Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-08-26
1Eom the Baltimore Sm.l

A. i'm other cities. the grain traffic fell "ir in
New York for The week ending July 20. aud
ha, not recovered since The canse ia the de-
cline ul receipts Is attributed, in some quar-
terS. t1 the fact that the Western farmers were
busy with their harve,ts, aud, in other quarters,
to the detention Of cars Iy the glut OF grain at
the various termini of the roads and the lndis-
position of shippers to make any more con
signments until the glut was relieved. The
enormous recent ucJcase in the receipt Of grain
at the four Atlantic ports Is undoubtedly at
tributahle to a very great extent to the war
between the great railways 10 the west ana
the low through rates adopted by the cnmpe-
ting aud LclieeIeut lines. lu the struggle Tor
business these rates have been reduced so low
rs to be uuremuuerative. Instead Of being
beneficial to aly but dealers in and shippers of
Grain aud ocean carriers they have really
worked serious injury. Losing large part Of
their usual profits by their competitive reduc-
liou Of rates, al the belligcrcnt railways have
been compelled TO reduce cyrrespondingIy their
current expenses II they had not done SO The
anxious aud unhappy stockholders would have
felt the consequences Of tie war IN diminished
dividends perhaps will still feel 1t IN some
quarters. But the immediate effect Of the war
npun tie holders Of railway stocks and bon Is
is as nothing compared with its all-pervading
il aaence 80 jnuumerabie other interests.saud
tuerety adding to and perpetaatine the ousi-
ucss depression prevailing throughout the
country.
1t must he obvious, moreover, to the most
superficial observer, that it is impossible that
tie many hundreds of millions OF capital IN
vested in the railroads of the country can @
without rcmuu,rative returns for any length
Of time aud not work grave injury TO others
Not only will tie needed capital be withheld
/ from the building OF other railways OF imPor-
taucc, but all the workmen and mechanics oi
| the roads and all the industries otherwise con
| uectcd with the operation OF railways viii sui
/ fer. Then all along the great lines OF railway
/ where industry and prosperity have heretofore
gone hand in hand, there will be, indeed there
/ is already. want aud suffering among hun
dreds aud thousands who, in the past, by the
/ disbursement Of their wages. hav been profit
! anle customers to local producers, and to town
/ anl country merchants, furniture dealers, tail
orS. hattcrs and tradrsmcu of various kinds
/ And all this is the effect of a railway war pre-
/ cpitatc1 upon con peting roads by the vain
/ effort of Mr. Vanderbilt to restore to New York
/ the grain trade which is now shared by other
cities,
As was said in the SIN short time ago, The
unremuucra,iye through freight rates how pre-
vailing are Of advantage to no one, and are
working great injury to the country at large
/ Fair rates 50 as to give fair return on the
/ capital invested. and enable the companies IL
. keep mp prudent expenditure IN wages
maiutain an ample number of employees IN all
departments, aud make such purchases # ma
ierlal and equipment as Will keep othcriud
/ tries active this policy is the best for all
Indeed. from the vast number Of artisans and
wukingmon thrown out of employment by
tie general depression in business 1t Is the uc-
ccssIty II the hour Leading railway men and
business houses at the West empbatica ly cx-
pres, the saue opinion. Western shippers
them,elyes also concur 10 the view that pay
inc rates 70 the trausp rtaiiUn lines are no,
only necessary to the proper maintenance Of
the liu,s. but are beneficial to all other busi'
ness interests iu any way CONNECTED with their
operations
The influence Of railways upon the general
trade of a couutry-irou the vast sums they
Iishurse annually through multitude OF chau-
neis-is immense \ war, therefore, between
leading lines is felt in many unexpected guar
lcrs It compels the beiligerent companies t.
husband their receipts and cut down their tx
peuses by discharsiug great numbers OF me-
chaujcs aud wurklugmeu, aud Uy reducing the
waac, and salaries of all or nearly all who aTe
retained. The injury thus Inflicted is conse-
queutly not limited to the companies aud their
immediate dependents. but extends to thou
sands Of other persons, many other industries,
and 10 remote distances.