The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-29
"yTRGINIi RAILROADS."
What They Have Done and Should DO for
Building Up the State.

For The Timcsl
Railroads are the great arteries Of COM
merce. They are the advance guards Of a
higher civilization and freer trade. The
amount Of GOOD they have done is practically
incstimable That it has not been mingled
with some evil cannot he denied, but
the balance is greatly in their favor. Al
first their functions were confined 20 belhg
common carriers only. But with the progress
of time other duties have come upon them
WELDING and controlling both wealth ana IN
torcsts il has become "a part and parcel oi
their proper functions TO build NJ thclocal IN
tcrcsts Of the country they traverse A bright
and strikinc illustration Of how successfully
this can be done IS found in the history al the
Norfolk and Western railroad IN Southwestern
VIRGINIA. 4 few wears since the hand If every
man was against II. To-day II IS by long odds
the most popular railroad IN Virginia. simply
because IL has pursued an enlightened policy
and devoted its capital 10 building up manu-
features from one end Of It's line T. the other.
The Chesapeake and ONO system has COM
mcnced the good work. and Ms splendid sue
cess at Clifton Forge and other places shows
what can he done by its active AID
and cooperation and 1t has steadily grown m
popular favor from the very day II started
this beneficcnt policy. How Is 10 with the
Richmond and Danyille system, formerly the
pride OK tho state IL must be SAID OF II tnat
it performed the duties OF common carrier
in most superb and satisfactory manner.
No complaint can be had against this system
on that account Tut has ii done anything for
the local interests of Virginia; The answer
is emphaticaly not and yet II has received
tie most valuable franchises at the
hands of our Legislature gwen II Win
a lavish and liberal hand. Time and again
of railroads 70 aid in building up the local
interests Of Virginia, but so far as know
AWAY, in vain. Is this wise policy?
MhN does il not make "a branch line from
EeySville 10 Charlottesville. and thus open 10
the world the splendid mineral resources ~
Buckingham aud hlbemarle, the minerals 81
Buckingham being, perhaps, me Dest ana
most extensive ia tine entire South Why does
il not aid G ariottesyile, which is W
rapidly coming to the front with ole Of the
most solvent and best equipped land
companies in the State Why does II
not aid Iynchburg in its wonderful
manufacturing enterprises. dozen
Oti a. instances might be mentioned
appeals have been made 10 that system
which call for il. and with the almost absolute
certainty Of ultimate profit. In the present
state Of the public mind. Is II not III the nigh
est decree iniudlciou~. 10 say the least. il the
Richmond and Danvlle system 10 throw cold
water upon and 20 refuse 70 aid these different
enterprises Has 1t not come 20 TINS, that
when that system strikes the Virginia line, II
Perhaps not but something near akin 10 H.
VIII that unknown quantity. the Farmers
Alliance and have q high respect for the Al
lance. and / distinctly favor some Of It's OBJ
iects. though am not and can never become
"a member Of II on account Of my profession.
which seems likely 20 control Our next Legi-la-
ture. be disposed toactwith the same liberaity
t. the Richmond and Danyille system as nero
tofore. On the contrary Is there not grave
serious danger Of legislation at their hands
which might imperll millions Of dollars al The
securities now owned and controlled uy that
system Of roads, So it would seem TO a dis
interested observer. The writer IS a sterling
friend both Of the farmer and the railroads.
He would deeply regret any legislation winch
would cripple them that 3 the railroads, IN
their Legitimate business. The danger IS that
the farmers might follow the Granger legls-
lation IF the Wisconsin Legislature. enacted
some years since. which resulted IN greater
loss 10 the farmers than the railroads. but III
immense damage % both.
IL is true this legislation was repealed by the
farmers themselves, but not before II had
done immense harm. such Legislation by the
next Virginia legislature can be averted 10y
the pursuit on the part Of the railroads Of
liberal and enlightened policy OF placing local
freight on q reas onabl0 basis. and by building
up the local and material interests OF tins
State. and hy aiding IN the development of her
great resources To be fOrewarned IS 10 he
f0rearmcl." and railroad corporations should
bear in mind the soundness Of The maxim that
an ounce of prudence Is worth pound OF
cure A little common sense by the way II IS
the most uncommon kind Of sense will avert
legislationi which could ony properly be
termed a calamity alike - farmers and rail
roads. At the hands Of tho railroads. at least,
the subject is worthy Of pains'aklng cOnsld-
Grafton. G. Z. OF BUCKINGHAM.