The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-10
DISTINCTIONS.
:, r,,,road man has undergone changes

--be railroad map has undergone changes
thai are favorable to this city In very I'M
portan. manner, and ret she is in measure
deprived Of the advantages she should de'
rive from those changes, bS q failure OF rail-
road eorporations to cooperate upon sensible
and fair bases. This city should be placed
IN communication With North Carolina, and
through her with the entire South. upon a
footing Of fasrness and equality with cit
other communities and cities. We ask lor
her no especial favors-no advantages over
other cities. She has been 50 long the VIC
tim Of ruinous determinations against hef
that we may well be satisfied to be placed on
a ground Of equality.
For the want of railway arrangements
through this city northward ana by way OF
Weldon and PetersbuTg-arrangeme 10
conformity With the railway usases and ex-
pedItion tina. prevail at this time Richmond
suffers in her business and in her enterprises
in q very serious manner. No impartial and
intelligent man can be fully informed Of the
Injustice done without feeling of irritation
No impartial man can learn the real cond-
iioa Of railroad operations ola Wilmington,
Weldon. and Petersburg, and through this
city in connection With both the Wilmington
and the Atlantic route, without sense OF
deep regret that there is no, some authority
above tile railway corporations to right the
wrongs that are done, while! TO native or
a resident of Richmond the pfovocaton is
great. .EH.. a.|
We can hardly imagine case in which it
is not the interest of railway companies to
promote the public interests and to manage
their business fairly and honestly for the
public good. Railroads are born Of the pub
lie consent. They derive the breath of their
existence from public authority apd that
authority is exercised in their behalf under
the impression that they are to be worked
for the public good. 1t is great abuse OF
privileges granted, great breach of the lm.
piled contract OF a railroad charter, when
tie road is Administered and operated to the
disadvantage Of the public. ..,: H. .. /"
Not only is 1t a great breach of moral OBJ
legation when railroad corporations iDfict in
existence, but we are firmly convinced that
every such breach Of faith results, sooner OIL
later, in injury TO the corporation committing
such an outrage. There is u somewhat mys
FERROUS providential influence working iudi
rectly which beue6cently protects great com
Inunities from the bad effects Of faithless
corporations. When q railroad company
deeming that it has the world ia sling
goes TO shaping its schemes for monopoly OF
destructive competitions, it is sure to fuC
that there is screw loose somewhere, or thai
its avsricious policy, that ignores public in
terests to accomplish selfish ends, has tho
effect OF suggesting rivalries in quarter:
where they had not looked for them, or some
other Of the many consequences of policy
insincere and unfair appear surprisingly, and
iniict damages which all the extra gains from
urfairness and greed are insufficient to re.
pair.
The railroad community must learn that
this is true, and that the best policy for rail.
road companies is TO promote as far as posi-
bic the public interest as the very best way
to promote their own.
For years Richmond has suffered i'm
menscly from the administration OF the az
fairs of railways uniavorable TO her trade
and depressing to her prosperity. We have
always regarded the policy averse to her
rights as certainly injurious TO the railways
themselves. That injury, if not present,
would sooner or later appear to their great
discontinue.
We do not despair that the railroads them
selves may take this view of their interests,
and do what good judgment as we'll as fair
ness and common gratitude to those to whom
they are indebted for their privileges, dictate
that they should do.
We do not cyaggerate the injury now suf-
fered by this city from the operations Of the
railways, while the railway map would sug-
gest that we have the finest railroad adyan-
tages in communicating with both the South
and the North. ...