The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-27
A Railroad Vacuum.

We ClseI,e that u railrCadcoprentlon ha:
recent, met in Boston, at which were repre-
,cpreL the Virginia and Tennessee All
Line via Norfolk, The Atlantic Coast Line
RIA Portsmouth, the Piedmont Airline utd
Richmond, and the Great Southern Dispatch
Line rin Norfolk"
Now there is a mystery about this tele'
gram which We cannot satisfactorily unra-
vel. In the first place we cannot under
stand the distinction between the "Atantc
Coas; Line ria Portsmouth" and the "Great
Southern Dispatch Line ria Norfolk" Can
any body tell US what it is!
In the next place, we should like to know
the efficiency and commercial merits OF the
piedmont Airline ria Richmond" Is
trerc. indeed, any such line? AS we have
understood it, there is no such line. There
is no continuity of transportation OF freight
by railway from the South through Rich
mond that We have heard Of Is there any
suchS
We have been Of opinion that through
Richmond there Was railroad rd7'sna--
that nothing could pass through upon terms
that were such as to compete at all with lines
ria the bay and the sea. Are we wrong
Is there such competition: No one would
be mole delighted than We to find that we
are III error.
We confess ignorance of the character and
objects Of this conventions: but that ii had
some bearing Oh matters vitality interesting
10 this city was very plain. That Richmond
should lave facilitated and open way from
South 10 North-and utce rerSa-thl ough
her limits is clear-ilat ii would MINISTER
lprccIy 20 her prosperity none can deny
that II would be beneficial to ltr-
ot,jo-because of all the Virginia town.
people would most likely stop IN hich-
,aoud aud SCjournawhile and trade--ali must
confess. So il is 10 the interest OF Richmond
and Virginia that tic current OF trade and
travel through Richmond Should be large
and should he steadily increasing. Trade
and travel 20 together, and for the good OF
the State should be taken mainly through her
city Of greatest prosperity, and WHICH pays
the largest revenue into her treasury.
This is the true policy Of The State. The
Piedmont Air Line through Richmond" Is
LCt what the reader OF the telegram nllShl
understand it TO be-a rail line for freights
through Richmond TO Washington, &c. Yet
such line it should be, and we hope the
dav is lot far of when it will be just such u
line.
So,the people of Richmond will never be
fairly treated until their city is in commerce,
As she is in fact, on the right line OF rapid
transit from tic Gulf TO the FeCeral capital
and the North. She must be apoint in a ia
cilitated open railway for t1eights and pas
slnaers between the North and the far
South. Until there is such way there will
not be Justice and fairness for Virginia. We
must have an unbroken and closely connect
ed way between the far North and the far
South directly through Richmond.
When this is done, Richmond will have
one Of its serious draw backs removed. Iba'
which has been one OF her chief difficulties
will become one Of her greatest facilities
That it must be SO sooner or later, we nave
no doubt. The demands of commerce anc
pubic convenience in this day OF unexam
pied expedition in trade and travel will force
it through. For thirty years there has beer
a constant pressure OF the volume OF trade
bearing upon this route. 1t will breal
through and sweep on freely and vigorously
1t cannot be thwarted by the devices OF thos
opposed 10 it.