The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-15

I
All that is needed will be State aud ma
tional legislation and cooperation TO
solve the only dangerous and perplex-
ing problem which confronts the Amcri-
can people.
RICHMOND AND THE RAILROADS.
'IAttie hoy Blue come blow your horn,
The sheep are I'm the meadow and the cows
are I'm the corn;
Is this the way you mind your shcepf
Cn.er the haycocX fast asleep
The city of Richmond plays the rols
of Little Boy Blue 90 perfection. For
years she has lain reposing on the soft
eide of her advantageous location, NUT
tering Of her wonderful blue garments
summing herself in drowsy content,
whilst the meadows have been shorn
and the corn trampled down.
At the last meeting Of the Chamber
of Commerce a distinguished aud saga
cious citizen. the precedent of one Of
our banks, stated some facts relating to
one of the great highways on which
Richmond depends for existence, which,
If they were not so serious, would be
really comic. He said that thirty years
ago the great Southwestern region OF
Virginia was three hours nearer Rich
mond than it is to-day, when general
railway travel is twice as quick as IT
was then. lie declared that the Nor
folk and Western Railroad, in absolute
defiance Of its charter. has FOR years
failed to make a connection at Burke
vile. and in the exercise Of the nigh
handed prerOgative which all railways
running in Virginia always assert. drag
Richmond passengers TO Petersburg,
where they are left tosweler in steam
ing cars until such time as the Rich
mond and Petersburg Railroad shall see
tit to haul them home.
These are facts which any Of the cit
liens of Richmond may have known,
and which many Of them have known
for years.
ANY one who has travelled by either
the Norfolk and Western or the Rich
mond and Danville will probably hive
seen the train on one road running into
Burkeville just as that on the other
ran out. Meantime the trade which
should have come to Richmond, and
which would have come to her had she
but blown her horn. has gone to Norfolk,
ana Richmond hss been left browsing
quietly under the hayccck. y
This state of affairs is not confined to
the Norfolk and Western alone. 1t eI-
lists with every railroad entering Rich
mond. There is not one which has not
in tho past sacrificed Richmond. and is
not sacrificing her daily. The Norfolk
and Western is at least better than the
others, IN that 1t is openly antagonstic.
lis very name implies that Norfolk Is
the natural object Of its fostering care.
All tn others, however. run through
or rather by Richmond, and If
Richmond were but awake to her
own interests. might be made sub
servent to them instead Of subver-
sive Of them.
l. there a railway. with Ihe exception
Of the Richmond Fredericksburg and
Potomac COMPANY, which runs con-
venient train 10 this city, or which has
comfortable service on those which
are run? Is there one other which has
a passenger depot which is not 4 scare
crow and a scandal : Is there one which
has not. after the faircst promises to
Richmond. needed her aid, as that aid
was completely obtained, left her on a
side track and sought another terminus:
Richmond gave the Chesapeake and
Ohio $500 600 for her tunnel to estaD-
fish Il deep water terminus on James
river, Just below the limits. She gave
VI her streets ard liberties to the Rich
mond and Dauvlle and the Richmond
and Allegheny. Each Of these "a soon
Is it had gotten all 1t could, cut for
deeper water and a longer haul.
1t is not contended that the railways
have not acted naturally IN seeking
their OWL interests. What Is claimed 10
that Richmond has been grievously i'm
posed on. Her policy has been sys-
tematicslly suicidal. She has seen her
best trade shunted Of, and has let her
horn 60 unknown. She has witnessed
her richest fields fenced out, and has
slept all the eounder.
b cause she was weather. than
aud bigger than Norfolk
she has dozed serenely, too good
natured to assert or too INDECENT to pro-
tect her rights.