NP, WJ 6/17/1862

From the Wilmington Journal
June 17, 1862
 
Opening the Railroads
   We are glad to learn that it is in contemplation to restore the running of passenger trains on the {Virginia} Central Road from this city. We will not doubt that the provision also includes the running of FREIGHT trains, of which there is still greater need. When our armies were on the Potomac, our Northside railroads were so much taken up with military transportation as greatly to interrupt their usefulness for ordinary business. This shifting of our great camp would now, however, enable them to be of extreme advantage to us. We have no more sagacious, patriotic and enterprising citizens in the land than the Presidents of these roads and their associates; and we rely with great confidence upon them to rally to the public help in this exigency.
   We believe that several bridges, destroyed by our soldiers, constitute the only immediate obstacle to the full use of these roads. We trust they will be restored with all possible dispatch and we hope the lesson will not be lost, and that this precipitate, useless burning of expensive bridges will be abandoned. There has been a good deal more of it than was necessary. It is greatly more to the credit of our commanders to defend than to destroy.
   Meantime we hope that the provision dealers and caterers of our city, will  exert themselves, through country agencies and otherwise, to gather in their accustomed supplies and at prices that people can pay. The extortion that some are now practicing exceeds any thing that had before been witnessed, and calls loudly for the Provost. Far better to exert themselves and gather supplies, than to draw the very blood out of their customers by wicked prices. We presume, of course, that the hospitals will have their agents out to procure supplies; and if the large hotels, and association of private citizens do the same, it will diminish the present pressure on the market stalls. No expedient for relief must be neglected.
Richmond Enquirer, 14th inst.

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