The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-08-09
FRANClSE. RIVES--TtIE PETERSBURG
RAIL ROAD COMPANY-AND THE PORTS.
MOUTH AND ROANOKE RAIL ROAD Sc

FRANClSE. RIVES--THE PETERSBURG
RAIL ROAD COMPANY-AND THE PORTS
MOUTH AND ROANOKE RAIL ROAD, Sc
In publishing what follows, ii is necessary to
keep one fact before the pubic-that is: That
originally, F. E. Rives had no claim upon the
Portsmouth Road-,hat. as is believed. and the
subsequent developemeNt OF facts warrant. Rives
lent himself as a tool TO the Petersburg Company
to break up the Portsmouth and Roanoke Rail
Road. for which he was To receive a certain re.
Enumeration from the Petersburs Company- the
object of that Company being 10 break down all
opposition, as was avuwed to the Board of Public
works. and thus be enabled to press the travel
ling public with enormous charges, which those
travellers would, in the event of Rives s, Co
being successful in their nefariuus scheme. be
compelled to submit to. In order to accomplish
this, Rives purchased a claim Of Col Rochelle.
against the Portsmouth Company. of $4,000,
for $4,000 for which he paid at the time of pur-
chase some $4,000. Let it alsn be remembered
that the Portsmouth Company offered 10 take his
claim, and make good all loss, and expense he
had been put to. These facts heinz horne in
mind, 1t is unnecessary to revert TO the infamous
act of Rves in tearing mp the rails and disabling
the bridge at Margaretsvile, thus endanperinu
the lives Of travellers To stop travel on the Ports
mouth Road or 10 consider the decision of the
Supreme Cont of North Carolina, that gave him
a right to That portion of Road in that State.
which he had purchased withholding from him
the franchise of the same. The Agreement with
the Petersburg Company will he found below
OF that Agreement the Petersburg Republican. of
the Odd July. spoke as fellows
6 We are authorized by Mr. Rives, to saw. that
he has not sold his rail road TO the PETERSBURG r
K. Company-nor is there any thing in his agree
ment with them to prevent him fron SELLING il IN
either the State Of Virginia or North Carolina
and that it is not his purpose TO remove the iron
or 10 do any thing To impair its value as a rail
road, before there may have been meeting ofthe
Legislature of each of those States And we
have Furthermore been informed that Mr. Riyes
expects To renew his application to the I.egisla-
tnre of North Carolina for permission 10 use il
himself as a rail road
1t then, we are correctly informed as to the
nature OF the agreement. Mr.. Rives has showed
great caution in forming it. lift he not used he
gets an income; and if he finds at future time.
that by selling, or using it himself he can make
II yield him more, of course he will make snch :,
disposition OF It as may be most profitable 10 him
The Agreement shows that the Republican was
not correctly informed. There is nothing in IT,
which shows that Rives ever contemplated USING
it Rail Road, for the transportation of freioh,
and passengers. but distinctly that his interest was
TO keep it from being used for those proposes
We will introduce the Documents in our
possession and if any one can rise from their
perusal without the conviction that most nefari
Gus combination has succeeded partially in a most
unhoy work, then have mistaken the iudoe
ment of men. We say partially, for it will be
that only about onethird Of the stock of tina,
Company, present at the meeting on the 18th of
July, have sustained the action of the Board of
Directors, in their unjust efforts to DESTROY a
sister improvement.
The President of the Portsmouth Company not
being able to obtain correct information as to the
terms on which Rlves and the Petersburg Com
pany had combined for the destruction of our
Road, and feeling assured that the publications in
the Petersburg papers were intended to misIead
the public mind, wrote to the Governor for comics
Of the Agreement &C., which was duly answer
ed. Those papers having been placed in our
hands we make them public.