Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-04-18
The Railroad Consolidation Riu.
ThebnI authorizing the Noreoll, 81

lhebhl authorizing the Norfolk and
Petersburg, the Southside, the Virginia
and Tennessee, and the Virginia and Ken
lucky railroad companies to unite, by vote
of their private stockholders, in forming a
general company, passed the Senate, on
Saturday, by the following vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Aiexender, Belew, Boiling, Croc
kett, Gait Gray, oKello; Lee, McRae, Meade. Mer-
c,er, Peck, Powell, Power, Richmond, Robinson
Tallaferro, and Trout-lS
Nays-Cabeil, Coleman. Dulany, Miller. Mitch.
ELL ouid' Saunders, Strother, and Washington-s
All the Valley, Senators Meade, Be-
lew, Gray, and Trout--it,will be observed,
voted for the bin. It is now, before the
House Of Delegates There seems to be
no doubt of the passage Of the bill by that
body o. isv 3saissa Ell. s-,r
Should the bill become a law, it will unite
the roads named under one management,
and give the consolidated company the
control of five hundred miles of continu-
GUS railroad, stretching from Norfolk to
the Kentucky line, and passing through a
section Of country unsurpassed, for its ag-
rlcultural resources and mineral wealth, by
any other region of /. like extent on this
continent; and the advocates of the meas
ure claim that it is the shortest and most
practicable route by which to unite the
great centres, of trade in the West. and
Southwest and the Atlantic seaboad in the
East. A glance at the map will satisfy
every thinking man of the vast importance
Of this grea. line of communication with
the West to Virginia. And there can be
but little doubt that the union of these
roads will not only greatly reduce the ex-
pennse OF their separate management, but
destroy any jealousy and antagonism that
may have heretofore existed between them.
The measure is therefore wise one, both
on the score of policy and economy.
The States interest in the roads named
is S. 500, 500. The bill provides that
the consolidated company shall purchase
this interest, by depositing with the Trea-
surer like amount of the bonds Of the
State, dollar for dollar. These bonds are
to be cancelled, and to that extent the pub
lie debt will be diminished.
There are objections raised to the con-
solidation Of these roads, however, upon
the. ground that it will operate injuriously
upon the interests Of Alexandria and the
Valley counties; that it will take from the
Orange and Alexandra railroad large
portion of its trade and travel, and by that
means deprive it of the means of repairing
the. Manassas Gap Railroad and building
it to Harrisonburg within 4 reasonable
time. It is further objected that, when
this grand consolidation scheme shall have
been contaminated, Manassas will not be
permitted to connect with any Of the great
lines, tapping the thofoughfares Of. the
West, and that she will be 50 crippled
that she cannot construct her road to Har-
at least for some time to come
That the act of consolidation will enable
the new company to WELD more influence.
and to bring to its aid pecuniary resources
which they could not command, separately,
is clear obut the hypothesis thattthe mere
act of consolidation will destroy the inter-
est of Alexandria and Of the Valley coun-
ties in the Manassas Gap road, is not quite
SO apparent It's. fair to. presume that the
terms upon which the charter ofbthe Yal-,
ley Railroad was granted will be faithful
" carried out by the Legislature, unless
the company should fail to make the road
within the time prescribed. When com
p}eted, that roadgwill give to Alexandria
a fair chance to compete for at least por-
tion Of the trade Of the West and South
west and if she can offer the same ship
ping advantages as Norfolk, she will get
it. ss;If not, ut would be unreasonable to
expect IT, i ioeg ~ 7G
tProportionately, we think, the consoli-,
dation Of the Orange and Alexandria and
Manassas Gap railroads, under one man
agement, will give the company the same
advantages accruing to the reads above re-
ferred to. taking into consideration the
previous condition of the respective roads.
Manassas was the greatest sufferer by the
war, and to that extent the Orange road
labors under disadvantage not felt by the
other combination. Manassas should there
fore be generously dealt with by the Lee
gislature; and any discrimination against
her and the city of Alexandra, in their
comparatively helpless condition, would be
ungracious, impolitic and suicidal
Whilst we are in favor of the consolida-
ton Of the roads above named, for the reaz
sons already stated, we are opposed to any
discrimination against the great interests