The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-09-14
Railroad Discrimination.

Tho question OF railr md concentration through
the system of cheap through frcighfs with the
local Disadvantages growing out Of unfair dis
UiUinatiens--d -diseri limitations 70 tho injary Of
ten Of tho very State that built the roads-is
one not properly investigated and not fully un-
dersteod. The great competition for through
fre1ghts has forced the roads to put up local
freights to enable them to pay expenses. The
through competition has been a cut throat busi
ness.
What has been the effect Of this railway pol
icy? Ii has been to opprsss local commerce and
swell tho through buines,, to the great injury
OF local commerce. The railway thus becomes
the great agent of concentration-of enrching
commercial centresat the pensc of the localities
which are burthened with the cost of running
it-and Of imPairng local prosperity, and di-
vanishing the revenues of States. This is what
the railway y now doing In this respect it is
matter for the consideration Of States and To-
calities. Reforms are needed for the protection
OF communities from the policy Of tho times
Concentration Of commerce and busiaess is in
svtabc from the rapid and powerful means Of
conveyance; bat then concentration is hurtful
TO LEGAL communities, and should have healthy
restraints put upon il in order to protect the
communities which have been saddled 10 q great
aogreo with the cost Of building the roads, and
are now burthcnsd by discrimi minations with an
undue share Of the cost of running them.
The system needs amendment. Tho States
have most OF them largo public debts, and some
Of them arc driven to consider how they are to
got rid OF their debts. They are crippled i'm
their resources in great degree by the rail
ways. These are sweeping The States of their
commerce as woll as their produce, and dwarf
ing their towns so that hundreds of them have
llttle more to do with railroads but TO assemble
their citizens daily when the train goes by that
they may stare and cape at the cars as though
1t was the first time they had ever seen them,
and they never expected TO see them again.
III Is well Ter the producer to have markets
Tor his staple crops but it is the interest of all
producers that their markets shsuld DC near
enough for tho purchaser to become n consumer
sf their market produce. The near market fur
nishes the demand fer the greatest variety Of
products, and with him the farmcr opens n far
moro thrifty commerce than he can possibly
nave with the merchant Of q distant market. 1t
is the interest of the producer that the market
which he sells in shall be that of a large and
prosperous tswn, since that gives him the great
est help. The larger tho n car market the great
er ITS demands for supplies, and the more it eu.
riches tho country around about it but the
railway rsstrains the growth Of towns, of the
local markets. by concentrating commerce at
the termini of the great through routes.
The system that cripples and pnralyzsc the
growth Of some towns and swells the commerce
OF the great chiss is bad for tn. country IL
lakes away the spirit and independence Of the
localities and inpars their life and animation. Ii
lessons the energy and variety Of products of
many fine agricultural regions, and sadly di
hinishes tho revenue Of many States.
This system ought to be modified if possible
The welfare Of communities and the solvency Of
conmonwenlths would he much promoted il il
could be SO amended as in some degree TO pro-
teot th0m from its injurious effects. CentIali-
cation and consolidation are fearful in their con-
sequences upon personal independence, public
spirit, and the dignity and power of the bodies
polite. The railway system is in this respect
lnficting the most serious injury upon eummu-
mites in this country.-RicLmsm UispGfcd