Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-02-28


The Committee recently appointed
by the Chamber of Commerce, TO re-
| monstrate with the Railroad authori-
ties, deem it proper to submit the fol-
lowing by way Of reply to the letter Of
President Bridgers, published in the
E.. city papers OF the Doth instant.
! Although the Associated Press dis
| patch, to which reference is made,
substantially expresses the feelings
and action OF the Chamber OF Com
merce, the Committee disclaim eli re-
sponsibility for it's publication.
| The resolution of the Chamber of
Commerce grew out Of the report of q
former communication, setting forth
that the President Of the Wilmington,
Columbia and Augusta Railroad Co.,
had been interviewed concerning
the grievances, of which our mer-
! chants complained, and had vouch-
safed neither reply or redress. As he
was absent from the city at the time Of
our appointment we awaited his re-
turn, and on the Goth instant, dropped
into the post Office, properly stamped
the following communication. plainly
addressed
To the President, and Directors Of
WI. Col. and Dug. II. r. Co.. VIZ
Daingto7,, ". c.
Gentlemen, At recent meeting of
the Chamber of Commerce, the under
signed were appointed Committee to
call to your attention the serious dis
content existing in the mercantile
community, of our section, and of the
State Mt large, in consequence of the
discrimination in favor of what is
known as Through business, and we
respectfully appeal to you for such a
change of the present system as shall
secure to the local business that pre-
cedence to which, in our Judgment, it
is legally entitled.
Iu asking this change We seek what
we sincerely believe will inure as we'll
to your benefit as to that of the peo-
pie generally; for the through freight
is obtained and carried at enormous
cost; often netting nothing, and usually
not a third of what is realized from
the local, besides which the neglect of
homo interests Injuries the prosperity
of the very people for whose benefit
your roads were chartered.
In conclusion, we wish respectfully
to state that the feeling of dissatisfac-
ton is so universal that the body We
represent saw proper TO instruct us, in
case this application is disregarded by
you, to employ counsel and appeal for
redress of our grievances to the Legis-
lature of the State. We deem it I'M
necessary to go into detail as to the
ground of complaint, but are prepared
to do SO if desired.
(Signed) 4. II. FASBoKKELES,
DONALD MACRAE,
D. r. MURCH1soN,
CnAs. II. RoB:NsoN.
W1bu1sGroS, \. c., Feb. 20, 1873.
The Committee would explain fur,
ther that they have heard no complaints
"a to rates charged but only as to the
inexcusable delay in the movement of
local freights. They feel that it would
be unjust to Mr. Bridgers to cast all
the causes of delay upon him rs he has
not bacn furnished by those in author
isv with the transportation requisite
for the rapid clearing mp of both the
through and local, and from the nature
Of MS duties, is so frequently absent
from the city, rs to renderit impossible
that complaints shorld have always his
personal attention.
In conclusion, the Committee take
pleasure in stating that since the re-
turn Of Mr. Bridgers. there is album
dant evidence that the action Of the
Chamber of Commerce las by 10
means been barren Of good results for
avery large amount of local freight has
already been moved, and if the sex
traorCiinarv exertiOns" to which the
President refers as likely to remove the
pressure, had been inaugurated earlier
there would have been no "blockade,
and consequently, no grounds for COM
plant. Very respectfully,
4. H. NANBoKKELES.
DoSAI.D MACRAE,
CuAs. II. ROBISsos.
y. Il. MURcH1spS,
Committee u Chamber of Commerce.
Abiding 20 the fact that Eice-Prcsl-
dent Colfax's term Will expire before he
can be impeached. the Springfield Re-
publican says: But let no American,
Especially no Eonng American, fall into
the blundcr supposing, because Alr.
Colfax escapes impeachment, he has
therefore escaped punishment. He
carries his Judge and execntioner
within his own bosom. One glimpse
into that secret torture-chamber would
melt to sudden pity the fiercest parti-
! san or personal enemy who is now
clamoring for his imprisonment.