The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-01
Colon T. N. R. 1alcOtl'S Views 0n;l
RichmOld'S Transportation Interests.
is A VICTIM OF COMBINATIONS.
unless the Chamber OF Commerce Is
Watchful to Secure Rates That viii
Protect the Interests Of shippers
Here. They VIII suffer.

influences have heretofore been instrument
| tai in promoting development and to what
extent change in former conditions
may operate against further Development
on old lines and make new departures adj
visable.
! What ever form or direction the efforts
| OF the young and vigorous element Of the
/ business community may take 1t is i'm
| portant that they should have the APP
! proval and support Of the older and more
J experienced men. for in these days not
| only intelligent and persistent effort, but
! also the most cordial cooperation, and
mutual support 10 the extent at least Of
"a common faith In the possibility Of sue
| cess in new enterprises. 20 far towards
! insuring the general success OF a business
| community.
RICHMOND'S INTERESTS IGNORED.
II has been said that the system Of in
ternal Improvements inaugurated by the
| State OF Virginia ignored the interests OF
! Richmond, but IL was rather the uneN.
pected results to trade from the competi-
1 ton Of railroads with water lines that
produced the Objectionable results.
The James River and Kanswha Canal
was regarded as the most important or
all Virginia's enterprises and for many
years no charter would be granted to any
railroad that could possibly compete with
it in bringing freisht 10 Richmond but
charters were granted that enabled Bal
timore 10 absorb much trade that Rich
mOnd might have had. II was not until
the canal was converted into a railroad.
absorbed by the Chesapeake and Ohio.
| and became a part Of a great trunk
/ line" between the Great West" and Tide
water Virginia that II proved OF any
great value 10 Richmond
| RICHMOND e. DANVILDE RAILROAD
The most important OF all the early
railroad enterprises TO Richmond was the
/ Richmond and Danville. Its conception
excited ridicue and it was built under
/ great difficulties and announcement; but
when completed It realized as merely
| local road the most ardent hopes OF its
/ advocates. IL was always contemplated
/ 10 extend n southwark. through North
| Carolina but It's very success in developing
! local business operated against such eN-
tension by stimulating North Carolina 10
I bui'd the North Carolina railroad. which
! resulted in hostility 10 the Virginia en-
| terprise and a determination not 20 per
nit the Richn cnd and Danyille railroad
| to cross the state line.
II was not until Il became necessary
for military purposes during the war. and
was demanded by the Cor feo rate Gov
ornment that a charter could be obtained
for the extension from Danvile 10 con-
meet with the North Carolina railroad at
Greensboro
The "Danville railroad" was opened 20
Danville in July 1856 and In that year it
| brought 10 Richmond nearly 100000
pounds OF leaf tobacco. over 100000
pounds Of manufactured tobacco. and
$4,000 bushels Of wheat the production OF
| its local territory alone.
Notwithstanding the effect Of the war.
this section had 50 far recuperatcd in
1871 that the Danville railroad brought 10
Richmond IN thar year over 80 100000
pounds Of leaf tobacco, 100000 pounds OF
manufactured tobacco. 100000 pounds Of
stems. and 10000 bushels Of wheat
At that time the trade Of Richmond
consisted chiefly OF the Agricultural pro-
ducts Of this and other sections Of the
state tributary 10 II. end the distribution
20 them Of the supplies required by an ag-
ricultural community. together with such
external commerce as resulted from the
manufacture and marketing Of these pro-
ducts
SECOND STAGE or RAILROAD De
VELOPMENT.
The second stage Of the development
Of railroad transportation had now be-
gun, and the consolidation Of local roads
into systems was progressing. The first
important move Of this kind IN Virginia
was the consolidation OF the Norfolk
and Petersburg. Southside and Virginia
and Tennessee railroads into what IS now
the Norfolk and Western.
Richmond had subscribed 70 the stock
Of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad. 20
aid in ito construction. but II had now
become a part OF the line TO Norfolk.
and the disposition OF railroad companies
to keep freight on their own lie was
TO get the longest haul out Of Il. was al
ready q recognized factor I'm commerce.
II was easy TO see. therefore. that this
consolidation BODIED evil for Richmond.
The Lynchbtr re- and Danville was nearly
completed. and was destined soon 10 be-
come an extension Of the Virginia Mid
land railroad TO Danville. while the Sea-
board and Roanoke railroad had combined
with the Raleigh and CASTOR and North
Carolina railroads in North Carolina 10
control Southern traffic and make a bar
rier al Greensboro which neItralized all
the efforts Of the Richmond and Dan
vile Railroad Company TO extend its traffic
in that direction.
THE JAMES RIVER CHANNEL.
The apprehensions which these condi-
lions aroused IN the nlndS or the mink
ing men of Richmond found expression
in active efforts TO deepen the channel OF
James river and intensified the interest
felt in the progress of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway towards completion. With
James river open for heavy draught yes
sells 10 her whaTves. and as the terminus
OF a railroad from the Ohio river. there
would still be a great future for Richmond.
The influences which were adverse 10
Richmond were ain est fatal 10 the Rich
mond and Danvlle Railroad Company, II
not counteracted, and in this fact there
was additional security for Richmond
Fortunately. there had been no actual
consolidation OF the roads in North Caro-
lima; IL was merely a combination such
as was made to secure control Of traffic In
advance OF consolidation, n combination
which could be broken by obtaining owner
ship or control of one or more Of the
properties: and this the Richmond and
Danvile Railroad Company proceeded to
do, and accomplished by leasing the
North Carolina railroad In September. M.
This was the first move in the develop
ment of the Richmond and Danyille rail-
road into a great system which opened
up TO Richmond a new and increasing
field for enterprise. and with the compile
ton OF the Chesapeake and Ohio railway
soon thereafter, must have materially aid
ed her merchants and manufacturers 10
tide over the long period OF depression
which followed the panic OF 1873; for the
statistics published by the Richmond and
Danville Railroad Company show that the
freights shipped from Richmond over that