Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-29
FRIDAY DECEMBER %, 1899.
RICHMOND AND THE sEABOARD.

The people of Richmond are. and ought
to be. profoundly interested i'm the Sea-
board consolidation question. For quar-
ter OF century no scheme OF railroad or
ganization has possessed more Importance
for us than this does. It's success would
be a blessing; its failure misfortune.
With It an accomplished fact. our bust
noss-men would have opened to them
markets which they now have poor access
TO, and the dignity of our city as rail-
road centre would be vastly increased.
The Seaboard system. when united and
consolidated as proposed, will have about
$500 miles of track. Not only Will it open
to us some markets now practically closed
TO us. but 1t will be the means of giving
us facilities and accommodations in the
whole southern country better than those
we now have. Being a new competitor
in much OF that field, the seaboard would
not only take pains to ingratate itself
with the public, but it would compel the
Southern TO be more accommodating.
Though the Southern possesses one Of
the most liberal charters ever granted by
any legislature. and though it ought to be
grateful to Virginia for that, and for
many other things, it has given our State
small consideration. Its general Offices
which. by rights, ought 10 De in This city
are established in Washington. ana in the
making of its schedules little thought is
given to our interests.
But, aside and apart from her business
interests, Richmond has every reason to
wish for the Seahoard consolidation. The
monopolisuc spirit shown by the enemies
Of the Seaboard system Is provoking i'm
the extreme, and is something we cannot
countenance. The South is big enough,
and sufficiently productive 10 sustain the
Seaboard and several other systems
There is no need that any competitor
should try to cut the throat OF another.
II is no case of self~preseryation. There's
room enough for all---if each Will be con-
tent with liberal share Of patronage;
not demand all. But. alasl a disposition
is shown which reveals the belief held by
certain men that they have, OF ought to
have, monopoly of the southern coun-
try. The American love Of fair dealing
the spirit OF chivalry which is undying in
the South. revolts iron Jly such doctrine,
or doing. as that. " IRE ready to ac-
cord fair play TO eve wal of the Sea-
board system. but W inHst insist that
they. also. shall do justice.
Nothing more is asked for the Seaboard
system than has been freely granted to its
business competitors, and the Virginia
public and southern people generally, Will
be content with nothing less. We know
of no rule Of law no ethical requirement,
which demands that our friends should
not have as fair a showing at ouI hands
as any other people.
We say, again. that all the sympathies
of the people of Richmond must be. ought
TO be. and will be with the SeaboarG II
has been meanly misrcpresented and vi
eiously assailed In the Georgia l.egisla-
ture, In various courts. In Wall street and
in the newspapers II has been attacked
The source of all this opposition most Of
us can guess. The object Of 1t, too. we
can easily surmise but. thank Heaven,
III success has attended these hostile ef-
forts, May II be so 70 the end. But. if
they are to be continued certainly they
can receive no countenance here in Rich
mond. which has quite as much at stake
in this fight as any town, or city. on the
Seaboards $500 miles Of track. Let all
the world know where we stand. and that
our love of fair play. as well as our bust
mes, interests. compels us TO give our
heartfelt sympathies and enthusiastic
support 70 the aiiacked party in this con-
test