Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-13
VIRGINIA NEWS.

erlcksburg hearing some one coming up on the
porch Of the house, and presuming it to be
her father jumped up from the supper-table,
candle in hand, and opened the door. At that
moment she was confronted by white man,
who uttered fierce impreeation, and fired a
pistol. Being greatly alarmed, Miss D. enter
ed the house closing the door speedily after her,
which the fellow attempted to force, but Mrs
D. having come to het daughters aid. they sue
ceeded in keeping him out until the arrival OF
a gentleman through another door, when he
left.
a very serious accident occurred on the
Richmond and Danville Railroad yesterday. -
Owing to the breaking Of a switch rod the Ia
dies car was precipitated over an embankment,
making three revolutions and smashing the car
in it's descent. One lady was killed instantly,
and thirteen other passengers injured. Among
the gentleman injured was Bishop Fairly, OF
the Methodist Epicopal Church.
James W. BiDford, Of Surry county, Virgin
ia, committed suicide in Richmond on Thurs
day last, by taking strychnine. Pecuniary
troubles are assigned as one of the principal
causes Mr. B. owned q handsome country
seat near Malvern Hill. When Mcclellan 5
army advanced upon Richmond, the house
and all other property upon the farm was de-
stroycd by the Federal forces
The James River and kaDawha Canal Com
pany have purchased Morris q Staples line of
canal boats with the view of transporting freight
themselves on the line, so as to complete With
the Orange & Alexandria Railroad and the
South Side, and Norfolk & Petersburg Roads,
and thus, If possible, secure for the canal u
proportonate share Of the transportation of
South western Tonnage
The wife of Capt Vessels, living III Acco-
mac county, Va, gave birth one day this week
to two children, each having two heads, four
eyes and three legs. This rather sarpasscs
anything Of such nature that has conc to our
knowledge.
James Stephens, Head Centre, has arrived
in Richmond. and is stopping at the Exchange
Hotel He will spend few days in Richmond
and Petersburg, and then return to New York.
The Rev. Thos W. Glmer vii! be ordained
as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Fred
cricksburg, probably 90 Saturday.
REDUCTION IN THE RATES OF FREIGHT Be
TWEEN WASHINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA.
The managers of The Washington, Alexandria,
and Georgetown railroad have greatly reduced
the rates Of freight between this city and Alex
andria, owing, we believe to the contemplated
running Of their road with lighter and much
less expensive material for local purposes. We
have been shown their "taritf-shect Of rates
and are really surprised at the great reduction
which they have recently made from the rates
charged over their line, while the road was
being worked by the Orange and Alexandria
Company, under the supervision Of Messrs
Quigley, Jameson L. Co. The rates were
then 90 and Is cts per hundred 90 first aud
second class merchandise between Washington
and Alexandria, and l94 and Is cts between
Baltimore and Alexandria The rates now
charged are 81 30, 81, ant 50 cents per ton ct
1000 pounds or 6: 5, and cts. per hundred,
for first, second, and third class merchandise
| between the Two cities.
The managers also state that all classes Of
merchandise will be received at their depot on
the Orange and Alexandria railroad, which
will be loaded in cars Of that company and ship
ped direct to its place Of destination, and
thereby save the trouble and expense of tran
shipment at Alexandria, consequent Epon the
shipment Of goods by any other line.
We are also informed by Messrs Stevens &
Phelps essees of the road, that the light mo
tive power and rolling stock contemplated for
their road will be in working operation on the
lat OF July, at which time the rates for the
transportation OF passengers will also be very
materially decreased.
Long since we suggested that the working
of the Washington and Alexandria railroad
was in the interest of Baltimore, at the expense
Of Washington. The road was temporarily in
control of one who was, or had been, intimate
ly connected with the railroad monopoly hence
TO New York, whose means, we believe, was
the life blood OF the transaction. Thus freight
from Alexandria reached Baltimore at q less
price than it did Washington. Such, it seems
was the actual fact We suspect that thisspe
cies of outrage extended all along the Orange
and Alexandria railroad. Probably it does not
now: but the subject is one that we ask the
president Of that road to investigate. The
andria are now from six to four cts Before it
was from twenty to fifteen. II the same rate
of difference was kept up for long distances on
the Orange and Alexandria railroad, it would
make fabulous rates altogether destructive to
Washington. The simple facts are just here:
The New Iorks steamships bring goods, wares
and merchandise to Alexandria and Washing
ton at less rates than they are got to Baltimore.
With railroad rates of freight operating fairly
and equally, our two or three cities hsvc the
advantage over Baltimore, by the amount Of
increased freigh both ways between them and
Baltimore; also in the additional time, exper-
SEES of travel, and sojourn at hotels, truckage,
and insurance incurred by the country dealer.
We want wholesale dealers-those who buy
,sell in a large way, and do not dabble in a
little retail business. Such are needed for
small retailers of the city as well as those of
| the country both Of whom are randlY aucmcn-