Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-08-20
(From the Richmond whig.)
Promise and PcrforInancc-Ca
Tins be FessEAer!

The Fredericksburg Herald has the
following statement which tells a
strange tale respecting those great
railroad men from Pennsylvania, who
Told Us they could make money by
carrying passengers for nothing. We
may now understand what they mean
by nothing:
When the Pennsylvania Central
Company was knocking at the door of
the Virginia Legislature for favors,
they profcsscd great interest in the
well-being Of our people, and their
great heart was deeply moved over
the wrongs end outrages practiced
by the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac road. o. how sympathet G
Mr.. Roberts became, and what a glor;-
Gus new era in railroadin5 did he pro-
pose TO inaugurate if the Legislature
would only give him what he asked
for. Well, his purchase of the rights
of the Company to build road from
Alexandria to fredericksburg were
fully confirmed, Notwithstanding the
palpable fact that the original charter
was a fraud, and that its provisions
had never been complied with so as to
make it legal corporation. Roberts
got good charter, and the party went
to work and have constructed road
to QUAINT ico-some q miles. Now,
have they kept their word, in regard
to cheap travel, low freights, dc. We
take the following from comrlunica-
ton in the Richmond Journal of Mon
day, signed j. Il. B.:
1.-The Baltimore and potomac rail
road. controlled by such a name as Col.
Thomas A. Scott, is not one on which
re pGc..c would expect the petty
tricks of one-horse railroad. The
distance from Long Branch station,
in Fairfax county, to Washington is
fifteen miles, the fare 81 10, the rate
eight cents per mile! 1t is fair to as
sumo that the whole table is in pro-
portion, and it is not an eXageratiOn 10
call such a rate of fare an eXtortion."
This is not only against the charter
ed privileges of the road, but it is an
outrage in view of the promises made
by its President, Mr.. Geo. Il. Roberts,
when before the House Committee OH
Roads. He then swOre that passen-
gers could be carried for less than three
CClttS pr HtGtC-.A ESi, lIIIO Iit COult
ry them for nothing and make money!
or course this latter was not to be ta--
ken literally.
What we complain of is, that nearly
eight cents is said to be charged when
THREE cents 1CdS SUOTn to as quite
enough to sustain the revenues of the
road.
The Pennsylvania Central promised
our people cheap travel and low
freights. They have it i'm their power
to demonstrate their love for the dear
people, but instead of relief they add TO
the people burden. They denounced
the. Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac railroad, but now that they
have gotten foothold, their cupidity
goes a bOw-shOt beyond all that this
hitherto mathematical road ever did.
When RehOhoam was appealed to by
his people for a mitigation of their
woes, he took three days for counsel,
and then answered the people roughly,
saying: "My father made your yoke
heavy, and / will add to your yoke;
my father also chastised you with
whips, but L will chastise you with
OF verify this people are to realize
that the little finger, of the Pennsyl-
''vania Central is thicker than the
''loins" of the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac road, in the way of
grievOus eXactiOns.