Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-10

outside capital. There nave oeen oo-
veloped IRON and coal-mines, iron fur
naces, and other industries. The out
put ofpig-iron has increased from 29,9lS
tons in 1880 to 1875 tons in 1885,
while the output Of coal has increased
from 1000 tons in 1880 to 100000
in 1885, and the railroads pay the State
and counties nearly 100000 a year
taxes.
The roads are building up our cities,
and the dream Of the men who predict
ed commercial greatness for Virginia
is about to be realized, if her Legisla-
ture will keep its hands off and let the
good work 90 on. The tide Of immi-
grafton has been stayed, and Virginia
is beginning to attract settlers from
abroad. Our cities are growing. Du-
ring the past five years one half of the
entire increase in the real.estate assess
ments in this State has been in the five
commercial centres which owe their
growth to the railroads. Richmond
shows an increase ofs5, ,S64, 4,623 Nor
folk and Portsmouth, SIS, 730,44s; DAN
vile, 50, 635, ,946; Lynchburg, sl,507,-
AS, and Alexandria sSs6,S45, while
more than a million dollars worth Of
property has sprung into existence at
Roanoke by the operations Of the rail-
roads.
Local freights cannot be regulated
by through freigbts. Flour and meats
and grain from the West are brought
to Richmond and other distributing
centres in Virginia at low rates, or they
would not come here at all. This en-
ables the consumer in Virginia to pur-
chase at living prices, and this very act
Of the railroads, by which the con-
sumers all over the State are benefited,
is used as an argument against them.
There are no determinations which
the law does not now amply provide
against, and the grand enterprises which
are developing the hidden resources of
the State, building up her waste places,
and increasing the business and popu-
lation of her cities, should not be ham
pertd by unwise restrictions. Let the
good work 60 on, and when our cities
have grown to be New Norks or Phila-
delphias or Bostons there will be no
complaint that the farmers will not be
able to find ready market for what
they raise. The business interests Of
the State have asked this body not to
pass the 18th section. They ask it,
not for the sake Of the railroads, but
for the sake of business itself, which
they say would be paralyzed. They
are businessmen and know whereof
they speak.
At , ?. NJ. the Speaker vacated the
chair, Mr.. Porter having nearly finished
his argument.
IN THE AFTERNOON.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Porter
concluded his speech in opposition to
the Stuart and Munford amendments,
and was followed by Mr.. Peters.
Mr.. Peters said that it was with
some embarrassment that he approach
ed this subject when such able men
bad preceded him. lie came from
country rich in mineral resources, and
what they need is the capital with
which to develop these resources. lie
believed the 18th section Of this bill
would prove detrimental to the best in
terestS of his district in that it would
keep capital therefrom. lie said that
the practical unanimity with which
the various chambers Of commerce re-
Gently assembled here to consider this
subject had opposed this 18th section
was sufficient evidence to him that
the public business interests demand
that this amendment shall be defeated.
The present law affords sufficient re-
lief if its provisions are only enforced.
Mr.. Peters made a vigorous, argu-
mentatiye speech, which produced fine
effect.
MR.. A. FULKERSON.
Mr.. Fulkerson, Of Washing ton, said
that he had been a director in a railroad
company which was one Of the longest
lines in the State, and had for a num-
Der Of years been Of counsel in all cases
for OF against this company. lie hoped
and felt confident that no member Of
the House would attribute his position
in opposing this measure to the rela-
tion that existed between himself and
railroads. lie wanted the patron Of
the bill to tell why this bill was intro
duced. The reasons, so far as he had
heard, were vague, indefinite, and un-
satisfactory; and he desired to know
from what sources the complaints on
" hich this amendment was framed had
come.
Mr.. Munford replied that if what had
been said on the subject had not an
swered the question it was useless for
him to attempt to satisfy the gentleman.
Mr.. Fulkerson | thought he didn't
have any reason.
Mr.. Fulkerson continued, and for an
hour and half spoke in opposition to
the 18th section Of the bill. lie con-
trasted the provisions of this bill
with similar provisions in the present
law. and declared that of the two the
present law is the best, saying that
should this bill become law it would
work a hardship both to the railroad
and the public. At 6 O'Clock
Mr.. Fulkerson yielded the hoOr-hav-
ing spoken with remarkable ability, in
cisiyenesS, and humor-to a motion to
adjourn.
Adjourned.
THEY WANT FOUR YEARS.
w mortal Of the common Council for a Loagcr
Term.