Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-02-01
ICOMMUNICATED,


RAILROAD MATTEas.-Please publish the
following article on Railroad Matters, from the
National Inteligencer of yesterday, and o5lige
SEVERAL CITIZENS.
1--WE hear In various ways that the atten-
ton of the Legislature Of Virginia is now
called to the above subject. In view Of the
tact that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company is creeping up the Valley of Virgin
N. in order to ultimately take travel and
freight to Baltimore, and away from Lyuch
burg, Richmond. and Norfolk toward tide
water on the east and around Alexandria,
Georgetown, and Washington at the head of
of tide water at the northeast, in the general
direction of Baltimore; all the cities above
named have direct and vital interest in the
legislation at Richmond. Itis supposed to be
the policy of the State Of Virginia to build up
her own cities For that purpose, as we have
ever understood it, her present railway system
was adopted But if the Baltimore and Ohio
railway management is to succeed finally III the
turtive and circutous policy that 1t IS gradually
effecting and developing, like hidden put ad-
vanciug serpent, then the resources OF Virginia
will become tributary to Baltimore. This Is,
TO some extent. an accomplished fact now, so
far as the Orange and Alexandria railroad is
concerned since that the latter is said to be
controlled 10 the interest of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad. 1t having been demonstrated
while since, as we have heard that there were
such differential rates of toll upon the former
as that freight over it bound for Baltimore
costs but triAe after leaving Alexandria, such
change In this respect was understood to have
been made as that all costs for freight over the
Orange and Alexandria were thereafter charged
50 as to be according to distance, except such
as started from LyDchburg Herein we think
there should be Investigation by the Legislature
at Richmond 1t is now said that treights
north of Alexandria, except as subjected to
charge between that city and Washington over
the present railway, pay but trl1e on the
Washington branch of forty miles to Balti-
more. If this be 50, then the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, in order to help
Baltimore and utterly PROSTATE Alexandria,
GEORGETOWN, and Washington, is willing to
bear burden as above long as it may suit It's
purposes. This cannot be prevented, that We see,
while the franchise exists for the present short
road between us AID Alexandria AS an In
dependent road, it is in the way to some ex-
tent of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad but
for the latter to purchase it, and make it part
and parcel of their own property, would entail
ultimately very heavy expenditures for stations,
tunnels, roadways, and also all for what would
be regarded by them as a suitable railroad
bridge. of mile in length, near the present
Long Bridge Then, again, there would be
uncertainties as to the action OF Congress
about transits at all by steam through the
streets Of Washington, close to the Capitol.
For these reasons it is stated that the object
O! getting authority at Richmond tor construct.
ine raiIwy along the bank Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal, and across the aqueduct at
Georgetown, is to form such an indissoluble
link between the Orange and Alexandria road
and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, that
whatever may be the feelings or Interests OF OF
the three cities the control of tolls for freight
and for passengers shall be 10 the bands of the
two roads named, who can then snap their
fingers at any and all parties. This object may
be effected if the authority, without proper
limitations. be given at Richmond as now ask
ed, because connection can be then had with
the lateral road to Georgetown from the val
ley of Virginia, (interSecting, also, the Lou
lo1n and Hampshire road, y which is now pro-
iectedsand is on the ttpls IN Congress, and also
at Richmond, as We suppose. :,
We have to ask Of the authorities OF all
kinds at Rich mond TO look we'll to their ways
it they would protect their own cities partlcu
larly Alexandra whether they care for Wash
iugton and Geo, getown or not. The railway
system OF Northern Virginia and the upper
\: portion Of the Valley was designed for the beo-
sef,.of Alexandria What benefits 1T benefits
Washington and Georgetown. 1t is vital to
the interests of all Of them that there shall be
no such combination Of ompanles as that tdey
NAV be prejudiced, or destroyed rather, by such
dfferential rates for freight and passage as that
through Southern freight to Baltimore will b:
little or no more, or perhaps not as much, as
to Alexandria or Washington and Georgetown.
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