Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-30
Tar sl.e Alsxaa,ifia Duly daaver'iser.
Mr.. SNowDEN,

Y
X believe experience has shewn, that IN
most countries where Turnpike Roads have
beenrnade, owing TO individuals who consi
dered themselves interested III their directs
ons. great difficulties have been thrown In
their way, * sometimes the subject defeated
for 4 time at least, by the exertlons OF con-
tending parties. Where this contest IS car
ried on with decency and moderation It IS
useful; because it insures thorough IL
vestigation Of The subject, and affords n
formation; that this has not been taescase
in the present instance is much to De la
mentee:,
believe however thatra majority OF the
board conscientiously thought, that III their
decision, they were promoting the real IN
terest of Alexandria, and that of the COM
pany. With respect to myself can truly
say, that if had been governed by my
feelings for individuals, should without
hesitation have given my vote in favor OF
the Southern route; for in that direction
were gentlemen whom esteemed and re-
spected, and whom | shall always feel
pleasure In serving as individuals--but, on
this question which appeared TO me a very
important one, considered myself the re-
preventative, Of the company which at that
tiaae, being mostly composed of the inhabi-
tants of Alexandra, Their interest deserved
particular attention. WhenI left Alexan-
dria, AFTER the decisiontook place, meat
not rs say any thing more on the subject, but
rest tbs mater with the two gentlemen who
voted with me, relying that the explanation
which they would oesablePersonally to make
oshe Stockholders, together with urjoint
address on The Subject, would be fully sa-
tisfactory to them. But as it appears that
discomfort and oppositionstill prevails, and
it not being in my power to make personal
explanations TO the citizens of Alexandria,
on the reasons OF my CONDUCT have tho't
proper through thu medium of the press to
address some further observations to them
on the subject.
When found myself chosen one Of the
directors, and took a view OF the law under
which we were to act, did not foresee the
difficulties in fixing the direction Of the
opinion that the law pointed out our duty,
which was to run the road the straitest
course on the best ground; and from the
best consideration could give the subject,
Ibid believe, that mode would best pro-
mote the interest Of the company, and that
of Alexandria.
However at the first meeting Of the
board, although the subject was not fully
gone into, there appeared to me such fix
ed bias on the minds of the members, as
well as of those whom heard speak on the
subject ont of doors IN favor of more
Southern route that / felt the strongest
conviction such one would be adopted
The reason then offered was, that by bear
ing 10 the South, an accommodation would
be afforded to those coming from that d.
rection into the old road above Centerville,
as straight road would considerably In
crease their distance. Although I could
NOT give up my first opinion, thought there
was welghth the argument, and afterwards
in my conversations on the subject fire.
quensiy mentioned that circumstance, in
order 10 reconcile the people to that route
in case it should be adopted So the thing
rested until some time after the survey was
made, when at a subsequent meeting Col
Payne, laid before the board the result of
some experiments he had made, BY which
it appeared the distance from Centerville
by the Courthouse - Alexandria, would
be shorter than the az! road straitened as
then proposed; upon this information new
ground was taken, and reasons and opini-
ons offered in favor Of a Southern route,
which had not before heard, antlwhich if
acted on IN my opinion, did not only so
to defeat the business altogether, buteven-
tuallv to DESTROY the best prospects Of Alex