Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-01-08

pIyBJCIdllS 10 dlt6llu lnGil.
At recent meeting of those engaged in the
beet sugar enterprise in this section and the
representatives of the railroads, certain con-
cessionS in rates were asked for the sugar
beet people, and they were met at once with
generous compliance by the railroads-Sta,tn-
ton Netcs
Oar esteemed contemporary has evidently
been misi formed about the promptness
and generous compliance by the
railroads. Its error is natural; for
one would think thai if there was any EN-
terprise a railroad would take deep inter
est Inland step forward to with prompt and
generous compliance, not lessened by the
dickering and haggling of Chatham street,
it would be a new industry that promised
freight for its tracks. One would think
that they would have their agents at the
public meetings to urge it on and that the
most advantageous freight rates would
be offered by those agents as an induce
ment to the farmers to go into it. That is
The ideal way ssthe representatives of the
railroads" would lie supposed to treat new
industry. Let us see how they actually
did treat the one in Augusta, promising
that all and everything the promoters of it
asked of the railroads was the same rates
as given by the railroads in other States
where the beet-sugar industry was in pro-
gress. When the enterprise was first
thought of, i'll the latter part of September
we think, ''the representatives of the rail
roads, were written to, but no satisfacto-
~ reply was gotten. Then came public
meeting, October I'd, Of the County ALI
ance, at which there was an address on the
subject, aad the Importance of railroad
III es d Aelt OF.
On October G6th there was a public meet
ins IF tsr ners, both Alliance men and
9th IS. he'd ut The courG no Use, at which it
was stated tiaJ no satlsi actory RESPONSES
could he COTTON from ''the representatives
of the railroads. aud tie appointment of a
committee to correspond with those officers
was suggested. The committee was APP
pointed aud went to work corresponding,
and enclosed in their letter to the railroad
officers a circular letter of the Farmers
Alliance suggesting rates that the railroads
could gIye-those given by railroads in
States where the new industry was being
tried.
On November 14th, another public meet
ing OF farmers was held in the court house.
at which their correspondence committee
reported. This committee simply reported
d letter dated Nov. 18th from subordinate
not be accepted and adding: 1--WE have
looked into this matter carefully and have
conferred with our people Oh the subject,
aud find we cannot see our way clear to
grant you the rates suggested in the circu-
lar letter Of the committee above referred
to-" The railro d letter WIS uiscouraging
and several farmers announced thai they
could not make up tneir minds to plant
beetS on such a prospect us that. The
railroads were masters of the situation as
have to give it up. The meeting then
adopted a resolution instructing its Rail
road Committee to ''persist in calling the
attention of the leading officers of the
railroads to the Importance to them and to
the State of this new industry
Discouraged, but not cast down, the
County Alliance determined to change the
e'egation Of the gun and try a Heading Off
Ger. p" They addressed d letter to the traffic
manager Of 'sthe representatives Of the rail
roads, setting forth the difficulties Of tie
situation. He replied on n november 18th, say
| ing that he had written to the subordinate
suggesting figures to submit to you which
are a concession from those previously
named" To this he added the welcome
and, from what had occurred, rather sur
prislng information that sit is our inten-
ton and desire at all times to cordially CO.
operate in all matters of this kind, and |
submit that our past record in assisting
to open up the resources of Virginia will
convince you and your associates OF the en-.
tire sincerity of our expressions
On December 10th, more than three
months after the subject of rates was first
agltated, subordinate officer Of ''the
representatives Of the railroads. came to
StauntOn. had al interview with represen-
tatives Of the enterprise, of the Alliance
and Of the farmers, and gave rates of
Which nobody can complain, which were as
good in all respects as those given the Few
industry by the Nebraska roads and in
some respects better. The farmers had
asked nothing unreasonable in rates, and
nothing that could not be granted, and