Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-21
COUNTRY AND TOWN.
Identity Of Interest in Reforming Rail-
road Abuses.


To The Editor of he DisDd'ch:
So much has been well written upon the
subject Of railroad abuses that articles al
ready printed would afford good text Tor
the platform of the convention proposed
by the Chamber of Commerce. The fact,
however. that the interest of Richmond
aud Virginia cities is identical with and in
extricanlv woven il with that OF the farm
ers and agricultural sections OF the state
and. indeed, with the true interest OF the
railroads themselyes-is of sucn vital I'M
portauce that 1t will bear iteration and
TciteratiOn.
No one can travel upon the principal
roads OF the state without seeing vast sec
tons of country which used to SMILE as
II were. with plenty and prosperity, now
Giving the saddcst evidences of decaylng
agricultural importance. BY no means all
OF this decline is due 20 railroad abuses.
Much Is attributable TO causes which IN
the past We have been pOwerless 10 con-
troll. but for that reason II - al the more
essential for us TO see that by our own
neglect and folly we do not further con-
tribute to a condition Of things 50 Distress
ing, and that we remove every impeachment
to an improvement.
The development of the railroad inter-
ests. especially of those huge systems
which dominate thousands of miles OF
country. has created "A tendency ON the
mart of managers 10 consider long hauls
and large shipments with undue partlaiity
and induced them to take business OF TINS
character upon terms entirely dlspropor-
toned 10 the service performed lhey nave
practically annlhilated distance anu
brought into competition with eastern
producers western products at a rate
that completely destroys the vantage
ground of geographical position, when
alone could enable the eastern farIn-
er to compete with the cheaper
products OF his western brother; and
further TO recoup the expenses IN
cured on longer hauls not covered bY the
freights charged on such shipments, short
hauls are charged with an UNDUE proper
ton OF the expense and rates made pro-
portionateiv too high on such traffic, and
every pound of stuff produced along such
a line is too often regarded as exclusively
and iegitimately the subject OF all the
freight that can possibly be extracted IRON
u, often low such policy crushing out
finally the production Of the article, or at
least afIording no encouragement iOr lts
production. Thus we see not only
the corn, wheat, rye: oats, salted
meats. tobacco, &c, OF otnef sections
gina products, but fresh meats, Vege-
tables, and fruits of the most perishabie
character are also bought on terms that
drive out local competition. Is 1t to be ac-
knowledged that large sections OF the
State are capable Of producing absolutely
nothing upon a salable basis! Is 1t the
interest OF these roads To run through
miles of wilderness destitute OF agricul-
ture, horticulture. or any other iuiai pro,
auction This is not 70 be credlted. and
both the convention and the cooperation
sought by having nonresident and honor
airy members OF the Chamber OF Commerce
proposed 10y Mr. Il. q. Leigh, Jr., are most
desirable measures for the purpose OF
seeing what can be done to better the
situation.
TINS picture may seem overdrawn, but
while certain sections are still productive
IL Is an indisputable fact that there IS
generally no profit il the business OF farm
ing; that only the condition IN which
they mud themselves has induced that
class TO organize and give no uncertain
ntterance TO the profound and universal
feeling OF discomfort in many States. All
that has been said of freight rates applies