Smyrna times., 1879-01-08

RAILROAD FREIGHTs.-We give place in
another column to a communication on the
above subject. Our correspondent writes
not with view to offend, but to arouse the
the railroad to the exigencies of the case
as affecting their own and the interest
of the general public. The Delaware Rail
road has been too important an arm of our
prosperity to be declaimed against. 1t has
been the means of developing waste places,
giving birth to thriving villages and stimu-
lating the commerce and traffic OF our peo-
pie. But the complaint of our correspond
ent, if we understand him, is that while the
business depression Of the past five years
has sent down values everywhere, and
lessen I'd the expenses of even the railroad
itself, freight and passenger charges re-
main the same. The object Of our cores
pondent seems to be to make it apparent
to the management of the road, that when
they shall bring their regulations down to
the condition of the people and times, they
will have advanced their own interests
likewise. Large corporations generally act
with astuteness and sagacity in all matters
affecting their accumulations. The tender
nerve of all such bodies very properly is
the financial, and it is hardly presumable
that they have not looked into this
question. Our correspondent thinks they
have not circumspectly, and gives his rea
sons. We are in comparison with the
great commercial centres, an out-ot-the-way
people, and it is possible that in the pres;
of more weighty matters We have been
overlooked. We dc not know-we have
no means of knowing the cost of freightlnG
or per cent. of profit of our railroad, mol
have we any interest in it beyond tha
affecting the interest of the general public
But, if the Railroad could come to tn,
wants of our people without suffering loss
we can see what an immense advantag
might be gained by both. For instance,
is stated in the communication that ther
are 1000 men now idle that during tn
winter season could be put in active en-
ployment. Starting with the railroad in ii
increase of business, it would run dow
through the farmer, the iaborer, the me-
chant and machanic, back again to the cit
and vast number of consumers throug
every avenue of commerce. 1t would
creative.
We hear Of a farmer near this town VIII
has over POO cords of wood down in b
woods 1.-THE result of the September an
October storms) that must lie there an
roi because it will not pay him to freigl
it. There are perhaps in the section we
Of US 600 cords of wood in similar cond
ton. Another man carries an order in
pocket for nearly 10000 feet of oak timb,
which would be duplicated, but he fee
debarred from entering into contract b
cause Of the high freight. There are tho
sands Of feet that could be worked in
spokes, felloes, and various kinds OF lumbe
thus keeping our saw mills, and the lar
labor they would require, in constant Ell
ployment. The men above referred to wou
be willing, in fact all they want is so Ct
net per cord on their wood, and tho
having lumber would be satisfied with
like ratio of profit. With the great adva
tage that it would be to general business
would really seem as if our railroad authC
tiles and producers should make an effc
to get together.