Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-08-11

Interchange of Cars at Gordonsvilie.
The Charlottesville Advocate has arraign-
ed the action of the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad Company. in regard to an inter
change of freight cars with the Virgin" Cen
trail Railroad Company, and condemns the
policy adopted rs illiberal aud restrictive
In order that the public may clearly compre-
bend the subject. we present statement "t
the facts, which have been obtained from
authentic sources: 1t appears that in April
last, the Central Company invited confer
ence with the Orange Company, to consider
the question of running the cars of one COM
pany on the road ofthe other, and expressed
their willingness to enter into such an ar-
rangement. The conferences related TO other
subjects, and WAS held as proposed. but add
iourned without taking action On the ques-
ton OF interchanging cars. Alta subsequent
meeting of the Directors of the Orange Com
pany, the proposed arrangement to inter
change cars at this time was declined. and
the reasons therefor set forth in the resolu
ton adopted. That resolution was as follows:
Resolved, That the proposed conference on
the part of the Virginia Central Railroad Co.
with this Company, to arrange the inter
change of freight cars, be respectfully de-
clined, as the equipment of the road is made
auate ut present to admit OF such arrange
ment, were it otherwise desirable, and for the
additional reason that after the line through
to Lynchburg shall be in operation the ad-
yantages and disadvantages Of the same can
be better understood.
The reason assigned by the resolution for
declining the proposition, to wit, inadequacy
of equipment, did not admit of dispute, and
should have concluded the argument for the
present, while reservation is made that
hereafter, the same reason not existing, and
experience demonstrating the soundnessofthe
policy, the arrangement might be entered in
to in that contingency. 1t is known that a
large portion Of the equipment Of the Orange
Company is, and will lie for several months,
employed in transporting material for the
extension to Lynchburg and it could hardly
be expected that the company would further
deprive itself of cars necessary for the trade
of its own line. merely to accommodate the
business Of the Central Railroad. As un-
derstand it, the interchange of cars carries
with it no especial advantage after all. 1t
can matter but little to the farmer, whether
his article is carried in one car. or two,
procided the charge IS the same. The pro-
posed interchange of cars would confer no
substantial benefit upon the people OF Abe
marie, or elsewhere, unless it carry with 1t
a reduction of price. This last is not neces-
sarily involved. because, as We understand,
the transhipment at Gordonsville is now done
rithom charge by tie Railroad Companies.
If the price he the gravamen of the Advo-
Gates complaint, we suggest to the editor to
look to the much lauded Central Company
for redress. The Orange Company are now
carrying fertilizers to Gordonsville' dis
lance of ninety miles, for less charge than
is made on the same articles by the Central
Company to Gcrdousville, distance OF only
seventy six miles. If any burden he impos-
ed on this trade, it cannot be laid at the door
of the Orange Company, as the facts fully
show, but proceeds from the special rates
charged by the Central Company, between
Gordonsyille and Charlottesville. Let the
battery Of the Advocate bear upon this real
point of assault on the pockets of his peo-
ple, and he may render them some service.
But the Advocate is considerable enough
to inform us that Richmond now affords the
best market for wheat, and tobacco, and Al
exandria for groceries, guano, and plaster
He would have the people of Albemarle,
Orange and Culpeper, &C., send their grain
and tobacco to one market. and buy tertl-
lizers and groceries in another. Now how
would this operate upon the interests OF the
Orange Company in the first place, and up
on those of Alexandria in the next? As
regards the first, the Orange Company
would exchange the transportation of grain
over long line of road for that of a short
one, and would not be reimbursed by the
increased tonnage Of fertilizers, as it is well
known that this class of freight is carried at
exceedingly low rates, with view to increase
the productions of the soil, and the amount
of business to be returned to the road.
The Orange Company is innocently asked
to give up the legitimate business of its line
and to haul fertilizers at the cost OF trans
portation to increase the production OF
wheat and tobacco, for the benefit of the
Central Company, and the City of Richmond
This is modest proposition certainly so
far Us the Orange Company is concerned
1t may suit Albemarle very well, which
trades to Richmond, aud aided literally to
build the Central Railroad, but which hardly
subscribed money enough to the extension
of the Orange road to construct mile Of
its railway in that County. The Orange
Company is not able in it's present condition
to make pecuniary sacrifices or to suffer any
abatement Of its means with the Lynchburg
extension yet incomplete. and which has
been carried on at great expense with but lit
10 hahn from the State mr. peOple alonp the line.