The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-17

frenzy r0iling," and declare that Mr.. R0bin.
son has refused to carry feight on any terms
for Mr.. Ragland. The testimony does not
begin to support thatfancy sketch. Instead
Of making this broad assertion be ought to
have pointed the committee to the evidence
upon which he rested tina; Statements state
nent which is denied. vehcmently denied,
by Mr. Rohinson--a statement which, in the
nature OF things, it is utterly impossible that
the President OF the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railroad could have made.
There was misrepresentation upon Mr.. Rag
land's part that never would have occurred
II he had not been what his counsel
has styled him-"an apprentice" in the
railroad busineSs-absolutely not under
standing the vocabulary Of the railroad men.
In the conversation which took place be-
tween those two persons, Mr.. Ragland and
Mr.. Rohiuson-the one perfectly familiar
with the whole subject, comprehendlng the
difficulties that stood in the way of Mr.. Rag.
lands proposition; the other no; consider
ing them, eibaps not even aware Of them,
new to the subject. thinking that no dffcll-
tics could exist, and talking to man who
understood every inch OF Il these lines Of
road, and Of the difiicultiea that lay in the
way-how could they meet on common
ground AMI exchange IDEAS without misap-
prehcnsion Why, they could not under
stand each other in the rature Of things.
nd the conversation which forms the basis
of this bill,
THE VERY CORNERSTONE uroN WHICH IT
hEsIs.
was q conver.atG!l occurring under these
circumstances. There was before this con-
vcrsati1n Il convection Of the presidents Of
the Richmond and Petersburg railroad, and
the Petersburg and Weldon railroad, and of
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and PUto-
mac railroad. They met together ia the
Office Of the Fredericksburg railroad, and
they met fer the purpose of arranging @
schedule for travel exclusively and to Fix its
rates. That taSk--a laborious and compIica-
ted one--was flushed. Mr. Ragland had
Mr.. Sprigg, his superintendent of transpor-
tation, there with him, in order that he might
assist him in adjusting the details. There
was nothing said in the conference Of cotton
or Of through trciShts because there never
had been whisper up to that time upon the
subject OF through freights from Petersburg
to Richmond. These had never been named
at any meeting of these railroad presidents
or elsewhere US subject upon which they
could make a prordte, because there was not
a man among them who did not know lex
cept MIR. Ragland, who had lately come irto
the busine>sD that it was utterly Impossible
to establish through freight taritf az long as
there had to lie transportation hy wa
gons for three ur four miles from the
terminus OF the Baltimore and Po!o-
mac road in Baltimore 20 the bu>ipess
part Of that city. and that whatever through
freight had been carried along the line of
| these roads had been transported by the
Express Company. II never occurred 10
| any Of these presidents that through freight
| tariff was practicable until the tunnel Of the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad, near Balti-
| more, had been completed, and thus the bu-
siuess portion Of that city reached. Now,
therefore, sir, when the conference assem-
bled on this occasion, the subject OF travel
was the only subject Of discussion. II was
debated at length aud tinaly = settled, and ttlc
conference ended. The busiuuss being over,
its members arose from tlieir seats and turn
cd aside 10 corher OF the room to take re-
fipSlmeuts; and while they were standing
on their feet thus engaged Mr. Ragiand
propounded to Air. Robinson the ques-
ton whether he would carry cotton for
him AZ bis PUBLISHED TARIFF RATES, or
twenty-five reuts per hundred pounds, 10
] =
Ragland, that tariff rate yon e,etcT TO is
,cr0ng, and was corrected III ten days after it
was issued, rs COON as saw it, and the cor.
rectcd tariff, placing cotton III the second in:
stead OF the fourth class. or charging thirty
five instead Of twenty-five cents per hun.
dred, has been in use ever Slice last August.
No doubt he went on to say TO Mr. IaSland
that this Is not the proper route for cotton,
as Mr. RaglaDd says he did, and then told
him OF the obstruction in Baltimore That
obstruction being a conclusive reason to any
one familiar with railway transportation Of
cotton. Who would stand up before this com.
mittce and say that yuu can carry cotton
along railroad while it ha; to be ENulcd
three or four miles to the business centre Of
Baltimore in competition with two water
routes--one from CITY Point, crrying cotton
to the very heart Of The city Of Baltimore,
being Mr. Ragldnd's route, and the other the
Seaboard and Bay Line, ri0 Port.moutb ?
No doubt, therefore, tir. Robinson suid this
was not then the proper c!ianNel, and iI Was
not ut that time. as this committee knows !:
aud Mr.. Ragland, if he had Eeen posted, us
Mr.. Robinson, or Mr., Wynne, or Mr.
Sprigg was, would have known that it
was not the proper channel, and would
rot have asked tic question. al that
Mr. ha9land has said may he perfectly true.
| have not the least doubt hut that lie means
10 tell what Is true; and all that Mr.. Robin
son said may be perfectly true, as a mistake
between these two parties was perfectly Ut
tula! under the circumstances Let Us sec
now What Mr. Eagiand's statement is. Mr..
Chairman, you asked him the question. "
notice, Mc. RaG,and, in giving your reasons
FOR making this request Of the General As.
selah;y you state-frst, BecaEs, it is i'm
possible 10 get all of the six railroad com.
pauics intervening between the termini afore'
said TO concur ia such arrangements. schc.
dule,, tarcs, to!S, and common policy as are
deemed necessary 10 accomplish the objects
indicated ana realize the benefits desired.
The Inference from Tat Is that You have
failed 10 secure any arrangement which
would enable you TO do what you propose
to do. Will you Indicate to the committee
the obstacles you have metz Mr.. EaSland
says: "Wel.
THE ONLY OBSTACLE / HAVE NET
has been in trying to get through tariffs for
produce over the Richmond, FrcdcricES-
burg and Potomac road" Then you asked
him, .That is the ONLY eyception:" MIR.
Ragiaud says, II have made no further
application, because when l got to
Richmond l could go no further"
You then inquired, "Have you made
any proposition 10 the Fredericksburg
road:" TO which Mr. Ragand said," did
in regard to cotton" CLARK you, sir, no
proposition w:is made lor other freights even
by him. 1t WIS only in regard to cotton.)
II met MIR. Robinson and Mr.. Wynne at the
last meeting of the Petersburg, Richmond
aud Petersburg, and Fredericksburg roads.
l had good deal of cotton coming in, and
found some difficulty in getting it OF, and