The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-27
TIOMlHUnIcIIFT.I
THE .RAGLAND BILL.
THE FACTS As BROUGHT cur BH
RAGLAyD'S WITNESSES.

The wide range which the consideration
Of the Raeland bill has taken, embracing tue
history of the Scaboard road, the steamboat
line, and the Richmond, Fredericksburg ana
Potomac road, at one time gave token OF al
endless examination but the prompt, full,
and decisive responses of Mr. President Rob-
inson to the thirteen intcrrogatorics Of Mr..
Lyon seem to have brought Mr.. Ragland to
a halt, and TO have satisfied the bystandrls
that tho charges and specifications produced
by him Through his coun>cD were not suS
tanned 10y the facts.
The feyercd zeal for the welfare Of tho
South, and the positive assertions Of his coun-
sci that he was prepared, with the documcnts
in hand. to sustain each and all of his ailcga-
tions. for q season staggered even SOME Of
those most inimical to the applicant, but
when the truth was developed by tue full
renlies of Mr.. Robinson the goSsamcr fabric
of fancful creation topplcd and fell.
The evidence before the committee tlIG1
far has estabiishcd:
!, That the rates on the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac road are as low
a any in the State, and 40 per cent. lower
than those of the Petersburg and Weldon
road.
., That no obstruction now exists, nor has
heretofore existed, to the through transit of
freichts to Baltimore by reason of the rates
of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto'
mac railroad, or any unwil!:ngncss on the
part Of its management to pro rate with
other roads.
3. That Mr.. Ragland's application rests
only upon the flinlsy pre;ext that the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac road
would not carry his cotton ut sX-:cnthS of
cent per bale per mile, white at the same
time he charged two cents FER bale per mile.
4. That the allegation that the Richmond,
Frederick sburg and Potomac road was con-
trollcd by larger common interest in the
Scahoard road aud Bay Line was grutuitous
and without foundation in fact.
). That it va, due entirely to the past lib
erality of the Seaboard road that the lire
from Weldon to Washington las not been
very much injured.
6. That if the application Of Mr.. Ragland
he granted, ard the policy inaueuratcd by
him on the Petersburg road should obtain
over the whole line, il Nolld he at the cE-
pense of local trade and travel, sud to the
detrinent tr the Virginia cities along the
liGe.
:, That the whole scheme is t. PIT money
into the pockets CT Mr.. Ragand and his as
sociateS at the expense OF other individual
shareholders in the several roads and OF the
State.
s. That the policy of the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac road is to dis
crimnate in t0c0r Of the citizens Of Virgil
li:l, while that Of the Petersburg road is to
discriminate against them.
These arc the facts established by the teSti-
muny Of Mr.. RagI.nd's selected witnesses;
thus himself completely re!utms the al'ega-
tions on which he asked for al amendment
to the charter Of tie Petersburg road. 1t is
entirely apparent now that another purpose
undercs the application ;or the amendment
of the Petersburg cliarert IN that disclosed
by the petition, and that other purpose is
none other than purely speculative.
| An OBSERVER.