Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-06-19
JOHN S. BARBOUR.
June l4th, 1860.
Col Z. FnNrAINE.
r. p roSIatSn' r;ro;,;a Central Railroad 90.

r..
President OF Virgiaia Central Railroad Co.
DEAR SIR The of connection OF our trains
at Gordonsye having been ordered by you during my
recent absence from the State (a'tending halroau
Convention at Chattanooga and finding upon my re-
turn home that our General Superintendent Mr. Nande
grft was in correspondence with you on the SUBJECT
have DELAYED any personal communication OF my own
in the hope that the very reasonable proposon submit
ted by him. would have been accepted aud the eXlshg
difficulty adjusted and removed In this however, find
myself disappointed from the purpor OF the answers
returned by YOU and conclude that Is toregone
conclusion on your part to make any concession,
however moderate which would enable our trains TO
make the desired connection at Gordonsyie.
The point OF your demand is as | understand IT, that
to mlntan the connection with your trains, the morn
ing train from Alexandra must reach Gordonsvlle at
1913 A. NJ instead of HOS, A ~, as required by the
schedule prior TO the first day of June last.
Now as YOU well know, arrival at GOrdonsvile In
the morning depends upon the time leave Alex
andria But Tor this fact could readily get to Cor
louisville as YOU desire. We cannot, however leave Al
exandra until the arrival of passengers and mails OF the
Baltimore cars, which into Washington now a d
O'Clock, a NJ, and are delivered here only in time to
enable trains to leave at 7:25 A. NJ Your trains
reach GOrdOnsvile before ours for the obvious reasons
that you leave Richmond at 6:SO A. M,-neary one
hour in advauce-and have only 70 miles to run We
leave 5j minutes ater-have 90 miles to run, with line
which involves transhpment at two Railroad functions
Manassas and Warrenton) of passengers and baggage
tiona number of stations to stop atcorrespondng to
additional number of miles Isis thus apparent why
our trains cannot arrive at Gordonsve early yours
although is well known that our road Is run faster than
any Railroad in the State.
Anxious as we make the connection, and to ac
commodate the public convenience far as lies in our
power we are willing TO increase our high speed aud
10 run break chase gra ify what regard as
an unreasonable and unfair demand on your part.
The only gain you alleged is, tha your passen-
aophth Ina sta At
YER few minutes earlier, and those going 10 Richmond
may reach the Banking Houses before o'clock OF the
day Of iheir arrival. The connection with the Peters
burg raius am informed has been made readily under
the old schdue.
For these comparatively light considerations :he
necrion a. Gordonsvle has been broken, the travelling
public seriously inconvenience and the in eres OF DO
roads materially damaged. Every effort has been made
on our part to avoid the con urgency. We have used
all the means a our command accelerate the transit
TO our road from Washingion-have solicited the Bal /
and Ohio Railroad 10 come III 10 minutes earlier
without effect far. Our Superintendent has proposed
you sacrifice Of interest and the risk OF in
creased speed reach GordOnsyile fifteen minutes earl
Ter which ony involves difference OF i've minutes time
upon your schedule and has received peremp DRY
negative in reply.
The answer made by yeu that had this schedule
last year, and what has been done can be done ain Is
dsarmed of all point when have your own letter TO
show that though the attempt made, vet failed
TO comply at time too when the Baltimore train
to Washington ten minutes earern the morning than
does now.
cannot well see how public agent like yourself
clothed with so much power in this respect can be will
ing upon such slight grounds to adopt line of policy
operating much injury his own, and connecting rail
roads and to the Public at large. am however uuwIl-
ling to leave anything undone 10 the evil, and
have another proposition to submit
Let the whole be presented to the arbitrament of
the Board of Public Works, and we will accept such
schedule as they may rule you may take the umpir
age of any competent Railroad men to decide what IS
right and fair between the parties and we will abide the
result
Ia the meantime e: US avoid the break of connections
at Gordonsyle unit! decision be had. Our trains
shall arrive under Vand grifs proposal at 10 80 NJ,
which only involves deduction Of i've minutes from
your demand
The public expect a connection Of our trains at Cor
louisville AID have right demand it and trust that
you will recognize the importance OF the issue,
and the equity Of the proposal submitted for Us settle
ment. l am respectfully,
Your oOedcnt servant,
j. 5. BARBOUR Jr., Pres't.
P. S.-The Saunton, Charlottesville, and other pa
pers which may publish Col Fontaines statement, will
please insert the above in their columns.