Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-11-19
FreEn eur Ubiquitous Ceres
pendent.
FREE RAILROADS.

Dear NcUS:
A greater delusiou has never
been attempted upon our people than
that Free Railroad Law is either
needed by us or would advance our
material interests. Such laws have
been enacted in the great State of New
York and Ohio, and in the latter State
has been in operation for twenty
years, and vet during all this time,
tho hundred of charters have been
granted, only TO miles of road have
been con instructed. We have now on
our statute books charter upon charter
for new lines of improvements, which
If constructed, would grid-irOn Virgil
mia, and despite of their prospective
value. not the first step has been taken
To put single company in operation.
Why? Because of the poverty of our
people say the friends of a Free Rail-
road law. We cannot for the life of
us see how a free railroad law will give
more of ability for such undertakings.
But say they it opens up inducements
TO foreign capital. How so? Are not
the projected lines ample to engage all
such capital as would be likely to
come for the general development Of
our resources? This is all fudge. The
people do not need, nor ask for such n
law, and there is no reason to believe
that any foreign capitalists are seek
ing for the opportunities for invest
ment of their surplus funds TO be az
forded by such q law, 1t is well un-
derstood that the Pennsylvania Road,
or those in their interests, are favor
ing a free railroad law. but it occurs to
us that the General Assembly would
hardly enact il for a single and special
s.I1 ~l,.,v ..aN
would be to facilitate that mighty col
poratiOn in the perfection of the
schemes TO paralyze existing lines, if
not TO destroy them. No man, not in
the ring" can venture to say that,
with a transit through Virginia, il
will be to the advantage of the Buck
tails" to continue their freights
through the greatest possible length
of their line. Hence it must be OBJ
vious that their interest will ever slim
ulate them, by all possible means to
discriminate against all intermediate
points. These people are for money.
and they do not care snap of their
finger what or how many cities along
their lines may be dwarfed in their
struggle for life. Is it wise legislation
then TO enact a Free Railroad Law,
unasked for and unneeded by the peO-
pie, for the special use Ofa corporation,
inimical in interest to the prosperity
of our cities?
But again. Why should these |
BuckJails " request or desire such !
a law, when they have already refused |
chartered rights authoTising them to |
build a road from Richmond to Wash |
ingtOn giving to them all they would |
desire 10y a Free Railroad Law. Why |
are they not fulfilling the obligations |
imposed upon them at their OWl IN |
stance and with their full consent.
At the Session of the General Assem- |
bly, lS70-l, a charter was asked by |
I" Bucktailsu TO construct road from |
Richmond to Washington which ia
effect was to connect their northern
and southern lines. thus securing an
all rail-line from Atlanta to New York.
To make certain the grant of their pc
titiOn they said if you will crafty our
wishes, we will bind ourselves TO Con
struct, complete and equip its road
throughout its whole length " from
Washington. to Richmond, within
three years from their acceptance of
the charter, and one year was allowed
to accept the same. They promised
not to exceed three cents per mile for
passengers, nor an excess of cents
per mile per ton on freights, cor to
charge for freights consigned 10 or
from any point within the State more
per mile than is charged for like
freight i'm the same character of trains
consigned TO and from any point be-
yond the limits of the State - nor to
combine with any other Railroad or
transportation to evade this limitation
They promised depots on every ten
miles of road and no terminal charges
on local freights. They agreed if they
or any of them should in any wise oh
tain and enjoy the use of the Rich
mond, fredericksburg & Potomac
road that its properties should be sub
ject to taxation and subject TO all the
provisions imposed on Them in the
event they should construct road.
They promised that upon the compile
ton OF their road, or when the prop
erty Of the r. F. C. p, road should