcness. We cannot, we must not,
neglect to cultivate it.