Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-05
From the Alexandria Sentinel.
Washington Railroad--The True Policy
for Alexandria.

The transference Of the great mail to our rail
road, and the sream of travel which win naturally
f,llowit, render the subject OF prompt and unnter
rlpted communication between Alexandria and
Washington city one Of prime and immediate i'm
purtance. Passengers must be taken through with
comfort, certainty, and despatch.
A railroad Is now nearly completed for most of
ths distance Its Alexandria terminus is at pres
cat on the northern limit Of our corporation. We
take it for granted that application will speedily be
made for It's entrance within our limits; at least
We hope 80. We do most earnestly trust that wise
and liberal counsels will prevail and that the ap-
plication viii be cordially welcomed, and readily
granted.
The manifold advantages to our city Of such
connection, we have heretofore taken occasion to
notice; and indeed we are happy to know that a
treat change has taken place among our citizens
in favor OF the measure. But there are some,
perhaps, who still indulge ancient ideas, and Sec
IN q scheme which is to increase our business ia
,iiities and add to our social advantages source
os injury. To all such we address the following
argument--the Orange and the Washington roads
sanst be able to exchange passengers with reason
ale convenience. 1t will be impossible for them
{, get along without II. If the Washington road
he required TO stop out at the almsbouse, then,
MT only viii our own citizens be deprived in very
great measure Of its benefits but there will ineyi
tiby and necessarily be track laid, extending
tience, outside our corporate limits and connect
ing with the Orange road ut point beyond our
Jurisdiction. At this outer depot all persons will
stop who wish to 20 north, and all of that still
luger class OF persons, who will feel Disguised
q. the illiberality and blindness on our part which
win have nccessitated this outside counexion. Is
there man among us, however opposed he may
bs to a railroad to Washington, who would not
vastly prefer even continuous track through our
oty, to one that should thus tap the Orange road
and sweep entirely around usy Such road would
be fearful and unmiIed evil
Again the Richmond and Fredericksburg Rail
road Company have long desired to avoid the river
link in their line. They will now press their
schemes with msddencd energy. Their passions
are up.
They have talked much Of an airline oonneIon
rom their present terminus, at Aquia creek
through Maryland, to Baltimore. That idea is a
humbug II not a fraud upon the public credulity
and Incidence. 1t will surprise many who have not
taken the trouble TO examine the map, to be told
that If straight line be drawn from Fredericks-
burg to Baltimore II will cross the Potomac river
scarcely one mile below cur own city. The south
ern margin Of the mouth Of bunting creek Is In
this airline The mouth Of Aquia creek ia very
nearly In It. and the river from that point to Alex.
andria almost exactly comedies with It. The pro.
posed railroad from Aqua creek, via Marlboro, TO
baltimore, will avoid Washington city II that be
the object but Il win have to make bend In or
der to do so. To call 1t an airline road Ia there
fore a. absurd as 10 expect that passengers would
encounter the hazards and UNI ertainty of boating
across the broad Potomac at Aqua creek, and
then travel considerably out of their way to avoid
place Of so much interest as Washington city.
II, then, the Fredericksburg Company have no
lea Of the so-called Airline connexion their only
alternative comedies with what Is indeed their ma
tural choice and that Is railroad through Stafford
and Prince William countie In the direction Of
tlis city and Washington. They viii desire, prob
ally to throw out abranch either to the Manassas
Warrenton junction--looking to the travel, &C.,
fom the northern section Of Piedmont and the
Valley, towards Richmond and Fredericksburg
But their main idea viii be an expeditions, con
venient and reliable communication with Wash
ingtpn. The channel Of that communication should
ous through Alexandria. Nay, IL win terminate
here, II we pursue q wise policy towards the rail.
road to Washington. The bridging OF the Poto-
Is too serious matter TO be lightly ventured
One road well constructed and well stocked, and
running halfhour trains would meet all the wants
OF all the roads that can ever centre here. Let
such road once fairly occupy the ground 10
Washington, and the Fredericksburg extension
win connect with LIS southern terminus. In short,
such road would connect with the Fredericksburg,
the Orange, the Manassas, and the Hampshire, and
may be made TO insure the termination Of all in
our city. But pursue the exclusion policy and all
these roads must firm their connexions outside Of
our city.
We beg our citizens TO think Of these things
Circumstances have much altered Of late. TIL,
subject Of a railroad from our city--we mean Iii
heart, not its slmshouse--to Washington, is pre-
sented In hew aspects, some or other of which We
think must compel the acquiescence Of all in tn,
wisdom Of the policy. Let the road be welcomed
into town Washington street seems TO have beer
made for it,
La