The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-10
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 10; 1871.

RICHMOND, VA, I
I sone Practical Suggestions from the
Country. 4
The Staunton Spectator says:
Nothing would contribute more to The
commercial and manufacturing prospects of
Richmond than free and cheap Intercourse
between that city and the country and In
terror towns. SriiNv
The fare between Richmond and Staun.
ton, distance of188 miles, is now $3.50. To
90 from Staunton to Richmond and return
therefore cost 1880. This operates as an
efectual embargo on intercourse between
| the two cities, except IN the cGse Of persons
who are compelled to 60 from one to the
other. .....-.-.-. !. -, =
On most of the railroads north of us the
cost of travel is about two and half cents
| per mile. at this rate the cost of the trip
from Richmond to Staunton would be $40,
or. exactly one.half Of the present charge,
We venture to say chat IL the fare were
reduced even to "a, Che number Of through
passengers to say. : nothing of the local
travel would soon be doubled. -
Nothing tends to give so much activity to
business as cheap and rapid intercourse
between different parts of our State. Every
person who goes to Richmond, even for
single day, must Independently of travel
ling expenses) leave from S5 to $40, and
more frequently ten times those amounts,
| IN the city. Every visitor patronizes the
hotels, the hack-owners, and in nine
cases out Of ten, the merchant, the
shop-keeper, the milliner, the mantua-
maker, the confecttoner. the halter, and the
mn n ylfa 0f ort of fob
more people, therefore, who can be brought
to Richmond, the better for the business of
the city. Cheap fares are necessaspaeo pro-
mote free intercourse. If merchant, or
farmer, or mechanic, wants e supply of
some kind Of goods, fertilizer, or fabric, he
calculates the cost of going, to get 1t, and
finding it SO eXorhitant, he at once con.
cludes to do without it, or if he is obliged
to have it, he telegraphs to Baltimore to
some one to buy it for him, and runs the
risk of not being suited. Richmond thus,
in every such case, loses the benefit of
her proximity and the profit Of a visitor,
both to and from Richmond. Nor is this
all. Everybody knows the force of tempta-
ton to a man from the country when all
the aluring stocks of goods of city like
Richmond are exhibited before him. He
thinks of his wife, and his daughter, and
his sons at home as his eye runs over the
beautiful dress goods, and shawls, and hats,
and ribbons, and gloves, &C., and he forth
with concludes he must take home q hand
some present to each Of those who are old
enough to enjoy them, besides the dolls,
and toys, and confectioneries, and fruits,
for the younger members of his family. In
this way many farmers expend $50 or 800
more than they dreamed of when they left
home. "Absence makes the heart grow
fonder," and the rural man who has spent
q few days IN crowded city and begins to
realize what mere atom he is, and how in
different everybody is in regard to him and
his affairs, will be sure to find his heart turn
with warmer glow to his domestic circle,
where he knows eyes will grow brighter
and voices more cheerful upon his return.
He will think of the clinging arms, and pat
tering feet, and joyous mirth, that will well
to carry back with him some little memo
rial Of affection to each member Of the
family. - ......: .... .r,e'- ~
Who can tell the extent of this kind of
trade that would be called into existence
Eby cheap intercourse between Richmond
and the interior? Beside this, hardly q
farmer would visit the city without seeing
something which he had never thought of be-
fore, which he will think it to his interest
to buy. .-t
Lei. us, then, have cheap fares, and free
intercourse, and enlarged traffic between
Richmond aud the country. Let the cost
per trip be reduced to about four dollars
between Staunton and Richmond, and let
tickets for the round-trip from one place to
the other and back, good for three or four
days. DC issued ut say six dollars. The Off
GERS of the company would be surprised to
find how rapidly the travel and freight on
the road would be increased by this mea-
sure, and the hotel-keepers, livery-men,
merchants, mechanics, and shop-keepers OF
every kind would witness new Grain their
business. =
We have also a word to say about the
high tariff on freights on the Chesapeake
and Ohio road. i
The cost of carrying barrel Of -four from
Staunton to Richmond distance 136 miles,
is 64 cents. -....
The cost of carrying barrel of flour from
Harrisonburg to Alexandria distance 1856
niles is 45 cents. r-.r-,-. ,-.... ...
The effect of this high charge on the road
| to Richmond is to drive to Baltimore trade
that used to seek the Richmond market.
The dividing line Of trade to Baltimore
| used to run very little south of Harrison
burg. But the difference of 10 cents per
barrel in transportation is gradually push
| ing the line Of division further south, and
| unless there is reduction by the Chesa-
peake and Ohio road the day is not distant
when most of the trade north Of Staunton
will 60 to Baltimore. ... .s'S.t''-
These are practical suggestions. If car.
ried into effect they will yield fruits i'm
nlediatefy. There need be no waiting on
the remote future. They are not merely
practical, but they are practicable. They
| can be carried into effect. ALI that is ne
cessary is activity, energy and cooperation.
Mr.. Huntington and his associates are
sensible and practical men. Let the Board
of Trade and the Corn Exchange OF Rich
mond take the proper measures to bring
| this matter to the attention of the directors
of the road at its next meeting, and we
cannot doubt that it would receive the
proper consideration.
we may offer some other suggestion
hereafter to our Richmond friends, but this
must suffice for the present.
THE CHIEF Observation-Disclosures dis
graceful contest, enacted under the Presi-
dents eye, is that between several
.o1sf L.,~ ~ke