Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-18

Fontainc on the subject and though not written
specially with eye To its publication, Will never
theess, l feel confident, substantially meet the
allegations of the other side, and yindicate the
action taken by our Company in the premises
JOHN S. BARBOUR.
JUNE 18th, 1850.
Col. Z. FosTAGyE,
Presidentof Virginia Central Railroad Go.
DEAR SIR The severance Of connection of our
trains at GordOnsvile, having been ordered by you
during my recent absence from the State, (attend-
ing a Railroad Convention at Chattanooga and
finding upon my return home that our General
Superintendent, Mr.. Eandcgrift, was in cores
pondence with you on the subject, have delayed
any personal communication of nay own, IN the
hope that the very reasonable proposition sub
mitted by him, would have been accepted, and the
existing difficulty adjusted and removed. In this
however, find myself disappointed, from the pur-
port of the answers returned by you, and must
conclude that it is forcgonc conclusion OH your
part to make any concession, however mod
crate which would enable our train to make the
desired connection at Gordonsvle.
The point of your demand is, as Understand 1t,
that to maintain the connection with your trains,
the morning train from Alexandria must reach
Gordonsville at 1915, H., instead OF ll.Oo, a.
NJ, as required by the schedule prior to the first
day Of June last
Now, rs you well know, our arrival ut Gordons-
Vile in the morning, depends upon the time we can
leave Alexandria, But for this fact could
readily get to Gordonsviilc as you desire. "e
cannot however, leave Alexandria until The arrl-
val of passengers and mails of the Baltimore cars,
which come into Washington now at o'clock, a.
H.. and are delivered here on y in time to enable
our trains to leave 1T 725, a III. Your trains
reach Gordonsvic before ours, for the obvious
reasons that you leave Richmond at $50, a. m.,-
nearly one hour in advancc-and have only 10
miles to run. We leave 55 minutes later-have ~
miles to run, with line which involves transhlp-
ment at two Railroad functions, (Manassas and
WarrentoA) of passengers and baggage, and con-
sequent delays therefor, and having also an addl-
tional number of stations TO stop at-correspond
ing TO additional number Of miles run. 1t is thus
apparent why our trains cannot arrive at Gordons-
vile a. early as yours, although it is well known
that our road is run faster than any Railroad IN
the State.
Anxious a. we are to make the connection, and
10 accommodate the public convenience, as far as
lies in our power, are unwilling to increase
our high speed, and to run 4 break meek chase to
crafty what regard unreasonable and
unfair demand on your part.
The only gain to You as alleged is, that your
passengers going West, may reach tho stages at
Jacksons River, few minutes earlier, and those
going 10 Richmond may reach the Banking Houses
before , o'clock Of the day Of their arrival. The
formed has been made readily under the old sche-
dule
For these comparatively light considerations, the
connection ut GUrdouSvc has been broken, the
travelling public serious y inconyenlcnced, ana
the Interests Of both roads materially damaged.
Every effort ha3 been made part to avoid
lilc contingency We have used all the means =:
| cclnmaad accelerate the transit to our road
from Washingipn--hnve solicited the Baltimore
md laI al q u
without effect 80 far. Our Superintendent haA
proposed 10 vou al sacrifice OF interest and
tA3 risk OF increased speed to reach Gordonsvile
fifteen minutes earlier which only involves diff
ference OF five minutes time upon your own sche-
dulc, and has received Il percmptory negative 10
reply.
The answer made by You that we had this sche-
,lule last wear, and what has been done can be
lone again is iisarined Of all point, when
have your own letter 10 show that though the at
tempt was made, yet failed to comply, at
time TOO when the Baltimore train came Wash
iugton ten minutes earlier in the morning than it
does now.
cannot well see how public agent like your
self, clothed with much power in this respect,
can be willing upon such slight grounds to adopt
Il line Of policy operating much injury to his
own, and ronhccilng railroad, and to the Public
ut large. | arl however unwilling To leave any
thing uuone 10 remove the evil, and have anoth-
CT proposition - submit.
Let the whole case he presented to the arbitra-
men; Of the Board Of Public Works, and We will
accept such schedule they may ruIs; or you may
take the ump;rage of any competent Railroad men
10 decide what is right and fair between the par
lies, and>w viii abide the result
la the meantime let Us avoid the break of con
ucctuns If GordunSyiIlc until decision can be
had Our trains shall arrive under Eandegrifts
proposal at 1880 4. NJ. which only involves de-
durtiun Of i've minutes from your own demand.
The public expect CONNECTION Of our trains. NJ
GordouS,i!i" and have Il right to demand it, and
truss that YOU will ~ once recognize the impor-
lance u the issue. and the equity Of the proposal
submitted for il settlement. l am respectfully,
your ohcdicnt servant,
}. ;. BARBOUR, JE., President.
?. S.-Thc Staunton, Charlottesville, and other
papers which may publish Col. Fontaines state
ucnt will please insert the above in their columns.
All persons travelling the Central road, both
east aud west have for several years been subject
to disagrcc,l!c detention 1t u ordonsyille, wait
Ing FOR the Alexandria train. All complained Of
it ~ grievance which they bore with but little
patience. The officers OF the Central Company
have tried 10 remedy it by urging the Alexandria
company 10 arrive earlier. But the History Of
the connection shows that they made il later and
LATER every year, until recently the prolonged de-
tcHtlOE moi only aiucu greatly 10 llc tiscolNloFt
Of the regular travel between the east and west,
but was likely 10 drive the Springs travel 10
other lines.
The efforts of this company 10 pallate the lrk-
some detention at Gorlonsvillc, in the hot sun OF
the summer has been resisted by the other compa-
ny, and has caused some persons returning to
Staunton 10 be left.
10 be left midway on your journey homcwards,
is very we'll calculated to cXasperatc any one but
the question is. whom should the blame rest
Ii is true that it is in the power Of either party to
prevent it, but that ore should be ceIsurcd who
has failed to do what nigh; reasonably be expect
cd, stud whch ;hcy have agreed to do. 1t should
not be expected that one party should make all
the concessions and al! the sacrifices and the
public ought to he willing 20 submit to some tenn
pUrdry Inconvenience rather than couutcnaucc
course liagranty improper.
What arc the facts!
When the Alexandria road was first constructed
Il GOrdonSTiie, 10 connect with the Central Road,
which had been in operation west Uf the Blue
Ridge for several years, feeling that it their
duty to conform to state Of things in existence
before their road was projected their trains arriv
ed 1t Gor,lonSvillc at the same time with that of
the Central, via: at l0-la 4. NJ, and there was no
detention 10 passengers going either way.
After some time they asked for an extension OF
the hour of arrival; in spirit of concession, twas
made 1920, and this continued 10 satisfy them for
Il year. Tie result Of this was, that all passen-
gers KEEP, waiting for their arrival, and those
IrS,iuci Ia tho Sr,-; had IN ~. al IN nj,