The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-24
" Stop EN-"
be fatal.

"Therc is u Chance says:
"Tbere is one, and only one of which we
are now cogDizaut and that is to repeal all
laws. general or special, which will enable
these foreign corporations 70 give efficiency
to their combinations, il any there be, or to
put it beyond their power to effect arrange
merts in the future. Repeal the law which
enables railway companies to construct
branch roads or lateral works, a. we'll as all
laws which enable any railroad company to
obtain BY purchase, lease, or contract, roads
beyond the limits of this Commonwealth, 80
that in the future the Legislature may be the
Judges of the expediency Of such branches
or laterals upon the case presented"
The reader readily understands that the
special object of the Wing is 10 prevent the
Lynchburg and DanyiIie railroad from pass
ing by ,Danyille int North Carolina on the
narrow gauge. Its remedy includes not
only the repeal Of the clause in the general
law allowing ten-mile branches, but also
Gall laws which enable any railroad compa-
"ny to obtain by purchase, lease, or con-
g tract roads beyond the limits of this Com
mon wealth." &c. 1t should have said
",ctthin or beyond"
Now this refers particularly to an act
passed in 1872 granting certain privileges to
the Orange, Alexandria and Manassas and
the Danville and Lynckburg Railroad COM
panics. That act, us well as the clause OF
the general law referred 10, has been frankly
cited by the friends Of the Danville road as
one means by which the Lynehburs and DAN
vile read could accomplish its olject-if it
has such-of turning Danville aud hankins
Richmond. We suspect that there are
others.
This act is as follows:
!. Be il enacted by the General assembly, That
the Orange, Alexandra ana hia h ia "
rnad Company, or either Of them, he authorized
troughI their President and Directors, or other,
wise to contract with any railroad company wllhln
or beyond the Stale for the acquision by lease or
Otherwise OF such railroad, its franchises aud pro-
ssouih Of said Orange, Alexandria and MANASSAS
railroad and said Lynchburg and Danviiie raitroau
and 10 hold and enjoy The same IN IKE manner
rs the proper franchises and properly OF saiu asc
named companies are held aud enjoyed.
D. This act shall I've in force from Its passage.
This act was passed March Is, 1872. One
would almost suspect that it was intended
for the present case. And our Wing friends
talk about repeating it and all others (which
| will enable foreign corporations TO give eff
ciepcy to their combinations" as If sucl
Wholesale repeating was work Of entir
case and certainty. We commesd them II
the easier task of cutting off the arm!
worm, or exterminaing the curculio.
Even were it possible TO achieve the grea
y labor Of frustrating the combination of for
eign corporations-a labor greater than AM
one OF the famous twelve Of HEKcuLEs-th
snake would be scotched not killed. Do
mestic corporations may combine rs fatally
for the common welfare az the foreign ones
But let Us see the effect of this Wholesal,
repeating. We do not believe that it will
be attempted. We give famous chief in
: railroad wars credit for too much sagacit,
to undertake anything Of the kind, or t
permit it to be undertaken if he can proven
it.
What would follow? The formation of
powerful party on the east of the Blue klds
and in the Valley that would sweep all OF
position before it. II would protect tt
5 Lynchburg and Danville line and Civ
8 to the Valley railroad the freedom {
the Southwest. That result is so oil
= vious that one should regard il piet
q of good strategy on the part of the friends
t the Valley road to bring on just such strul
!, gle as would grow out Of the inauguraeio
i of the repeating programme Of the Whi!
o Another =" handle" war. ..g
d The party acting with the Wing have d
o clared that they could head off the Lynch
r burg and Danville road by arepealipg." "
a. have been satisfied that they could do +
such thing. Now, as Chat was their exped
a ent for avoiding the necessity of change
% the gauge of the Danyifie railroad in &c
b tain contingency, are they not bound to gi,
t up their opposition upon failing to "repeal
the things they undertake to repeals