| From the Raleigh Confederate |
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| September 28, 1864 |
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| For the Confederate |
| The Currency |
| I don't intend to write an essay upon the
currency, but merely to call attention to the charges of Corporations,
which are calculated, if not intended, to break down any
currency. The Wilmington & Weldon Railroad charges on a sack of coffee,
weighing one hundred and twenty-five pounds, from Wilmington to Weldon,
a distance of one hundred and sixty mile the enormous sum of
thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents, when carried on the mail train,
and half that amount when carried by regular freight. The charge for a
barrel of sugar, weighing two hundred and ninety-three pounds, is
eight-seven dollars and ninety cents. The charge for conveying a
passenger is only thirty dollars, whilst it was five before the war.
This is six prices on passenger freight, whilst the charges on conveying
something to eat and drink is about forty prices. Why this vast
difference? Can any currency sustain it? Gold and silver would sink
under such charges. |
| I have often heard it said that
corporations "have no souls." In these days they have neither soul nor
heart. Extortion has crowded out everything else. |
| I have not singled out this one railroad
as a target to shoot at in preference to any other, but have simply
mentioned this one because I had the data from which to make my
calculations. Other roads are just as much to blame for high charges and
extortion. I write this article in no spirit of hatred or revenge, but
simply to call the attention of the proper authorities to the subject,
with the hope that they will meet together and reduce their charges to a
reasonable standard, and thereby sustain the government and the country. |
| Railroad |
| September 20th, 1864 |
| {The writers' ignorance of
inflation, unbacked money, government interference in setting some
prices and the loss of faith in the government to make good its demand
for independence as root causes that produce the fruit of higher prices
must be kept in mind.} |
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