Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-10-31

BALTIMORE ANIL O1AtO RAIL- EoAD.
The s.vrssA .~nsal import Of tho Prcsidcns and
Ur~ssors hss been pab,ished. Uasblc 10 copy
she whole, We extract such parts - arc of immc-
diss- inierrss 10 osr read~rs
I. 7Ne Exssnsis~ u ne Rsu Rod 10 Her.
psvs-Fsvy.-The Stockholders arc already
familiar with the particulars and result Of tho
long pending controversy between the Rail
koed and tho Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Companies, for the right Of way upon The
iet Bank OF the Potomac. The decision OF
tho Courts, in favor Of the latter corporation,
was followed by tedious negotiations, which
psrtook, at first. perhaps, Of tho feelings that
had grown up during the legal proceedings,
and which brought the parties again into col
lision before the Legislature OF Niaryl land,
their common parent. Time, however, and
better and moro correct view Of their true
interests than had before bcen taken, led ul-
timatcly TO comPrOmise, BY which the Ca
nal Company undertook, upon the payment
by the Rail Road Company, Of the sum Of
S266, 900, In monthly payments. tosconstruct
the Rail Road along all the di6icult passes be-
tween the Point Of Rocks and HarpersFerry.
The payments and the construction have both
been commenced by the respective parties !;
The whole length Of the road between the two
places, has been advantageousIy located; and
unfavorable circumstance arise to retsrd the
work, that, by the first day Of January, 1885,
Il will DO completed TO Hsrpers-Ferry. The
arrange ment thus made, was one which, I'M
der all circumstances, was unohje ctionablc /:
and Il h with qualification that the Board arc
enabled TO inform the Stockholders, that they
feel confident the conditions Of the agreement
will be carried into effect by the Canal Com
Pany with liberal and friendly disposition to
render every accommodation TO the Rail Road
that may be found compatible with the in
tercsts OF their own work. The Canal Com
pauy were, at tho time OF the present CON-
promise, the exclusive possessors OF the only
practicable site for rail road at the narrow
passes, with title obtained after protract-
I'D litigation, aud with power To demand their
own terms: but in those which have been ac-
ceded TO, the Board do not perceive rat more
will be paid than sufficient fully To cover, rs
was intended, the cost OF constructing those
portions Of the Rail Road which the Canal
Company have undertaken Co do, and the loss
and damages TO which the Canal must, while
such construction is going on, necessarily be
subject; certainly not more than the Rail
Road Company must have paid, had they un-
dcrtaken the independent construct ton OF the
road at the same places. To the Rail Road
Company, the advantages TO be expected on
reaching Harpers-Ferry, were such rs 10 rem
der the continuation Of the Road 20 that place
q matter Of primary importance, demanding
every effort to accomplish it. The winches.
ter and Potomac Rail Road, about thirty miles
IN length, snd terminating ut Ilarpers-Ferry,
promised TO transfer TO the Baltimore and
Ohio Rail Road, TO be conveyed to Baltimore,
great share OF the produce Of the rich val
ley Of Virginia, which then found an outlet
IN other directions. " inchester itself, n large,
thriving, and enterprising town, would be-
brought into the closest connection with Bal
timore. 10 the mutual advantage Of both CT
ties. Staunton, one hundred miles from Win
chester, m the same great valley tho inter-
vening distance admirably adapted 10 the con.
struction Of q Rail Road would, in all pro-
| liability, soon become another point in the
line OF raid way communication, under q char
ter already in existsnce--nor was il anticipa-
| Ting too much, 20 believe, that, thus progress
sing through individual enterprise, from poin.
. TO point, the prolougation Of the Baltimore
and Ohio, and the Winchester and Potomac
Rail Roads, would either continue south west.
wardiy 10 the cotton grow ing districts Of Ten
nessee, iDtersecting the proposed James Ri
yer and kenawha Rail Road, or, passing
through Jennings Gap, find its own way
to the tributaries Of the Ohio, completing, in
either event, the great scheme Of an union
by rail ways, OF the waters of the Atlantic
=
through the Mississippi into the Gulf Of Mexi.
CO. 10 the meanwhile, il was known, that
Virginia was engaged in making an excellent
road from Winchester, direct to Parkersburg
at the mouth Of the Little kenawha, on the
Ohio, which, uniting with the Rail Road OF
Winchester, would turn the tide Of Western
travelling into that direction, and extensively
i attract 20 both the Baltimore and Ohio, and
The Potomae end Winchester Rail Roads, the
transportation Of persons and merchandise, a.
j wei - produce, which then went in Other
channels. Besides the advantages thus held
out by the valley Of the Shenandoah, on the
completion Of the Rail Rosd 10 IIarpers-Per.
~, u would DO, at that place, in such eloss
proximity TO the Valley Of the Conoc ocheague
IS TO render eonnexion with the latter, and
through u with some Of tho most fertile part.
OF Pennsyivanis, q matter Of easy attainment
by which still farther amount OF transpor.
tation would accrue to the road, with but
small additional expense necessary 10 accom-
lnodate u, and which would increase ihs
profits OF the Stockholders. In addition e
which, the Rail Road Company. al Harper.
Ferry, would still be upon the line of West.
ern communication, originally contemplated
by the Valley Of the Potomac, whenever cir.
cumstaPces made Il expedieRt TO advance il
that direction. Nor, while a part Of the ad
VaDtages here enumerated were secured b,
the actual construction Of the Potomac ant
Winchester Rail Road, and the turnpike u
The Little Kenawhs, were tho rest of them
either improbable or remote. while Raj
Roads were extending themselves throughou
NE unlon, IN every direction, through districts
promising fewer advantages than tho valley
of the Shenandoah and Conocheague Their,
could be but little doubt but that these las
would speedily possess them. Under these
circumstances, therefore, and with a view "a
ulterior objects, not less than 10 immediate
peeuniary advantages, the Board felt thai
they Sere called npou 20 secure by every e.
fort, the continuation Of the road 20 flarpers
I FeTy-and IN doing so, they believe that ihsy
have discharged one II the most important
% the trusts committed 20 them.
The second hrpneh Of The rev,ort relates TO n,
construction of the Lateral Rosi 70 Washington
vhieh Is INV IN progrcss, under sh,-riuS cirrun,-