New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-24
THE VIRGINIA RAILFAY VAR.

THE VTRGINIA RALLWAY WAR
II would be very strange (and yet it is not
improbabe) if the triumphant march of the
giant Pennsylvania Railway Monopoly whose
capacity for mischief now knows no legisla-
tive limit, were to meet fatal check i'll re-
gion where it was supposed there was no power
10 resist. There is trouble at the extremites.
New-Jersey is in revolt. When she acquiesced
in the policy of leasing her railways to an alien
corporation, it was thought she had made
sacrifice enough. 1t was putting withes on her
limbs. But now, when the hard taskmaster
seeks to change those withes for fetters,
naturally enough her latent spirit revolts,
and she is not disposed, without a struggle,
to resign for all time her right to legslate for
herself. This is precisely what is now ex-
acted. The Pennsylvania Company, which
in Virginia, for its own purposes, is urging a
free railroad law, in New-Jersey is actively
opposing one. That question is not decided,
and we are content to leave it without fur
ther comment.
The struggle in Virginia is of another kind.
Broken as may be the Spri5 or unaC great
Commonwealth, as one of the confederated
sOveregnties, 1t is very clear, among her peo-
ple, there is a good deal left of ancient fidel-
ity to themselves. When the Pennsylvania
monopolists first went across the Potomac,
with their ostentatiOus tenders of SYM
pathy and promises of aid, Virginia
welcomed them as benefactOrs in her hour of
desolation. She was grateful for any offers of
aid, and when she supposed her ruined rail-
roads, or some of them, were to be rebuilt by
these generous strangers, she did not pause to
scrutinize secret motives or to spy new ruin
in the distance. Thus was it that, through
the agency of one of those irresponsible crea-
tons of Pennsylvania law, with changeable
title and ubiquitous privileges, known as the
Southern Railway Security Company" once
the Overland Contract Company the mo-
nopoists secured the control of nearly two
hundred miles of Virginia railroads, and more
than thousand further south. OF course it
was not long before the fatal power of its
clutch was felt, as, one by one, these sub
sidzed corporations found their credit I'M
paired and their stock deprecated. They were
no exception to the universal rule. that what
ever it touches it destroys Late, but at last
the spirit of Virginia is aroused, and her citi-
zens, still fond of their homes, and devoted, as
we have said, to local interests, realize the
fact that this alien corporation has nothing in
common with them, but that every local in
terest is to be sacrificed to huge through
lines and high local freights. As one of their
newspapers the other day said, Virginia might
as well be tunneled as have such lines of
travel over her surface. For this awakening
result, great credit is due to the enterprise
and moral courage of the Direction of two rail-
way companies, purely Virginian-the "Atlan-
etc, Mississippi and Ohio,' and the Richmond
"and Fredericksburg" companies Gen. Mahon
made a gallant fight for Upper Virginia, and
won it.
The brunt Of the struggle has, how
ever, fallen on the Richmond and Fredericks-
"burg Company" which has firmly resisted all
attempts at cajolement or intimidation. 1t is
the only check on the rapacity of the mo nopo-
lists in Eastern Virginia. The effect is that its
credit is not affected its stock not deprecated,
and that confidence is ungrudgingly reposed in
its able and honest administration. But for it
the Pennsylvania monopoly would have an
unbroken line, via Harrisburg or Columbia,
from Jersey City to Atlanta. Poor Phil
adelphia reduced to way station, counts
for nothing! Nor does this Company,
in thus maintaining its integrity, refuse sui
lenly to enter into business relations by which
free travel and through traffic can be pro-
NOTED. But it prefers to receive from the
monopoly a rateable share of freight, payable
at short intervals, and in cash, to question
able guarantees and promises of rent which
NAV or may not be kept. If the Penn
sylyania Company want to buy and have
the means to pay, this contumacious cor
poration would probably be willing to
sell; but to lease or be leased it posi-
lively refuse. 1t does not trust the lessee
especially when for some reason he is not
willing, except as sort of surety, to become
party to the contract. 1t has no faith in
"CrGdt Mobilier'sn twin sister, the Southern
"Security Company" 1t chooses to deal
with principals. If Mr. Astor, or Mr.. A. T.
Stewart, or any one of our real estate propri-
ors. we're TO DO applied to by prospective