The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-09
~, = Present Railroad Agitation.

The Present Railroad Agitation.
The railroad agitation Of the present ses-
.;o, Of shc Legislature is upon the apples
.;on Of the Valley Railroad Company TOR
charter FOR an extension of their road
srom Salem, Roanoke county, to the Ten
y,essee line. This is to enable them to strike
tho East Tennessee and Virginia road at
poins ba,oad Bristol that they may inter
sept sreigats that might be thrown upon
,he Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio rail
Soao.
This application, although made In The
name OF the Valley railroad, is simply
.cseme OF Mr.. GAgRErT's, OF the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, in the interest Of Baiti
more.
The subject brings to mind much Of th'
pest railroad history OF the State, and fill
the non-lailroad partisan with conllictin,
emotions. .-r-..-s--.---
There was once real Virginia improve
laent-party in the State. Its base OF opera
lions Was Richmond. Its idea was tina
trunk lines from the West should terminate
ut Richmond, or touching Richmond, shonst
be extended to Norfolk, the ultimate termi
nus of the water-line. Butin course OF Time
the plans OF this party were frustrated oy
outside influence aud Interior rings iormeo
in the interes, Of ambitious little towns and
guided by very visionary men, whose pre-
dic.ions have al failed. The Baltimore and
Ohio railread had y prominent part ia produc-
iug the events which frustrated the hudabie
purposcs Of the truly Firgipian party,
and tho road by Alexandria 10 Lynch
burg, and thence 10 Danrllie, was used TO
great advantage IL the prosecution OF It's
schemes. ..
That powerful corporation aided the inte-
rior rings y kie.l ae>a'.au TIE integrity OF the
commerce Of this city, and through 1t tho
vital Interests OF this State.
Asa feature OF the injurious policy OF tho
town riggs, the road from Bristol 10 Lynch
burg, 10 which tie city OF Richmond sub
scsihed libsrally, and which every BODY
thought was coming to Richmond, was car
ried OF TO meet JoHS W. SYnR's years ago
she delegate from PeteTsburg) road to
B,ackyani- - hitcs and thence to Peters
burg and Nerloik.
TIE unshot was that Richmond is now
without any direct line westward to the
great fields o! production and trade for
even the Chesapeake and Quo railroad is
beut and twisted By tue incertitude OF its
carly management so that it is vulnerable ST
many p,ints. pllciSg that commerce which
we have right 10 expect from it in peril.
In this way Virginia has been betrayed,
and her rich resources put ii the grasp OF
outside communities. She has hardly any
point left TO be guarded. and her defenders
are 20 cot up and divided by new and con-
1icting Interests, born Of the system by
which she has been betrayed, that she has 6
very much cnlecbIed strength to offend the
little lat remains.
In this condition The old lion which gobbled
up neariy ali the feeders in her pastures re.
news bis hunt for other victims. 1t is a little
surious that cow be attacks railway inter-
est of which he has been by turns enemy and
ally. Two years ago, to speak plainly, GAR
RSy7 and hAKoSH were allies they are by
this "new movement" made adversares.
in this dilemma the Atlantic, Mississippi and
Ohio seeks TO arouse the party truly in favor
Of Virginia interests" In response tho
scattered remnants Of that party are being
collected, pnd Richmond marches With them
not without soGe show of discomfort that
she is called upon to help to protect the
remnant Of those interests, SO much Of which
were years since betrayed.
Yes, she will assist now to contest the in.
vasion OF nearly the last hold that is not
taken. H,d she been the base of operations,
Is was originally designed by the Virginia
improvement party, this fight would not
now have 10 be made, and if it had to be
made, the strength on Virginia's side would
be double What it is.
Bat We viii stand by the Atlantic, Missis'
rippi and Ohio and Virginia in this contest,
and do no: regret that We are for once with
General fIAHoNB. t ~ (
uc uuu Suho 1Oou ~ WV oA~1I
ing. lrs king, MIR. GARRETT, should be
satisfied Tor the present. Virginia has per-
mitted Its line to tap one of her principal
railroads in the rich valley OF the Roanoke.
That Is great boon. Let him at least be
content until his road reaches Salem. This
srasping propensity Is out Of all reason, and
should DO treated with prompt denial by the
Legislators.
The world would wonder at the folly OF
Virgins II she granted the present petition
of Mr.. GARRETT. She has built four hundred
miles OF railroad thai would be seriously in.
iured. were sfe to allow it to be cut of from
trade by the construction of road parallel
with II through the State, and to pass into
another State at point that will give it the
power to anticipate the commerce for which
sho constructed her own road. That would
indeed be considered folly, If not unexam.
pied, certainly unworthy of the imitation o.
any other community.
We have no idea that Virginia will grant
this petition, and after it is defeated let us
consider how we may strengthen the integ-
rity of the Virginia commerce and increase
the power OF its defenders.
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Trade by the G. & O. Railroad.