The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-01
Richmond and Danville and Virginia
Midland

Il Of more vital importance TO Richmond
than any other no~ pending before the
Legislature. we desire TO call the special
attention OF our delegates 10 Senate bill
No 1855, which has passed the Senate, has
been reported by the House Committee on
Roads, with an amendment. has been
ordered 20 its engrossment and third read
ing, and will next come up on its passage.
This bill, as 1t passed the Senate, ali.
ihonzed any railroad In the State to
lease any other railroad which connected
with il.
10 viii he seen at glance that while
battle has been waging on the part OF our
Virginia cities against Senate bill No. 3os,
authorizing the Richmond and Danville
Railroad Company 70 lease the Virginia
Midland railway, bill has actually passed
the senate and gone through all its pre-
liminary stages in the House, which en-
ables the Richmond and Danville Railroad
tompany 10 accomplish all its purposes,
and that, too, without attracting attention
or causing even discussion. The Dill
was amended by the House Committee on
Roads so as to provide that 1t shall not
sutbor;zc q railroad company to lease
road which is parallel to itself or which is
competing road.
The friends Of the bill contend that this
proyiso excludes the Richmond and Dan
vile from the right TO lease the Midland
under its terms. But II does not appear
to be so. The Virginia Midland is not a
road parallel TO the Richmond and Dan
vile. Nor. under the circumstances, can
il he properly said to be competing road.
By its location and connections with Baltl'
more il ought to be q competing road.
But il was sold to the Terminal Company
and purchased by it for the very purpose
OF destroying the competition, as Colonel
BuroRD assured the Senate Committee on
Wednesday night.
II il now controlled by the Richmond
and Danvile, and Of course is not allowed
ia compete with the dominant road.
We call upon our representatives in the
Legislature, especially those in the House,
not 10 allow such a bill to be passed without
using every means in their power TO resist
It's passage.
The bin upon its general merits is OPP
POSED to the whole policy OF our laws, and
especially our general railroad law, which
even prohibits one railroad company from
buylng the stock Of another railroad COM
pany.
II is totally opposed to the interests OF
the people because its effect will be to
build up and 10 strengthen powerful mo-
nopolies, while the great object OF the peo-
pie in these days is to weaken. TO restrict,
and even to overthrow the power Of the
monopolies.
We are not in favor OF unduly hamper
Ing or restricting our railroads, but we are
strenuously opposed to granting them ex-
traordinary privileges, which enable them
to Cypress our own cities and people.
Look at the effect OF this sweeping bill.
1t viii authorize the Richmond and Dan
vile Railroad Company to make lease OF
the Virginia Midland. Having so unified
and identified the Midland with Itself, that
whatever profits are made upon the Viz
yinia Midland will flow into the treasury
of the Richmond and Danville, il will then
proceed TO make its contract with the city
of Baltimore and the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company, by which 1t will secure
the loan Of s2,00O,00O. make close connec-
tion with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
and so reduce the diferential rates which
now exist in favor Of our cities as to pour
abe whole trade OF the South into Balti-
more, Philadelphia. and New York.
So long as the treasury OF the Virginia
Midland is kept separate from the treasury
Of the Richmond and Danvlle the difieren-
tjals must in the nature OF things be main
tanned. The reason is apparent. When
ever the difierenhpls are so far lowered as
10 send the business over the Midland
road. the business will be taken from the
Danyille and the Danvilfe treasury will be
depleted. Whenever the Midland and the
Danyjlle arc so united and identified that
they will have common treasury, as they
would be by lease, then the difieren-
tials can be lowered and the freight
sent over the Midland without injury 10
the Danvile, because then the profits OF
both companies will be poured into COM
mon treasury. When that day comes Rich
mond may bid goodbye to the splendid
.,dyan. ages which were acquired Tor her
by the Richmond and Danyille combina-
ton. Then may she eXclaim with Cardi-
nal WoIsEY ~ have touched the highest
point of all my greatness, and haste now
40 my setting" 1t is clear that nothing is
TO be expected from the Richmond and
Danville upon the score OF favor to Vii-
ginla cities. That company is controlled
In Wall street. IL needs money, II must
have money, and a large amount OF II.
To get this money the Virginia cities will
be ruthlessIy and unhesitatiDgly sacrificed
unless the Legislature shall open its eyes
10 the danger, and at the eleventh hour
come TO our protection. II there be any
zeal. II there be any care for the protection
Of Richmond, # there be any ability in ON
representatives, now is the hour for its ex
crcise; for now Is the hour OF great danger
The Industrial South, in commenting
upon communication addressed 10 Mr.
john A. CURTIS which appeared in the
Dispatch few days ago, and which SCI
forth some Of the objects and aims OF the