Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-02
Trouble Ahead for the Atlantic and
DanyiIIe Railroad.

To the EdttOT o. me DtSPdtcH
At the last County Court of Sussex an
order was issued by the Board of Super
visors forbidding any more interest to be
paid on the bonds of the Atlantic and
Danville railroad. This move of the
board will at once bring this matter into
court. The county OF Sussex subscribed
SO, 500 per mile for the construction OF
this road.
The Origindl charter of this road left
it to the supervisors of the counties that
subscribed to say how much per mile,
after the counties had voted for the sub
scription, should be given, not exceed
ing the maximum So, 800 per mile. Sus-
sex voted the maximum. There has been
great dissatisfaction among the tax-pay
ers of the county since these bonds were
issued, upon the ground, as l under
stand, that improper influences were
used. And the present Board of
Supervisors, for reasons satisfactory
to themselves and in Difference to
public opinion, determined to employ
counsel and test the matter in the courts.
Governor Cameron and associates have
been retained for this purpose with the
handsome contingent fee of $4,000
This case is exciting a great deal of in
terest among the people, and if all re-
ports be true some rich and rare develop
ments will be made. Unfortunately for
this road and everybody connected with
it, it has been under cloud from its in
ception.
1t is to be hoped that the develop
ments of this suit will at least have the
effect in Underwater to warn our people
of the danger of county subscriptions to
railroads. 1t is an easy matter to vote
money, especially other peoples money.
but when these votes are materiaized
into dollars and cents in the hands of
the tax-gatherer, then come the regrets
and discontents.
If people want railroads let them
build them but don't tax other people
to do it. II they want charters let them
have them, and it is the duty of the Lee
eislature to grant them. If capitalists
want to spend their money in building
railroads let them do it. There is ample
room and verge enough for all. We
need not fear having too many facilities
of transportation. If some OF our wise
legislators who evince such tender So
licitude for some of the corporations
aireddy in existence would, only as a
matter of recreation, take pleasure trip
through the New England States next
summer, they would there see what rail-
roads have done for that almost barren
and rocky country, In the State of
Massachusetts, the railroads average but
little more than four miles apart, and the
lands through which they run, as a general
thing, are rocky and poor, but all along on
the lines of these roads for every few
miles YOU see HttIe manufacturing es-
Adjustments, and in noticing these little
industries / was forcibly reminded OF
remark made by MIR. Edward Atkinson,
the great Boston statistician, that the
wealth OF New England did not consist
so much in her great manufacturing es-
adjustments as il did in the thousands
OF little industries all over the country,
and these little Industries only existed
because of the facilities OF transporta-
ton. The result is the markets OF the
world are almost at the door OF every
New England home, and the statistics of
the country show that, including mort.
cages, nearly one fifth OF the capital OF
the country belongs to the six little
States Of New England.