The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-04-18

three States".......,.,.., .....S 1186Oo 80
The reason for this great disparity is
easy to find. In the former six States
there Is one mitc OF railroad to each no
square miles area, so that the entire area
Is influenced, as to its value, by the near
ness OF means of transportation. In the
States of Virginia, North Carolina and
Tennessee there is but one mile of rail
road to 27,74 square miles area.
The average distance from railr0ads Ia
Massachusetts as one mile, and in the six
former States it is one and threc-fourths
miles; while in the three latter States il
is over six and one-half miles.
! Thus it is seen that the farmer of Nir-
ginia, Tennessee and North Carolina has
to incur six and ne.half times as much
expense in getting his produce to the
railroad as the Massachusetts farmer,
and over three and one-half times as
much as the farmers of the six States
mentioned above Itcosts more to move
100 pounds one mile upon wagons than
1T does to move one ton one mile upon
railroads. What fearful disadvantage
the farmers in States deficient in rail
road facilities are laboring under. The
average valuation of land in counties in
the western part of Virginia which have
railroad facilities--viz: Montgomery,
Pulaski, Smyth, Wythe and Washing
| TOMS 1870 per acre. In the counties
of Patrick, Craig, Lee, Wise, Carroll,
Greyson and Scott where the timber and
soil are better and their mineral wealth,
far greater, the valuation is $206 per
acre.
Virginia is especially fortunate at this
time that capitalists are seeking to give
her the means whereby her natural
riches may become available. In grant
ing charters, so long as the Assembly
does not grant those which prohibit
other roads from being built, it matters
little what powers are given. There is
one great principle which regulates all
railroads--that Of competition. If a rail.
road company is foolish enough to take
advantage of liberal privileges given in
its charter, so as to charge exorbitant
rates, or otherwise Cypress the people,
they will not patronize it. If there is
sufficient business for road, they will
If they persist in their unwise course
wake up some fine morning and find an
other road alongside Of the one they did
not know how to manage. The people
like fair play, and no corporations OF
individuals will prosper long who do not
regard the interests Of those who patro-
nize them The Legislature should
grant all the charters for railroads that
are asked for. Perhaps the company
which seems to be the least likely To
build may be the first to put its road in
operation. If two or more parties each
want a charter for a railroad over sub.
stantially the same route, grant one ia
each; they will prove incentives to each
other, or they may unite-put their
brains and purses together--and push
the enterprise through, which might have
failed il tried by either party alone. A
lar better plan is to pass an amendment
70 the general railroad law, allowing any
tiye or more persons to form themselves
INTO body corporate and polite upon
filing a copy of their charter and bylaws
with the Secretary of State, with author
ity to build railroads wherever they may
see fit. Having done this, grant nc
special privileges, unless in the matter