The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-27
The Railroads.
STANTON, Va, January %, 1888.
ILs L5jfo,. of he DiSDQfch

STANTON, Va, January 20 1850.
TO the Editor Of The Dispatch:
On wednesday the 18th OF January the
general term Of tie Supreme Court OF New
York-JudgCs Davis, Brady, and Daniels
sitting-reverscd the opinion OF Judge
IIaight. which was 10 the effect that d" the
neglect or refusal OF Il railroad corporation
TO receive and transport freight rendered
to il by citizens Of the state is prirdtc
wrong, but not such pujlic wrong rs will
authorize the issuing OF the writ OF m0f-
ddn,uS." This will be remembered ~
" the freight-handerS' case" and the rail-
roads have been held by the supreme
Court rs guilty OF 4 public wrong IN not
receiving and transporting freight when
they do not show that they used due dill
cence to secure other aid i'm place OF the
strikers. am very glad 10 see the courts
OF the great State Of New York deciding
that railroads arc not supreme, but re-
sponsible to somebody.
IL is getting TO be very grave question,
and one that will grow in gravity as their
through trade grows. What Is In become
Of those whose products form the way
freight of our railroads:
Already the schedule OF prices for way
carried very much farther, but which hap
lens TO have its starting point beyond the
limit OF the companv's line. ! remember
TO have heard the late John Il. Baldwin
once tell OF a very large tanncry which for
years had been in successful operation on
the line Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
some distance east Of Wheeling, and which
the owners found il TO their interest TO
move west Of the Ohio river, losing all the
cost of plant and proximity to bark and
market that they might gain the benefits OF
through freight5 TO Baltimore. This ut the
time seemed TO me to be remarkable, but i'm
the light of later railroad management il i
ancient history.
1t il said the railroads have their char
tiers, and they cannot be interiercd with.
True, so long Is they act in accordance
with their charters; but one OF the under
lying principles OF all railroad charters,
and that by virtue Of which they take pri-
Vatc property, nO'Cns r0leHS, from the
owners, is that they are TO use il for the
public benefit. i il for the public benefit
OF the citizens Of Virginia, the State which
gave the charter, that the private property
OF her citizens should be taken for the
benefit OF a corporation 10 enable il to ship
the products OF Kentucky and Ohio over
the very lands 50 takea, under such pro-
misses, for less than the products OF said
lands are shipped one third Of the di.-
tanceY III a ddnddmuS would lie in New
York 10 compel he railroads to receive and
transport freight. would il rot lie in Viz
sina to compel the same at a reasonable
and ratable price? Else 10y simply raising
the transportation price to a prohibition
figure the refusal could he accomplished,
and the whole energies, time, and stock OF
The road given TO through freights. This
is the tendency. The evil is Il growing
and crying one, and will not very much
longer be tolerated. Railroads have by
combinations heretofore been able to con-
troll legislation. They have abused the
privileges literally granted them, and the
time is closely at hand when a reidiust-
ment of railroad management will be de
handed in the interest Of the people, and
it can lie had without violence TO the Con-
sututiOn or the laws. A FARMER.