Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-06-01
TO "a STOCEHOIDER.p


Sir:-Since my arrival here nv attention has
been called 10 your card OF The 18th, making en-
quiries On the subject OF the renewal OF contract
between The TWO Railroad Companies Tor the
transportation Of the Louisa freight aud Passen-
gers after the Isl Of July
C nply with your request, in answering you
thus publicly, tia, the "reply through the same
channel may give the Information 10 all interest
ed"
BY instructions from the Board Of Directors,
enquired on The 25tl OF April what their views
were on The subject and was informed that they
conten plated placing The freight and passengers
from the Louisa Railroad 90 a footing with The
neghboIhood customers" charging only 10 the
Junction and no. 10 Chesterfield, bnt invited me
10 make proposition, which did 10 The follow
ing words: The present contract, in some Ie-
specls, is very uniavorable 10 The Louisa Compa-
ny, bur to avoid negotiation which nigh, e tedl.
Gus and resul in nothing more satisfactory, pro-
pose ha il shall continue, subject 10 he ,efmlna-
ted by either party, giving sixty DAYS notice.
As The other Company had, GntlEg The last
Winter, made 40 many professions o! wiling
ness 10 accommodate The public, even 10 such an
extent as 10 render the independent road unnc-
cessary, did hope they would agree 10 continue
the existing contract, under which, there is no
doubt, they have made a handsome proht. was
nol able 10 understand why they could not attoid
10 transport, after Inc frs, o, Jnly, On The same
Terms as before that time; but my proposition
was re.used-and the reason assigned IS, that The
Louisa Company are desiring 10 make an indie.
pendent road, and therefore no discrimination
oush, 10 be made in favor OF The Louisa business,
over The little petty neishhoThood business. !
contcnded that il was The commcn practice 10
make reductions wherever unusually large guam
llies OF freight were Offered, and the same course
with passengers--lhal their own example author
scd Us 10 expecl il. When they were our CARR
ers they made reductions on pig iron, lumber
&c, &c, on that principle, and are constantly in
The habit OF doing 30 with passengers and that
il they declined doing SO in this instance il would
be discrimination against the Louise business"
| was Instructed by The Beard 10 say, I'll The
freight and passengers brought by the Louisa
road To the Junction are subjected 10 the same
charges with the Limited Ieighborhood business,
tina, you will be expected 10 receive and trans
potl the whole as hdt is done Thar is, in your
own cars
Several letters have passed between US on the
subject hu he ono published below will BE- sui
ticcnt 10 explain The views taken by the Board
ct pcclors OF The Louisa Railroad Company
as follows:
JUNCTION, May "a, lS49
Ed,D,n Robinson, Esq, President Richnond,
Fredericks5wg aud Potomac Railroad Com
pany.
Dear Sir: Yours Of The 2lst was received al
this place, and has this day been submitted %
the BOARD OF Directors OF tho Louisa Railroad
Company
Ii appears that you decline making any other
proposition than that contained in yours Of III.
9Th, and taking no notice Of the suggestion made
TO have personal conference, the door Of ne.
collation. seems 10 be closed; and tho only alter
native presented 10 avoid transhpment al the
Junction is, that the freight Of the Louisa road
collected on a line Of nearly seventy miles in
extent, shall be subjected TO the same charges,
with the petty beighborhood custom. You have
TO maintain depo.s, with all their attendant ey-
penses, 10 accommodate this small amount Of
business, and you make no allowance for the
delivery Of freight in large quantities, ready
loaded in the Louisa cars, without any expense
TO you; whilst the Louisa Company has 10
maintain seven or eight dcpots for the accumu
latlon Of The trade, into The profitable form il
acquires when delivered TO you. Under these
circumstances, you seem TO expect that the
sponsibili,y for all the evils resulting from q
transhipment is 10 fail on them, because they
are not willing TO subject their customers to the
enormous charges which would be made against
them.
The Louisa Company is sensible that tho in
veslment which the Commonwealth has madeiin
our public impro' emcctS, aud the privileges
granted in the acts OF Incorporation, impose on
their managers an obligation 10 consult the
public convenience 10 some extent; and this
Board is ever ready to make any reasonable sa-
crihce for that object; but, when as in the pre-
sent. case, terms, 10 which they are required 10
submit. are so mapifestly unequal and oppres
sive. they feel confident the Company Will
stand acquitted OF all responsibility for the con
sequences Of their rejection
| Although the present contract is, in many re :
spects, an unequal one, and was reluctantly as
sented to by the Louisa Company, being the re-
suit Of condition Of dependence; nevertheless,
| being sincerely anxious 10 avert the many evils
resulting from transhlpment, not only 10 The
company but to the public; and, for the sake OF
peace, its continuation was proposed. That
contract gave TO your Company more than a
fair proportion Of the receipts both from pas
sengcrs AMI freight required the Louisa Com
/ pang 10 Par $500 PEI snnum for that viii h, 10
4 equity, ought 10 lave belonged TO them, viz Tie
privilege of regulating freight from portion
OF their road to Richmond, and $1,000 for col.
lectlng in Richmond money jointly due 10 The
two Companies; yolr Company having the use
of large sums for a considerable time, without
interest. had hoped that these advantages
would have satisfied you, but in that have been
disappointed.
The terms now prescribed TO avoid trans.
shipment, would have scarcely left the Louisa
Company the means Of keeping up their road,
or would have compelled them 10 impose
| heavy burthens on their trade
| Ii the rates On the Louisa Road had been
increased in proportion tc the charge intended
TO be made on he Richmond roat, The effect
would have been ruinous.
Flour from Gordonsvlle TO Richmond, To-
stead of being thirty cents per barrel as it
now is, would be about 66 cents; and plaster,
J inAtead of hAine 81 30 mar ton would ha mora