The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-02
The Railroad Bills.

The General Assembly yesterday made
another step in advance upon the subject
of the great railroad schemes which have
been so long under consideration in the
two Houses. The House of Delegates
passed the bill known as the Cumberland
Gap Railroad " facilitation bill, which con-
solidates the Norfolk and Petersburg, the
Southsidc, and the Virginia and Tonnes
see railroads, for the purpose of completing
the Cumberland Gap road, and through its
completion to establish a line Of transporta-
ton from the Atlantic to the Mississippi
and Ohio rivers. About the time this bill
passed in the House the Senate passed, by
nearly a unanimous vote, the "Coving-
ton and Ohio Railroad bill, as il is called !;
i.e. the bill to complete the "Covington and
Ohio railroad" by consolidating the Gen.
trail, the Norfolk and Petersburg, and the
Southside railroads, under the name of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company.
This bill passed by 20 ayes to no, and
having previously passed the House, is
law of the land.
The Cumberland Gap Railroad bill was
promptly sent to the Senate after its pas
sage by the House. In that body it was
soon taken up, and an amendment was put
upon it which its friends considered as
highly detrimental to it, and seriously en-
dangering the success Of the scheme should
il pass thus amended. This amendment
requires the assent Of the private stock
holders Of all four of the railroads pro-
posed to be consolidated before the con-
solidation of their interests shall take
place. 1t is the amendment which was
twice offered in the House, once rejected,
then adopted, and afterwards reconsidered
and rejected. This action of the Senate
somewhat depressed the spirits of the
friends of the bill, and opened before them
a renewal of the struggle which they have
maintained with such energy and perse-
verance for the greaterpart Of the session
unfortunately, however, this reverse comes
upon them as the session is just about to
close. This amendment, unless it be re-
considered and rejected, sends the bill
back to the House, where it will be
fought over again, and the prospect for its
passage during the reguler session is there
fore very doubtful. When the Senate
adjourned yesterday there was an amend
ment pending, and others said to be in re-
serve.
The Covington and Ohio bill being law,
We may speak of it as such. Time is
allowed by the bill to PELL s. Co. to con-
clude their contract for the completion of
the Covington and Ohio railroad, in which
event they are to acquire the rights and
franchises in the Covington and Ohio rail
road as specified in the unratified contract,
and the consolidation under this bill is at
an end. However, there is little expecta-
ton that PELL s. Go. will succeed in their
negotiations. ~
Should the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road succeed it will be the means Of alb
.sorbing some 100000 Of State debt and
Of diminishing the taxation Of the State to
the amoua of $500, 900 per annum. That
win, indeed, be grand result for the
State, while it will sever the State from
all connection with the railroads thus con-
solidated. This win be blessing to the
State, the railroads, and the public, The
roads will be managed much better. do a
great deal more for the general prosperity
Of the country, and exhibit much bsttsr
results for the stockholders through better
: economy and decreased enterprise.
But the great achievement through This
bill, If its object Is attained, viii be the
completion Of the line of communication
!, from the Chesapeake to the Ohio river a
desideratum which has been long dear To
Virginia, and upon which she has expend.
ed millions Of dollars. 1t viii establish the
very best route that Is possible from the
mississippi Valley to the Atlantic. A
route which crosses the Allegheny noun
Jams at grade Of t,0enty-niae and holf