Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-08-19


WAR.-As in other cities the grain traf
fic fell off in New York for the week
ending July 29, and has not recovered
since. The cause in the decline of re-
ceipts is attributed, in some quarters. TO
the fact that the Western farmers were
busy with their harvests, and, in other
quarters, TO the detention Of cars by the
glut OF grain at the various termlni of
the roads, and the indisposition of ship
pers to make any more eonsignments
until the glut was relieved The enor
nous recent increase in the receipts Of
grain at the four Atlantic ports is un-
doubtcdly attributable to a very great
extent to the war between the great
railways to the West and the low rates
adopted by the competing and belliger-
ent lines. In the struggle for business
these rates nave been reduced so low as
to be unremunerative Instead of being
benficial to any but dealers in and ship
pers of grain they have really worked
, serious injury. Losing large part OF
their usual profits by their competitive
reduction OF rates, all the belligerent
railways have been compelled TO reduce
correspondingly their current expenses.
If they had not done so the anxious and
unhappy stockholders would have felt
The consequences of the war in dimin-
ished MISUNDERSTANDING will still feel
it in some quarters. Bat the immediate
effect of the war upon the holders of
railway stocks and bonds Is as nothing
compared with its all-pervading intlu-
ence on innumerable other interests, and
thereby adding TO and perpetuating the
business depression prevailing through
out the country.
1t must be obvious moreover, to the
most superficial observer, that it is I'M
possible that the many hundreds OF mil
lions of capital invested in the railroads
Of the country can go without remuner-
alive returns for any length of time and
not work grave injury to others. Not
only will the needed capital be withheld
from the building OF other railroads Of
importance, but all the workmen and
mechanics of the roads and all the in
dustries otherwise connected with the
operation of railways will suffer. Then
all along the great lines of railway
where industry and prosperity have
heretofore gone hand i'll hand, there
will be, indeed there is already, want
and suffering among hundreds and thou
sands who, i'll the past, by the disburse-
ment of their wages, have been proiita
Die customers to local producers, and TO
town and country merchants, furniture
dealers, tailors, hatters and tradesmcn
Of various kinds. And all this is the eff
feet of a railway war precipitated upon
competing roads by Mr.. Vanderbilt to
restore to New York the grain trade
which is now shared by other cities.
As was said in the Sun short time
ago, the unremunerative through freight
rates now prevailing are of advantage
to no one, and are working great injury
to the country at large. Fair rates, so
as to give fair return on the capital
invested, and enable the companies to
keep ap prudent expenditure in wages,
maintain an ample number of employees
in all departments, and make such pur
chases of material and equipment as
will keep other industries actiye-thls
policy is the best for all. Indeed, from
the vast number OF artisans and work
ingmen thrown out of employment by
the general depression in business it is
the necessity of the hour. Leading rail
way men and business houses at the
West emphatically express the same
opinion. Western shippers themselves
also concur in the view that paying rates
to the transportation lines are not only
necessary to the proper maintenance
of the lines, but are beneficial to all
other interests in any way connected
with their operations.
The influence of railways upon the
general trade of country-trom the
vast sums they disburse annually through
a multitude Of channels-is immense. y
war, therefore, between leading lines is
felt in many unexpected quarters. 1t
compels the belligerent companies to
husband their receipts and cut down
their expenses by discharging great
numbers of mechanics and workingmen,
and by reducing the wages and salaries
of all or nearly all of those retained
The injury thus inflicted is consequent
ly not limited to the companies and
their immediate dependents, but extends
to thousands OF other persons, to many
other industries, and to remote distances.
Bali. Sun, Aug IL.