The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-23
cEyERAL RAILROAD Law.


We are in receipt of communications
almost daily, thanking US for the advocacy
bv THE JOURNAL of general railroad
law, and urging us to continue the gooo
work until tho General Assembly shaii
come up to the advanced progress OF the
age, and give the people of the State Wna'
has been 50 long needed-rapid transpofta'
ton and cheap fare and freights, by means
Of the largest number of railroads that
either individual or collective capital can DC
induced to build.
Their views on the advancement OF the
material prosperity Of Virginia are correct
Our greatest want is men and money
tho one to create and the other to move
material products. Conventions and resoiu-
tons alone will never bring either. Prae-
teal work is to be done, and en-
orretic brains secured to devise |
plans for the greater advancement OF our
material industries. Practical visible
work is what we want as the first element
of success. BY the right kind OF legisia-
ton and the right sort of individual enter
prjse, or both combined, we can make the
State what we believe it already is-the
most desirable home for the immigrant, and
the most inviting field for investments BY
The capitalist, to be found in any part OF The
United States. Laws, SO far as they are
praticalIy needed, should be framed TO
secure this result; not to give some oia
fossil of the Silurian period such berth as q
toad may have secured by being perma-
uently inbeded in the rock formations OF
its pri,native time.
If we were asked how these results may
be reached, we should say: Let a'atsr una
lis lerel. Do not interpose dams to stol
it's flow, or turn it aside from its natural
channels. We want no dead fallen tree
across the stream-no superiluous DRIFT
wood to cumber its surface. We wan'
Industry free, trade free, commerce Tree.
and the laws that regulate them free also
Let US have no restrictions on winch U
build monopoles, or secure premiums
to old fogyism. The world moves too las
to think of encouraging any new crop
barnacles in Virginia. her past glory
not to be preserved in that way In
future has her glory in its keeping, and llk
another mighty sphynx is propounaln
nroblems 10 her hourly propoundin
such as must be solved, Or her past glor
will be only an inheritance OF shame.
TO make labor, trade, and commerc
free in Virginia, we now want. first OF al
free railroad la,o. There is not an INTEL
Gent and disinterested man in the ota
who does not favor such law. While u
State was stockhoder IN most
the railroads within her own border
there was some reason for her pursuing u
suicidal policy now advocated Tor ne
Rival lines might then have diminished u
dividends, if any such ever greeted Il
financial vision. But now that she
narted with these interests to rich ana pc
erful corporations, and dividends, real
imaginary, have ceased to DeWliuer
speculative attention, she can afford to II
islate in the interests of the people a
give them what they want. Cheap lar
cheap frciehts, cheap transportation oil
kinds. with increased facilities Tor INT
course between all parts OF the Sta'e,
IA and with all business and commer'
centers outside her borders, is what
neonle want throughout the length
breadth of this old Commonwealth. e
Let us open the door to railroad en'
mise. then, as widely as we would to m
ufactu,ing and commercial interests. III
people may cry cut against monopol
but monopolies are not fostered by gent
LEGISLATION. A free railroad law will |
vent them. The experience OF OF
states shows this. All the gigantic mono
lies of this description have sprung up
der special legislation-haye been
ioiouitous offspring of purchased and
cjal charters. A general law can be
framed as effectually to guard aga
monopoly, as the franchises granted may
as they should be, kept in measure I'll
the control of the State. The larger
more powerful a corporation may bee
under such law. the more 1t will Oh
bui,d nm the interests Of the State.
fact, its own success as tnanclal vent
depends upon the prosperity OF the pc
along its line. 1t is this prosperity "
will determine the market value oil
stock, and prevent the company Iron
coming grinding monopoly. Let us
what the people demand--a genera
free railroad law in the State.
s---
EsTHE Dispatch -growls at the resol'
oNarad in fhe Legislature calling upol