Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19

tho Richmond and Dsnvills system. 80
far az freight and passenger business
originating IN Augusta Is concerned
''Th. Richmond end Danviiie," said
prominent railroad man yesterday. has
never before evinced lack OF ability 10
take care OF itself. and will hardly begin
now. The system taps Augusta through
the Charlotte. Columbi1 and augusta
branch. and tho Richmond and Danville
seems to prefer having this line pear the
brunt OF Augustus wrath rather than
sec the whole passenger business OF us
other lines paralyzed. as would be the
case II the 1-cent ratio was allowed TO
20 into force. Augusta. as usual, Is ut
terly unable to see any side or tho ques-
tion except her own. Waiiing ana Snash-
ing OF teeth inadequately describes The
howl OF lamentntion which has gone up
from the Fair Fountain City. Her sor-
rot, ia az the mourning OF Rachael. with
a dash OF bitter anger in Il. and II 1t is
In her power 10 get even with the Rich
mond and Danville for this imagined IN
Justice there Ia little question that sna
will do So"
The people Of Augusta claim tnat the
Richmond and Danville people agreed 70
give the one-cent rate, ana 'hat they
went back on their promise. The railroad
H..
never will grant the rate. IL granted the
one-cent rate would cover a territory OF
three hundred miles In extent. through
out which the Richmond and Danvllle
controls many lines. The passenger ousl-
ness OF these roads would simply be
ruined for the next month to come. They
think It not only unreasonable but pre-
MYSTERIOUS for Augusta to suppose that
that they would agree 10 a proposition
which would cost them tens or thousands
OF dollars simply because she happened to
have an exposition. They were willing to
do anything I'm reason, but giving up a
months passenger-traffic In oruer 10 at
tract n few hundred more people 10 Au-
gusta is coming 1t rather strong.
Commissioner Stahlman, the gentleman
who gave the occasion for all OF this
trouble. has not been heard from recent
~. The Brer Rabbit policy OF "layiR'
low an sayin' nothln" Is now finding much
favor in his eyes. Augusta seems 10
euppose that Commissioner Stahlman has
an absolute control over the passenger
service Of all railroads In the territory OF
the Southern Railway and steamship
Association. She acts and talks as though
she thought that when Commissioner
Stahlman says charge one cent, the rail-
roads had TO forthwith adopt that as
facts are very different. The railroads
cannot charge excursion rates without the
permission Of the commissioners. but
when the issiOners decree GER
tain rate It is within the option OF each
individual line as 10 whether 1t shall
be complied with or not. Excursion rates
are usually granted at the solicitation OF
roads. not OF individuals. II n road asks
for a given rate there Is no doubt that 1t
will adopt the rate when granted.
In Augustus case the mode Of procedure
was reversed somewhat The Exposition
committee went to the commissioner first
and 10 the individual lines afterwards.
The commissioner promised n certain rate
without consulting the individual lines.
Why the commissioner made any prom
ises nobody knows, for he must have
been very well aware that he had no
authority 10 fulfil them II the roads OBJ
iected. Anyhow, there's a very pretty
kettle OF fish in Augusta. and from the
manner I'm which the pot Is kept boiling
now there promises 10 be rare old time
before they are finally done.