Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-11-16

MEETING OF THE DIRECTORs OF THE BOARD
OF TRADg.-A meeting OF the Directors OF tho
Board Of Trade was held last evening at their
rooms, corner Of Sixth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, when they were met by Messrs. Ma
gruder, Barr aud Cross a portion Of the com
mittee on the part of the Board of Aldermen, to
confer In regard to the running OF steam cars
through the streets OF WashiugtOn.
George W. Riggs, Esq, occupied the CHAIR,
and the following named RentIemen were pro-
posed and elected as members: W: IL. Cooley,
s. y. Savage, II. Boyd, Paul SipOs, Gibson Bros.
VIM. Il. Riley Bro, Riley A. shinn G. T.
Houghton, D. L. shoemaker, Ben. Darby, Geo.
Waters, J. b. Davidson, WIN. IL. MeLatu, WIN.
b. Todd, aud II. Browning.
Mr.. A. II. shepherd, from the committee APP
pointed at u previous meeting Of the Board of
Directors to prepare statement to be submitted
to the committee Of the Board OF Aldermen, eN-
pressivo Of the opinion OF the Board OF trade
relative to the running OF steam cars through
the streets of Washington, submitted the follow
ing statement:
To the Board Of Aldermen Committee, to whom
was refer ed "An act granting certain privi-
andria, and Georgetown Railroad Company
The undersigned, in behalf of the Board Of
Trade, respectfully submit for your candle con !.
sideration the bjOined reasons against the bill
now pending In your honorable Board, proposing
to grant to the Washington, Alexandria. and
GEORGETOWN Railroad Company the privilege OF
using steam through the streets Of this metrop-
oils.
The right Of the Corporation of Washington to
grant such privilege Is inCOntestble, but we urge
that the exercise Of such authority would be In :
eXpedieut aud contrary to the best Interests oil
this city and District 1t Ii true that the cOn-
sideratiOn offered for this privilege is the pay
ment of debt Of about sixty thousand dollars,
1850, OO0,) with accumulated Interest, justly due
from this company TO the Corporation OF Wash
ington. It is conceded that this amount would
very materially aid the Corporation at time
whom funds are 80 urgently needed to prosecute
Important public improve.nonts.
L. .Nal h.0 Nh.lt 10 Han
Is to be considered asa mere speculation-a mere
matter OF sale on the part OF the Corporation
better results in pecunary point Of Wow would
be attained by allowing competition for 30 vain
able franchise, for we presume 1t Will BIO ad-
mitted that the privilege OF n through communi-
cation by steam between the North and South
for period Of twenty (2O) years, should yield q
larger sum than $50, 900. II Is further submitted
that this particular company is hardly entitled
to such favorable legislation, for the very terms
OF the bill exhibit the fact that after having sue
cessfully resisted the payment Of debt incurred
by the Corporation for the aid OF tho company, al
q time when such assistance was greatly no.
quired, the company now only propose to make
payment for valuable consideration. The past
conduct Of tho company can hardly be taken a,
a guaranty that IN the future conduct OF Its af'
fairs much regard will be had for tho interests Of
the city Of Washington.
In addition to these considerations, would no
the Corporation, by passage OF the bill In ques
ton, lose more than would be gained by the pro
posed legislation The decroase In the value o
real estate fronting and adjoining the streets ant
avenues through which 1t Is contemplated t.
allow the use Of steam would In the course q
twenty (2O) years amount to ten-fOld the sun
which the company offer for this privilege,
In another point Of Wow tho corporation wOult
be injuriously affected in aocetsng to the prOpO
sition made by the company. The interests o
the corporation require that In all Of its egisla
ton It should have In view the best interests 0
the business OF the community, and to this en-,
that It should do all in Its pow or to build uL on
large, and encourage trade Grant the franchIs
applied for, aud will not the results be positiyel
detrimental to the business interests Of Washing
ton-already made Bubservient to the Interests d
the all absorbing city of Baltimore2 Pass thi
bill, and is there anything to prevent the DaltI
more and Ohio Railroad Company and the Orang
and Alexandria Railroad Company from obtain
ing entire control Of this right OF way2 1t Is wei
known that these companies uro even now dis
eliminating against our merchants in the matte
Of freights. Daily complaints are made by on
leading business men that Baltimore merchant
can fre ght goods to the South cheaper from Bal
timore than can our merchants from this point.
II is well known that tho Baltimore and Obi
railroad invariably discriminates in favor
BALTIMORE and Its interests, and ii this prlvieg
be granted, what prospect IL there for the busi