Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-15

ZT we transfer to our columns from the Rich
mond Dispatch, with great pleasure, the Just and
well deserved compliment to the Central and
Orange Railroad, and the excellent management
it is under. We do this advisedly, for we have
several times had occasion to travel in that drec-
Ton during the past year What our contem-
porary says of its speed and smoothness is en-
tirely true' and we have rarely known as prompt
and attentive conductors anywhere. We have
been struck with the patience they display under
the storms OF inquiries that are put to them on
all hands, and ever meeting from them, with
polite and respectful response We have often
thought that the patience of Job would be re-
CURED Tor this service; for to-day must be but
repetition Of yesterday.
we do not mean to be nvidious where all are
50 kind, BUTT has been good fortune to travel
much oitener under Mr.. Walters, and aoe sau il to
has face, we have not known a more gentlemanly
officer anywhere.
We wish we could say as much or half as much
or anything, Tor the line between the wharf in
Alexandria and the Alexandria and Orange Rail
road Depot-a distance of about a hair a mile
We would exhaust vocabulary of epithets
if we were to give vent to our indignation at the
extortion and deception here. We get out of
the cars after beautiful run through
charming country, delighted, and in good humor
(Which is saying good deal for trarellers) with
everybody. We surrounded and iostled by
set of noisy and mportunate hackmen, omnibus
drivers, and draymen, who so fuddle your brains
that It is almost impossible to know where to turn
or what to do. You are pushed almost into an
omnibus that is "gong right to the boat
which is so crowded that you have to stand IN
oftener than sit down, which to a passenger, six
foot high, is no pleasant posture. You are then
d'1ren round Alexandria to let the town folks out
Notwithstanding you were assured you were to be
taken fright to the boat" Arriving there, Won
pay quarter-on the boat you pay another fee
and when you think your trouble ended, fellow
PUSHES out TO your hack at Washington to de-
mand another quarter for your trunk or trunks
F1his is an imposition, and one which ought to be
abated The additional sixty-two and half
cents or seventy-five cents, as the case NAV be,
is a feather to the unpleasant knowledge that YOU
are being imposed on. There would be no COM
plant, if this additional charge went to the rail
road or steamboat by adding it to the fare of
either, which is full low; but to be at the mercy
of a parcel of irresponsible harpies, where the
crowd and hurry gives you no opportunity even
to make an inquiry as TO the right of their con-
duct, is decided bore. We only append this muir
muring comment, upon this link Of the connection.
TO call the attention oftho company to it, for really
we feel a deep interest in its fortunes, and would
have it correct evil, for which il is NOT
responsible, but may have it in their power to,
remove, and, Of which in all probability, they NAV
be ignorant
The Central and Orange Railroad
During recent trip on these roads, we were
greatly struck with the vast advance which Vir-
ginia has made of late years in railroads-an adj
vance which fully confirms the remark Of an in
telligent Northern traveller that as far as she has
gone with her railroads, Virginia surpasses The
North in the speed and comfort Of this mode of
travelling. The Central Railroad in the soliditv
and elegance OF its work, its spacious handsome.
and comfortable cars, its great speed and the ease
with which its cars glide over the heavy rail, and
the care and prudence exercised by its officers is
a model railroad, and an honor TO all connected
with it, Especial mention deserves to be made
Of its most efficient and gentlemanly conductors.
There is no road in the United States whose Off
GERS more polite and obliging All who have
travelled on Northern and Western Railroads.
where the conductors and other agents seem 10
prisoners
of war who may be safely treated with any
amount Of discourtesy, will know how. 20 appre-
ciate the attentions of the kind aud wiiole-souIed
gentlemen who have charge of the Central Rail-
road.
Of the Orange and Alexandra railroad. on
which we have just travelled for the first time,
we cannot speak in too strong terms of commen-
dalton. Its speed is equal to that of the fastest
/ railroad in the country, and it's conductors are
men Of great energy, their motto being i'm action,
if not in words, that Of our excellent friend Can
tain Sims-"Let her rip" The country through
which the Orange railroad passes is one of the
most beautiful in Virginia or in any other State
/ II is worth trip the Orange railroad TO look
\ at the grand panorama afforded by the distant
mountains Of the Blue Ridge, their SUBMITS hid
den in the clouds, and the hills and valleys Of the
plain ''arrayed in living green, /" and smiling with
fertility. The trip from Gordonsville to Alexan-
| dria is made in little more than three hours The
| Alexandria and Washington railroad will soon be
completed, and when this is accomplished, the
traveller from Gordonsville, in three hours and n
half from his time Of starting, will findehimself in
the Federal city.
The Central and the Orange railroads are
proud monuments of the enterprise Of this Com
monwealth, and present in themselves sufii-
cient rcfutation Of the stereotyped slang about
the degeneracy Of Virginia
Sacramento