The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-31
MR.. J. G.. SPRIGG BEFORE THE
SENATE COMMITTEE.
TIE Petersburg Road DiScriminates
Against Virginia Cities.
Gy.EE3!Sa OF TEIE MERCHANTS OF
PETERSBURG.
We CAN GET IT."
TIE RAILROAD TAX ON COTTON.

Tic testimony Of tIr. J. C.Sprigg. supcrin.
trn:Icnt Of The Petersburg railroad, before
the Stua:e committee on Wednesday, was as
startling as it WAS true. Mr.. Sprigg is in
cl,nr:r Of pcrtation over that road, and
be kao,rs HhereGf he speaks. HEAR HIN:
Judge trGmp: Suppose man in " IT.
mr-ton. y. G., wants to ship cotton to re.
tcYsI!lr.. does he lay precisely the same
price rs the Baltimore merchant from wei
don to City Point?
Mr. Spii-g: les, exactly.
Judge Cgump: VIA: is the reason 1oI
that:
Sir. Slri-e: Bccnnse ,re CAN GET IT; and
III "ddifi;;l. wc are taxed to City Point, and
aIc Obliged t" pay If.
JuLg" Ciunp You arc not taxed when
vou deliver goods in Petersburg?
Mr.. SIliGg: TnE RULE Is 70 GET ALL WE
CAN: WI TAKE ALL THE FREIGHT WILL BEAR.
This evidence from Mr.. Ragland's super
intcndcrt speaks in trumpet tones to the
people OF Virginia, disclosing as it does the
policy of the Eaali!d intercst-viz.. to "gcI
rN IRE cna'' out of our own people, aud
rlhn rruauiol and determinations in favor
nr OAR "Iankcc cou.ins.' Merchants OF
Iirrinil IarilcrS OF the South what is to
itc;,lne ot you il this policy is to>tercd?
Uu; lie ir;.t joke Of the Sca$on-one that
IIo.artt ought to have lived 10 Illustrate
Is what MG. 'Irigg calls his "taN on COT
tom; wiiic! i, simply this: The Petersburg
railroad, says Nr. Sprigg. charges say one
dollar Gu :; l;:Ic OF cotton 10 Petersburg; it
also rir:rgc, one Collar to City Point. 1t has
to rly somebody twenty-five cents to take
il 10 steamer going TO Baltimore, and
thirty cents to oIc going to New York. And
TIL, ilc call II taH! II that road CHI afford
10 i;.i," of twenty per ceat. OF its charges
FOR Baltimore merchant. and thirty pei
ccu. for tie LcIrfit Of the New York mcr.
cii:;u., why can't it discount the same
amount for Il Petersburg merchant? II sev.
cn:: ccn!;, per i,aic will ray for the through
cotton. Why won't il pay to the city which
huiIi the road and in which it terminates
\ tax, iur<uGli. Why don't the Petersburg
rnad raT n tax 10 the Connection road and
III" l'rtrrsaut@ and Richmond road TO pui
Is through passenger in Richnondf j.
That any lca>on why passenger who de-
SircS TO >trp il Petersburg should pay twenty
to thirty !irr cent. mere than tue one going
north !
tlr. SpTig.: also 2ayS tlmt if the merchants
OF rctcr~!,u... iad the benefit Of low. e.,
trou.h- rates their business would in
crease; lhcu, why does not the Petersburg
road give i!cin the benefit, and thereby aid
il building up tue Cockadc City. 1t appcars
by The evidence before tho committee, ant
so published, that Mr.. Robinson stated
"TIAr THE FIXED POLICY OF THE SEABoARI
ROAD Is NEVER TO CHARGE A GREATER RATI
FER MILE To TIE rirIES OF NORFOLK AND PORTS
MOUTH THAN 10 CITIES BEYOND TIE STATE"
We also Know hat the Atlantic, MiSsis'
-;rp and Ohio road has long since adopted
this wise ard liberal policy of no dlscrimin,'
ton against Virginia cities. ask, Why does
no; lAis Petersburg road, which now sccks
~.trh extraordinary privileges from the Gene
III Assembly. aid these other roads TO build
up our ciiics? Why thi, discrimination
against orr loved OH Commonwealth AIr
Sprigg gives the answer: "BEcAusE WE ca,
uEr IT." Tcrjum sat. 4 FmGISIAN.