| From Abingdon Virginian |
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| April 24, 1863 |
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| The Salt Question |
| We are not disposed to attach
blame to parties whose position is such as to make them the target for
every complaining shaft that churls may feel inclined to hurl at them,
unless there is a necessity for it, but when there is a public
necessity for censure, we feel that we are only in the line of duty in
directing the attention of public officials to public complaints, in
order to the correction of grievances complained of. In doing so, we
will remark that we are fully aware, in these times of pressure upon
the pubic thoroughfares, of the great difficulties under which they
labor who have the conduct of them. Though demands upon the whole
energies of railroad officials are heavy and very exacting, still
there are amenities which ought always to be observed, not only
towards other companies and roads, but towards individuals. Wherever
there is indisposition to observe the amenities towards companies that
should subsist between individuals, there is an open door to
innumerable wrongs, not so intended possibly, but which do really
occur. |
| We have indulged in this
course of remark merely to direct attention to a complaint that we
understand has been made by the Georgia Salt Company at Saltville,
against Mr. Dodamead, the Superintendent of the Va. & Tenn.
Railroad. It appears, owing to the almost impossibility of getting
transportation for the salt manufactured by that Company for the State
of Georgia, that a train had been ordered up to the Works to remove
the salt there accumulated to its destination. We understand that, by
permission of the E. T. & Ga. and E. T. & Va. roads, the train
reached Bristol, but has not been permitted to come upon the Va. &
Tenn. road. There may be reasons for this prohibition, but the public
is not aware of what they are. To outsiders, to say the lease of it,
it looks a little unkind, particularly as Virginia complains so
heavily of the prohibition laid some time since upon the removal of
cotton and cotton goods from Ga. If the Superintendent's refusal to
permit the trains of the Ga. road to come upon his road was dictated
by a spirit of retaliation, we think it wrong; for certainly, the only
way to cure the non-intercourse spirit, so culpably manifest by
all the States, is to meet such conduct in a way to cure the evil
complained of. |
| It is impossible for the Va.
& Tenn. road to meet all the demands upon it. This is a fact that
has troubled President Owens not a little; when, therefore, the fact
is so apparent, why refuse a road that may be willing to relieve it of
part of the heavy weight upon the shoulders of the Company, the favor
asked? It may be there is some difficulty in arranging a time-table so
as to suit the running of the Georgia train; but, be this as it may,
we think that when the public necessity is so urgent for a salt supply
in Georgia and elsewhere, the Superintendent of the Va. & Tenn.
road ought, in that spirit of noble kindness that should always
determine his official acts, be willing to put himself to some extra
trouble to render a public accommodation. |
| That there may be some
additional wear and tear upon the road there is no doubt, but what of
that, when a great public necessity is supplied. It becomes companies
and officials, as well as individuals, to make sacrifices for the
public good. |
| Mr. Dodamead is represented to
us, by those who have the best opportunities of knowing his
capacities, as an energetic and intelligent officer, and worthy the
fullest confidence. We have no reason to doubt it and in remarking
upon what we conceive to be an error in administration we cast no
reflection upon him as an officer -- we only notice the fact to call
his attention to the public demands further upon his
administrative capabilities, with the hope that he may see the
propriety of a change of policy. |
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