Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-23
rur RAILROADS MUST HELP.

The Chamber OF Commerce COMMITTEE
nj which l.. u. Morris. ESD, is chair
man and which was appointed recently
TO inaueurate plans for developing the
1rade Of Richmond IN this ana other
states. IL industrously at work II mas
n number OF schemes under consideration
all Of which. more or less. depend upon
4he railroad companies for success.
with the assistance Of the railroad com
NAMES. the committee probably can BRING
"a great deal OF new business TO our city;
without that assistance the committees
efforts VII he futile.
Now is the time for the railroads to
seIp Ms. And In helping US they Will
helm themselves. The more buyers we
bring here the more goods there VIII De
10 haul here and ship from here. We
do not ask or expect that any unfair
discrimination shall be practiced in our
fsvrr and against other cities. All we
contend forts that our geographical po-
sltion shall be suitably recognized, and
that our Importance as commercial
centre shall be duly considered. Rich
mond is a very valuable customer Of
our railroads. and with more encourage
ndcnt from them our business might be
developed to the advantage Of the city
and the railroads both.
In the matter OF the one and one third
price round-trip tickets for merchants,
we believe Richmond will get them if
they are accorded to other cities. In
thetmatter of excursions. there are some
obstacles that will have to be removed.
We should think that excursions would
have TO be confined to merchants and
their families. Il will hardly be prac-
,icabl4 TO extend the privilege Of them
20 the general public Such a restric-
1ion would simplify our duty too, as
hosts and entertainers. And it is riggs
and proper that the railroad companies
should look 70 us I'm this connection 10
protect them as far as possible against
The operations of "scalpers"
All these things, we believe, can he
arranged, but there are rivalries and jed'
ousies on the part Of other markets thai
must be considered Here real difficult
~ will arise. but we trust that it vii
mot prove insuperable.
Again. Richmond is laboring under un
necessary disadvantages I'm reaching Ger
tain sections Of Virginia territory. Oh
some roads the freight and passenge
rates both are against us. There ar
hundreds of country merchants VIII
would gladly deal with Richmond if tn
railroad rates did not prohibit them from
doing so, and many of these merchant
have expressed wonder that our jobber
have not risen in arms. SO to speak. a
The Injustice pTacticed towards this city
The truth is. the railroads ought to d,
more for Richmond than they are nov
doing; but we must suggest TO then
how this can and should be done. lie
MS 20 to them with our plans and shoN
Them that our wishes are just and rea
sonable. and then they can hardly re
fuse TO do what we ask. But We mus
rouse ourselves before we can hope {
rouse them. We must first cast ava
our indifference upon the subject befor
we can ask them TO east away theirs
THE Morris Committee offers an oppor
tunity TO all who are i'm accord will
mis- great movement TO give II their sym
pathy and support. There are other con
mittees of the Chamber ready TO do such 9
the work as properly belongs TO then
so let us have a concerted movemer
all along the line. Let's be up an
doing