The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-06
....... JANUARY ., 1879.
fFrcm the Petersburg Index, January 81
Many Facts and One Reflection.

DlnSon dynasty, ana nave wisely TelratneQ
from saying anything Of themselves beyond
making vague general cry for cheap rates
and multiplied facilities.
Let us look into this little.
The very first act Of the Ragland managers
was to raise their rates on local traffic up
ward Of ten per cent. above those prevailing
under the administration OF President Col
licr--a fact OF which our readers may assure
themselves by comparison of printed Ia
riffs.
Moreover. the local tariffs on this Peters
burg road which clamorS so for reduced
rates to stimulate production, are not only
in themselves excessive, bl they are far
higher than on other roads entering Peters
burg. ..
Here is the proof, taken from printed schc-
dulles:
The Norfolk and Petersburg road, for
thirty miles, charge, per hundred pounds
For first class, l6 cents.
For second class, IA cents.
For third cl;iSS. II cents.
For fourth class, ii cents.
While for the same distance and same
amount the Petersburg road charges
For first class. 2S cents.
For second class, 2G cents.
For third class. % cents.
For fourth class, go cents.
On the SpltlSidc road, for 40 miles, the
charges are
For first class. u cents.
For second class. Is cents.
For third class, 16 cents.
For fourth class, Is cents.
While the Petersburg road eXacts-
For first class, 33 cents.
For second class, 80 cents.
For third class, 26 cents.
For fourth class. II cents.
Compare now the whole length of the Pc
ter>bur@ road. 81 miles. with the whole
length. so miles, Of that cXorbtant deSpot
the Seahoard, and we find that the Peters
burg road charges its patrons as much for
its 81 miles is the Seaboard charges to its
patrons tor so miles.
For their schedules between their respcc-
tive tcrmini stand thus:
sEABoARp AND ROANOKE ROAD, EIGHTY MILES.
For first class, 40 cents.
For second class. 50 cents.
For third class. 80 cents.
For fourth class. - cents.
For fifth class. 90 cents.
FETERSBrRG ROAD, S1XTY-TWO MILES.
For first class, 40 cents,
For second class. 50 cents.
For third class. 80 cents.
For fourth class, % cents.
And beside, the fifth classification of the
one is wanting in the other, and makes still
more extraordinary the cSartion OF the Pc
tCrSburg road,
Lei Us make yet another comparisons:
The Norfolk and Petersburg road is
eightv-onc miles in length, and OH Il bale of
cotton Of tive hundred pounds weight it
charges eighty cents. The Petersburg road,
>iXty-two miles long, charges on a bale Of
the same size $l.;l5. hy way of proving that
ii loves low rates. Such is the manner in
which the Ragand administration endcarS
itself to the people along its line, to It's
North Carolina patrons, and TO the citizens
of Ictcr=burg.' Thus does it charge each
and MI OF them more for serving them than
is charged hy any other railroad company.
Bat another aspect of the question, pre-
>cnting comparison different in terms, but
perhaps equally damaging to the Ragland
administration in the eyes Of the lovers Of
fair play. and in the eyes Of the people of
Petersburg:
The Petersburg railroad hauIs cotton sav
from Tarboro' for New York dealer at l4S
cents per 100 pounds, or 65S cents per bale,
while it charges Mr.. Il. 4. Martin or Mr..
Arlington or Mr.. McIlwaine for the same
cotton 21i cents per 100 pounds, or Sl.24
and moIe than this, this same Ragland
administration, which claims to be native to
Petersburg, isa party to al arrangement with
the New York Steamship line by Which cot
ton going to New Icrk dealer is taken at
City Point for Sl.30, while if Petersburg
merchant has it to ship he must pay $1.50.
What more outlet than this does the Peters
burg road desire? And what more straight
shoot by which low rates and quick dispatch
is offered TO all freights except that bought
by and destined to Petersburg!
These facts will hardly be denied. If they
are denied we call upon the Petersburg road
to throw open to irresponsible citizens COM
mitice the books of its freights-books for
mery open to the public, but now kept from
the common gaze with Il care justified by
what they could show.
Good Heavens! And this is the corpora
ton that asks unlimited power over US and
our fortunes. Such are its acts now that it
is in the gristle of youth what it will be in
the bone of that monstrous manhood it pro-
poses let the public judge. If such be the
@rcen tree, it needs no prophet to say what
it will be in the dry.
Their advent 10 power was the signal for
raising the rates upon the traffic seeking
Petersburg daily supplies of the poor
no less than the merchandise of the rich.
Their next act was, in so far as rates can do
it, to prohibit southern products from using
this market. And now they ask the Legls-
laturc to reward them by giving them the
power to deprive two Virginia cities of the
tide that flows to their doors, and in time
even to dry up the streams that work the
mills and factories Of Petersburg, Richmond,
and Manchester; for it would take but few
years of such management in their future as
is forc,lladowed by their past in order not
only to close the great cotton-houses which
line Sycamore street, but TO empty Ettricks
and Matoaca, and Petersburg itself, of the
who form the very soul of our
body-pOitic.