Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-27
COMMUNICATED.
{ heap Transportation Convention.

ever been considered by the people OF Virginia.
[ therefore ask space for TIE following:
Siuce Virginia ceeded her great d"fnalue ID
the west to the federal government, and west
ward the course of empire has taken It's flight,
the question of providing cheap and rapid
transportation for The products OF tie great
west to tide water has boen agltated, aud II has
rapidly grown IN Importance until 1t now be-
comes the great question to the agricultural
sections of the south and west. lney being
the garden from which the source OF life is ob
tanned for this entire country, necessarily look
upxiousIy for solution TO this great problem
by which their interest aud that OF the whole
nation can be adv;Oed.
What matters it to The farmer whether his
fields team with thousands Of bushels OF gold
en- grain if the rich harvest goes ouly to en-
rich immense railroad corporations and pay
large salaries to their employees Instead OF go
ing into his pocket?
" hat matters it 10 our land owners that the
| bowels Of our mother eartt are full Ut rich ores
! if it costs more to bring them 10 market than
they will sell for?
What matters it if our salt and plaster beds
are inexhaustbe if the cost Of transporting it
palry huudred miles is more than the same
article can be brought from Nova Scotia and
Liverpool. including the duty?
What matters it that we have untold rich
es 10 our midst it our railroads care more Tor
the development Of other States aGd other
cities than they do for Richmond, Alexandria,
or Virginia?
And vet these corporations have the face to
ask Virginia to give, aye, give up the little III
terest she has lett in them, while they in re-
turn are sucking her very liie's blood by draw
ing her trade away beyond her borders meyer
to be reclaimed.
Is it any wouder that we are financially de-
pressed while other sections prosper? Is tue
great Cry for relief that is going up in all parts
Of the south and the west u matter OF surprise.
| No. |. The cause is easily seen. The mOnlcd
monopolst of the north and east has gained
possession CT our railroads and Of our trade,
and has so far presumed upon his power as
to put the thumb screws down a little too
tight The farmer is a very easy going, kind
hearted man, but then he has not the patience
of Job, and the cnerous taxation levied ny
these monopollsts has SO parailzed his trade
that be has groaDed beneath the burden for
years. At last he feels that the pound is added
that breaks the canel's back, aud that his pa
thence is exhausted aud he will rise like Il
tanned elephant against his keeper, and in his
| fury sweep all obstacts trom bis path. The
goad has been applied long enough. There
must be some relief, and tina; soon.
Between the west and tide water we need
canals. Three of these projected wafer lines
must be built, and that by the general govern
ment This is demanded Ivy united south
and west 1t is due the south 10 rcparatlon
for the great wrongs done her, and II is due
both the west and south because national leg
islation of late years has been nodded SO as to
benefit not the great tax paying portion of the
| nEr tIo hf,rI h,,lI
ing monopolist of the east aud north. Not the
people of the north and east, but corrupt
| few who hold the purse strings and tie rclus
of power. A day of retribution must come.
The great agricultural interests OF the south
and west demand hearing, and they will have
what they demand. The building of great wa
ter lines is merely question of time, but now
should be the time. Let Virginia speak through
her representatives 10 Congress, aud demand
that in return for the immense amount of taxes
she pays into the national treasury on her great
staple tobacco that the government build her
canals.
Of the three great water lines alluded to be-
tween the West and Tidewater two will be to
| Virginia what the Erie Canal has been to New
| York or her railroads to PENNSYLVANIA. | al
lude to the James River and kauawha Canal
running thorugh the Virgnias to our beautiful
seven billed city Of Richmond, and the other,
the G. & 0. Canal, which will, when flushed,
give life to our old city, and make her what
she was 10 the days when Washington rode
thither TO church, one Of the first cities OF the
country.
So much for water transportation between
the South and the great West. This is a great
national question which is OF such Importance
to the whole country as to make the result
foregone CONCLUSION.
But to come more directly home; what we
want is cheap transportation Tor what We grow
in Virginia, to Virginia markets. 1t does seem
strange TO me that wheat can be brought trotn
CinciDnatti to Richmond at less cost thai
from Wythve or Abingdon is it costs
only twice as much from Cinclunat to Alcxan-
dria as it does from OraDge &. h., or Loving
ston Depot.
Now [ do not wish to be misunderstood or
be misconstrued into attacking the sllroads,
far from that; we would be very much lncou-
yenienced if We did not have them, but would
like some railroad mau to tell me il it would
not pay better to carry three cars at one cent
ton per mile than one car at TWO cents? This
then is my theory, practically cannot vonch
for its working, that if the roads would reduce
the rates per mile that the Tonnage would 10
crease in greater ratio, and they would be
proportiunately benefited because L suppose
that railroads, like the rest OF Us, are working
to increase their receipts beyond their expens-
es-.that would, presume, be the logical con,
clusion. We certainly need that they should
reduce their rates to U.S. Nothing would add
more to the material development Of our State
than abundant and cheap transportation, and
nothing, it seems to me, would add more to
the revenues of the roads than the material
development of Virginia Therefore it seems
to me that the best plan would be for this Con
ventioD to appoint a committee to couter with
the proper authorities of the various roads IN
virginia, and see if we cannot mutually better
ourselves bv full, fair aud square understand
ing Certainly, at least for the present, we stand
a better chance to accomplish all object by per
suasiop than by force. If we fail then we will
not be to blame if We determine to lock horns
With these giants, and then we VIII see when
is the stronger, and we will have done our duty.
At any rate we can afford TO wait. 1t is nearly,
a year before our next Legislature Is nominated