Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-04-12
LOCAL NEWS.
FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL r..

H.
The TRANSFER TO THE ORANGE AND ALEX
ANDRIA RAILROAD AUTHORIZED. The Com
mon Council last night resumed the considera
ton Of the question Ct the proposed transfer Of
stock of the, Manassas Gap Railroad, held by
the city, to the Orange and Alexandria Rail
road Company, and, after discussion that oc
cupied several hours, finally passed the resolu
ton adopted on Tuesday night by tie Board o1
Aldermen. authorizing the appointment Of
proxies, and instrucling them to vote for the
transfer. Dr. johnson strenuousiy opposed
the measure, on the ground that it would be
illegal; that it was fostering monopoly on the
part Of the Orange and Alexandria railroad,
and that it Was giving away stock that was,
and would be, Of value, ana tor which the city
had been and would continue to be heavily
taxed. He couteuded that if proper diligence
and exertion were used, and the example OF
Lewis Mckenzie, the President Of the Loudoun
and Hampshire Railroad followed, that the
Manassas Gap road could be rebuilt. If the
stock was transferred we would still have to
|
tages were to accrue TO some one, these cxcr-
tions 10 have this transfer made would not be
pressed so ardent}y. He proposed substitute
| for the resolution under consideration. enqur-
ing into the condition of the Manassas Gap
Railroad, and to ascertain what the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad propose to give for Alex
andria' 5 interest in the Manassas Gap Railroad.
Mr. Martin followed DR.. johnson, also in OPP
position to The transfer. He thvaght that the
Legislature was showing partially in refusing
assistance TO the Manassas Gap Company, and
yet sjgnifyng their willingness 10 loan the
Orange Company 100000 He favored DR..
| Johnson's substitute, and commended that if
the Orange Company cannot pay It's own debts
he did not see how it could rebuild the Manas'
sas road. Mr. J. B. Smoot (Mr. Summers in
the chair spoke at length III advocacy of the
transfer, as the sole means of having the road
rebuilt, so as to bebe6t Alexandria. He refu-
| ted the charge Of bad management on the part
Of the President and Directors, and said that
all The promises made by the friends of the
| road would have been realized but for the war.
He contendcd that unless the road was taken
by those having an interest in Alexandria, it
would fall into tie hands Of foreign capitalists,
who would make road down the Valley 10
connect with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
and thus cut off Alexandria entirely from all
the trade Of the richest section Of the State
Mr.. S. explained the Strasburg extension
scheme and the great excrtions that had been
made to have that scheme carried out The
Valley people will have aroad, and if the Man
assas road is not speedily built another outlet
will be found. Mr.. S. read from former reports
of the officers Of the Manassas road to show
the benefits accruing to our city from that road
In replying to the arguments about through
freight, he contended that only such freight as
hardly ever would stop here went through ;
that all grain, &C., did stop here; and that it
was only under most extraordinary circumstan-
ces, such as existed last winter, when our har-
Dor was closed for such length of time, that
any grain went throue further, he contend
ed, that the great through freight business was
benefit, enabling the road to reduce its rates
above 20 per cent. on local ireights, and thus
benefting our mercantile community tea great
extent. He conteuded that the bondhoIders
have the right to sell out the road, and if it
should fall into the hands Of foreign capitalists
there was great fear that the rails and rolling
stock would be removed, and transferred to the
other end, where it would be used i'll making a
road down the Valley, and thus leave us ont
in The cold. The stock, he commended, would
be worth nothing for an indefinite period, and
what we would gain by having the road rebuilt
would more than balance the loss Of the stock.
He explained that the Legislature would only
allow the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to
borrow $2,000,O0O; not make loan, as they
had nothing to lend. Mr. Martin replied to
Mr. Smoot, still contendng that an eyertion
should be made to raise funds to rebuild the
| road without transferring it to another company.
Mr.. Marshall, the President Of the Manassas
Gap Railroad, by consent made an explana-
ton of the effects ofthe transfer, and the ben
efts to accrue to Alexandria. He replied to
the remarks of DR.. johnson, explaining the
| proposition TO sell out 10 the Valley Road, pro-
| vided that company would pay all the debts Of
the Manassas Road, and guarantee the re-
building of the eastern section, so that Alex
andria might reap some of the benefits. Alter
some further remarks by DR.. johnson, Mr..
Smoot and Mr.. Martin, the substitute propos
| ed by DR.. johnson was defeated, and the res
olution, as passed by the Aldermen, adopted by
vote of 9 to S.
! Low ESTIMATE. In the course of the de-
| bate in the Common Council, last night, DR..
johnson said that the whole Legislature Of