Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-12
7oR the ENQUIRER
The Louisa Ra,iroad andus contemplated erten-
sion 70 Richmond.
OFFICE RIcHM ND, f & P. r. h. Co.


OFFICE RrcHM ND, F & p. r. R. Gu.
Richmond, Dec. s, l84S.
| Messrs. Editors: the tard of The President o.
| the Louisa Railroad COMPANY which appearei
| in ,uur columns day Or two ago. presents So
much OF afgumen, asainsths project mat u sure
| of another card frum him, would no, trouble you
with tbs notice Hf the subject.
He says: "The plain and obvious meaning oil
this guarantee is, that they (the Rlchmonu anu
| Fredericksburg company shall not DC ueplHeo
of what is commonly called through passengers,
travelling between Richmont and washington.
| Now as the expression, "thrccsh passengers,
| does moi appear 10 any section Of The charter
do protest against its in,erpGla'. al lhis ide I'd
and will proceed to exhibit some OF the features
| Of the guarantee clause, which make u pam .
| nv mind. that The Legislature never cohlempla-
led the construction Of The road III question, SNORT
OF lhify years from the completion q me nicE-
mond and Fredericksburg road 10 the town ol Fred
ericksburg
The acl OF incorporation specifies and stipuIases
for Inc construction OF railroad from Inc cily OF
Richmond To the Town Of Fredericksburg. ANY
extension thereof To The Potomac river, or some
creek connected with it, was elt TO he ophoh q
he stockholders. The Legislature, IN lis WIS
dom and wise acl il was lor Otherwise The stock
in the company would moi have been taken, ex-
pressly stipulated that it will not, provided The said
road is completed TO the town 0! Fredericksburg
within The limited time, allow any other railroad
between the city Of Richmond, and The City CT
Washington, TOR any portion OF me saia a'sance
With The proviso, however, that railfoau may
be permitted to be made between Fredericksburg
and Washington and between The city OF Rich'
mond and the towns OF Tappahannock and Ur'
hanna.
Now, MessIs Editors, ifth these exceptions IN me
"A. Il -lo,,
guaranty clause, don't prohibit as clearly as IAN
guage can convey the idea, the construction OF a
abroad for any portion Of the distance between
Richmond and Fredericksburg then, in The name
of common sense, what is the idea Intended 10 be
conveyed7 Would il no have been idle and SUI
peIfuous, 10 have s.: lated that roads might be
made between Richmond and Tappahannock in
one direction, and between Fredericksburg and
Washington in another, ii The privilege was to
be retained by The Legislature for auihorlsine 4
road Immediately along The side OF The one be-
tween Richmond and Fredericksburg
No, Messrs Editors The plain and obvious in
| ,enlion of The General Assembly was TO induce
subscription TO the contemplated work, and the
limit of time attached 10 the guaranty indicates
most clearly, that for certain period, The reVe-
nnes of The road between Richmond and Freder-
icksburg, were not TO be impaired through means
of any rival work for any portion OF the distance
L
guaranty clause could not by probability have
| impaifel The revenues o the road between Rich
mond and fredericksburg but on the contrary
were calculated 10 increase lhem willis, the idea
that the General Assembly expected Inc read be-
tween Richmond and Fredericksburg 10 be susai in
| eli BIZ The limited travel between Richmond and
Washington, is poor compliment 10 is under
| standing, and that OF The stockholders who were
| far from being quite So sol, in the matter. L.
| gal gentlemen OF acknowledged ability who have
bur recently acknowledged The act Of the Lesisia-
ture, and who are exempt from any bias IN favor
OF The Richmond and Fredericksburg company,
are decided in their opinion, that il tire clause
| was u be now drawn, in view OF the qncslons
| which have been raised, The guaranty could nCl
| be worsed in palmer CT more decided terms.
| For the sake Of argument, let me admit that The
| Legislature intended, according 10 the contracted
view If Col. Fontane, that the prohibition
| should apply only 10 passengers between Rich
| mond and Washington. Is il mol plain that j
| lnis extension is allowed, and The road from
| Gorionsvile 10 Alexandria ior which charter
wa obtained al the last session oil The Legislature
| is constructed. that a direct competing line be-
| tween Richmond and Washington is tins
brought TO bear, in defiance OF Tie express sipu
| lalionS OF the General Assembly, even as tht
President OF the Louisa Company understands
The terms OF our chaueTl 1t will not do, hlessr;
| Z ,ilors To afford any encouragement 10 This dis
position, already TOO much abroad, 10 trliie WIN
h, solemn oblga, lions Of charter, nor viii 1t IL
| 10 sanci,oa Inc idea thai connecting railroad
| brought into existence soleIy through means q
| that very cnnnexion, should insis upon an indie
| pendpnt terminus or extension. Members VI th'
Legislature and others will do well 10 look al thi
subject in all lis bearings, otherwise perhaps lh'
| precedent now sought 10 be established, will b,
| illusraiel al some future day by The singula
| exhibition Of lateral roads connecting with somt
important artery through onf State, conendins
each on It's owa hook for The right 10 lis Own ex
| tension and terminus, because, iorsooih, They
we're not allowed to have The right oil debating
| terms 10 the parent STEM.
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Company have ever been willing that all Difficult
| ties between them and The Louisa Company
| should be adjusted by The Board OF Public
Works To Ibis the Louisa Company have in
yariaby objected They are willing, likewise
| Ina stockholders Of The Two companies Should
| take the mater In hand. and adjus q contract on
lasting icundaiin. This plan, have reason
| o believe, finds no favor with he Louisa Compa.
| n.y. The only course, therefore, which i ei' q
| ne Directory OF The Richm nt and FIcdoricks
burg Company, is 10 abide The result OF The a.
| Tempt To commence The extension, and insist, il
4 "
| The terms which he Legislature has so!emnly
| guaranteed 10 them.
Whilst writing, for shall not trouble you
again. on The subject, mus! be allowed 10 advert
TO The prejudces which are sought to be enlisted
against the Richmond and Fredericksburg Com
pany IN furlherance Of he object so much AL
heart. The disposition OF las Co" 7any is 10 be
on amicabe Terms with ALL bot ii has happened,
and if this L6uisa extension is cneOuragcd ii Wit
| happen again. that measures tor the protection Of
The revenues of this company have been found
accessory, under The peculiar circums ances Of
The case, which were much 10 be regretted. The
| first duly of The Board of Directors is 10 pfoiec
the interests of The Stockholders This duty they
prefer TO exercise with the good will OF all, ba' !
am duite sure that clamor and misrepresentation
will never deter them from the practice ol u faith
tul guardianship over The important 'htefes'S
which have been committed 10 lAeir charge.
Very respectfully, yours,
ED. ROBINSON, President.