Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-05

survey oil Inc QlHeIent roules anu gaps n"o
III al during The conversation many gaps were re-
ierred TO as probably the best, and The Northern
and Southern routes were both spoken OF. GU
referred 10 The action OF the Staunon Convention,
and The proprely OF drafting The bill as near as
possible 10 conformity 10 its views, but assured
Them il should mol preclude Powell's Gap and the
Northern roule from fair and equal chance
To these views understood the gentlemen reler-
red TO above TO assent; and we all Joined IN Inc
reques, that you should draft the bill accordingly
When you had drawn il, those gentlemen COM
planned TO me, that by inserting in The bill mat
The road should go South Of Harrisonburs
in the direction of Covington their country
and The Northwest generally was shut out
from participation in The benefits OF The road,
or rather that they had not lair chance with
The Soulh and 10 remove that oolection
got the House 10 strike out the Objectionable
portion OF the bill, and place it in The form
in which il finally passed into law. Those
gentlemen, as thought, were entirely sallshed
with The bill as amended Feeling, them that IL
gave no advantage 10 one route over the DINER,
and seeming 10 be confident that PowePs Gap
possessed greatly superior local and natural ad-
vanlages, they were willing 10 rest all on The de-
cision Of an accurate survey.
at is a mystery 10 me how any one can sup
pose that you did mol have the Southern route in
contemplation, when you so drew The original
bill as, in The opinion Of the friends OF the North
ern route, 10 cut them of from fair chance for
The road.
II am perfectly satisfied that the bill could no!
have been passed il the terminus had been def
nilely and unaeraby fixed al Covngon or Har-
ri.onburg, or had either the Northern or South
ern route been positively selected. II required
that The bill should be so framed that the route as
you always urged, 'si.nu be open 10 The claim!
Of ALL without the specification OF particular
route.
81 observe in The address oil Messrs. Chrisman
Voolfolk, &c, &c, that they assign as reason
why The extension of the Rockfsh could not have
been contemplated, that the bill only asked for
S250,000, jus, about enough 10 carry the road &c
Powel's-when The TACT was, that The original
bill asked for S400, 900, and was reduced 10 $780,
The bill would be lost. Your friend,
"(Sisned R. F. DARRACOTT."
In relation 10 the amount mentioned in The
bill, MIR. Danacon gives The true history: 1t was
reduced 10 S250,000, against my Judgment
When asked by The Delegates from Rockingha IN
why named SO large a sum as 400, 600 dollars
| explained TO them, that il would mol Ill be call
ed tor, il We took the Northern route, and went nc
farther than the base OF the mountain, and would
probably be wanted On the Southern route, il
that was adopted.
2ndy consider that the plain, manifest con.
sruclion OF The act, which The Company con
tends for, and believes was desened-lhat is, the
right of selecting The Southern route, il they pre-
ierred its fully conceded in the following c1-
tracts OF letters now before me, from Messrs
Kenney, Deneae and ChIisman, of Rocking.
ham, TO me:
Col. Kenney, on the 10Th Of April last, says
When our members failed 10 have poweIl's
Gap or Harrisonburg inserted in the acl Tor the
extension, &c, ceased to take any especial
interest in The road" Again he says: "Let the
Louisa Railroad Direc,oTy fix on Powell's Gap
" as The pres terminus, and we will put our
shoulders 10 The wheel and do what we can"
Here is plain acknowledgement that The bill
did not indicate Powes Gap, and left the right
Of selection, as he supposed, 10 the Louisa Rail
road Directory.
MIR. DeneaIe, on The 7lh OF June, says "As the
Presiden! OF The Board, you have visited Char.
louisville and elsewhere. Are we not entitled
q" 10 like consideration" Again: "Why thi:
apparent neglect oil US on The part OF the Pre-.
sident OF The road2 Is il because The Char
loitesriRc and SLaunion route is SO much prefer.
!. red BY him7'
There are other expressions 10 the same effect
cannot comprehend how my preference for lht
Southern route should be thus gravely talke.
about il the exercise Of a preference was not al
lowed by law, and conceded by him.
Mr.. Chrisman, too, on The 9Th OF Sept, with tha
clearness otspeech for which lin this case al leas
unfortunately he has got some reputation acknow
lodges that the company is not 'eslcpped" iron
The exercise Of The right OF selec,ion-lhal III,
Northern or Southern line may be adopted a
policy suggests. He says:
"Thc prospects Of your road are bright now
"lt you adopt the Northern line. Rockingham ma,
abe relied on with tuIl confidence, and the senii
| e ment OF Richmond is, as il seems TO me, amos
- unanimous in favor of the Northern line
w ilh the cooperation OF Richmond anu Rock
bingham, you can penetrate The Valley; and
strengthened by The Trade OF The Valley and III,
increased travel, you may progress WESTWARD
upon The Northern lne-you can concentrate
"and unite all interests Can you do This On h
Southern line z"
1.-THE la W granted no privilege of adopting lh
Southern line, why treat The question as matte
of policy, and present all argument to me aga ms
the Southern and il favor OF The Northein1 |
there was no lega authority 10 go on that line,
man Of Mr.. Chrisman's reputation for acutenes
OF Judgment would not have made such con
cesson.
The refusal OF The rcsurvev (Which would ha v,
made the third at Powcll's Gap) was based main
ly on The ground that il promised no certain hop,
OF terminating The controversy. Gen. Gordon
stated publicly in the meeting, while that ques
lion was under discussion, that Col. Voolfolk
said 10 him he would not surrender his opposi
lion To The Southern route il The resurvey result
ed as MIR. Kuper's did. have been informed Ina
Mcssrs. Chrisman and GRAHAM, during the penden
cy OF lhe question, both took The same ground will
COL Voolfolk, in the presence of Doctor JOSEPH
| M Sheppard Of Hanover. With this determine
lion on the part Of the leading advocates OF III,
Northern route, which was we'll understood wa
il a reasonable demand 10 require another survey
when the Stockholders generally were perfect,
satisfied with The correctness Of that Just made b,
MIR. Kuper, and when il was impossible TO orde
another without implying some reflection on on
Engineers
| Itrus. have vindicated the company agains
the charges brought against Them; and, in conclu
sion, appeal 10 dispassionate public judgmen
10 say, il The attempt is now 10 be made 10 deprive
the company OF the benefits OF the law OF the las
session, in consequence OF The adoption OF tht
Southern route, ought not those principles Q
fair dealing, violation OF which has unjuslly
ben imputed 10 US, have required that we shoule
have been publicly notified when The surveys or
the Charlottesville route were progressing7 Thai
not being done, but the right Of selection being
conceded, as have shown above, nigh, no, the
company with more propriely relcrt The charges
Of "alter-hought," &C., Eel But ! forbear. As
said in the beginning, shall not deal in recrimi
nation. can make some allowance Tor the disap
poinlmenl OF excited hope. We desire 10 enlis
no sympathy for injuries done US, but only ask
as we shall rely on obtaining, our just rights.
E. FONTAlNE, President,
Louisa Rail Road Company.
Beaverdam, Nov. 3, l847
For fhs enquirer.
RAILROAD MEETING.