Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-18
NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER.
THE METROPOLITAN RAILROAD,

The period appointed by the Commissioners for
keeping open the subscription books Of the Metro
potan Railroad expired on Thursday, and we are
happy to believe that tie result ustifes US in pre-
dieting for this important undertaking an ultimate
and complete success. A sufficient amount OF
shares, we doubt not, are already taken to autho-
rize the organization of the Company The amount
necessary for this purpose is 5Oo,Ooo dollars,
10000 shares being one-fourth of the capital
stock Of two millions of dollars Our own imme-
date citizens appear not to have been impressed
with the Importance of the object until a day or
two past; within that time, however, upwards OF
two thousand shares have been taken by them,
which, added to the liberal and public-spirted sub
scrption Of the Corporation and citizens OF George
town of about six thousand six hundred shares,
make up an aggregate of eight thousand seven
hundred shares, or 100000 dollars, leaving only
$4,000 dollars Of the required half million
to be subscribed by the rich and deeply-inte-
rested counties Of Montgomery, Frederick, and
Washington which, so far from our doubling
has been taken, we anticipate has been greatly
exceeded. The Commissioners will reassemble on
Tuesday next, when the total amount of sub
scriptions viii be officially reported and the requi
ste steps taken to carry the scheme vigorously
forward.
A city friend, supposing that the subscription
books were not to be closed until this day, sent US
an able article on the subject from which, though
tie day be past, we copy the following extracts
This is an all-important work for every interest
OF our cty--one that is to augment greatly the
value Of real estate--to be safe and profitable IN
yestment of money-to bring commerce to our
merchants, custom to retail dealers, travel to
our hotels, and work for all our mechanics; and
one great benefit to us all, the reduction of the
prices Of our marketing and fuel Our citizens are
more invited to put their shoulders, without
moments delay to the great work, lest it fail. II
the advantage of a closer connexion with all the
fertile regions west of Fredericktown, in Maryland
and Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, extending to the
Lakes and to the valleys of the Mississippi, than
that of any other port upon navigable waters in the
Atlantic States, be not now secured to Washing
ton, the Western trade and travel that of right
ought to come to our National Capital will be di-
verted to Alexandria Our Virginia neighbors will
be sure to construct railroad so as to form juno
ton with one or more Of those leading from the
Ohio river; which road would divert trade and ira
vel from both Baltimore and Washington, in case
we fail to be true to ourselves Each of these cities
have common interest in the Metropolitan Rail
road; but to Washington it is more especially one
Of vital Importance Does not this city understand
Us true interest?
New York city, relying upon her local advan-
tages and unrvalled position for the prosecution Of
commercial objects, compared with the cities east
Of Baltimore, abstained for years from the con-
struction of railroads; but in sef-defence she had
70 connect herself by them with the Lakes and
they now converge to New York from every direc-
ton Since their introduction the wealth and popu-
lation Of New York have doubled"