The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-11-17
OUR RAILROAD CONNKCTlONs
CITIZENS MEETING LAST Nieslr.
IntsrestipG Addresses.

CITIZENS MEETING LAST NlahlT. 1
Interesting Addresses. g~Ni
Pursuant 10 Adjournment a meeting Of the
citizens Of Washington was held last eve
ming In the Aldcrmen's chamber, City Hall,
for the purpose Of considering what measures
were necessary to secure the cooperation Of
Congress In advancing the railroad interests
Of the city. The fact that such a meeting
was 10 be hold had not been generally an.
nounecd, and The attendance was not very
large on that account. There were however
number Of our prominent cltizeus present.
among whom were Franck Taylor, O. X.
Ritteuhouse, 8. Fowler, Judge Wight, p.
Crowley, J. X. Elvans, Hon. +. L. TnIIock.
samuel Normcnt, DR.. J.. o. Rowland, Col.
Richey, Aldermen Connolly, Emery. Clark.
Counclmen Besll, Pardon, Burgess, Williams.
Mcknight, aud others.
Mr.. NJ. @. Emery presided and Mr.. T. G,
Connolly was elected secretary. rI
Judge Wright said there was some mis-
apprehension existing In relation TO the time
and place Of meeting. He therefore moved
that q committee OF i've DO appointed TO
draft resolutions expressive Of the sense Of
the citizens Of Washington on the subject
for which the meeting had been called, and
report at the next meeting; and that when
they I'D journ II be for one week.
The motion was carried, and the following
gentlemen appointed to dram rcsolutionsi
Judge Wright, Geo. Burgess, A. p. Clark,
Samuel Fowler and T. Q. Connolly.
DR.. snodgrass then addressed the meeting,
and made an interesting statement OF his
travels In Virginia over that portion Of the
State most likely to be selected for the extern
sion Of the Loudoun and Hampshire rail-
road. Tho country was very fertile, and II
the road was completed Washington would
DO benefited beyond calculation. Other
roads would necessarily be built, all trlbu
tary to the main road, and traversing thii
section Of Virginia Washington must nat
urally be the entrepot for the freight Of thost
roads.
This city could very well subscribe 81 900,
900, and he believed that such a subsidy
would tend more to tho practical roconstruc
ton Of Virginia that all the cdlcts OF Con
gross.
The next speaker was Colonel J. d. Stew
art, who eloquently advocated the extension
Of railways 10 every direction from Wash
ington as tho only means OF developing tn,
resources Of the District OF Columbia. In
crease our mechanical Industries -mak
this city grain and produce depot-and th
prosperity Of Washington would be estab
lished forever.
Railroads, wherever built, improved th
entire section Of the country through whicI
they passed. The great Pacific railroad wa
an illustration OF this. Even Utah, with II
conservative element Of polygamy, had a
last imbibcd the spirit Of progress. Ye
Washington, the very capital Of this grea
nation, was almost destitute of the mos
ordinary railroad facilities.
He commended that the taxation whic
would be consequent II the city subscribe
u ,0oo, 900, would fall lightly upon our cit
zens, and return very soon tenfold In ID
creased trade, &c. He said he had been
advocate Of railroad improvements ever sine
he had known what railroad was, and CAV
some practical Illustrations Of the etfec
which the building Of railroads had In Ker
lucky.
Judge Wright said he could substantial
all the previous speaker had said. Railroad
were not only Indicative of property, bu
created 1t. Washington city certainly needle
all the facilities v could have, aud there wa
no reason why railroads should not be cor
structed. There had been some remark
:. made about the amount proposed to be sui
scribed BY the city. He wished II wa
$4,000, 600 instead OF o., OoO, 900.
General Eaton said his taxes this yea
were nearly twice as large as last, while II
, property was not worth much more. II
, had come TO the conclusion he could not q
, ford to hold property under such crcun
stances without tho corporation did som
thing to enhance It's value. Washingto
city needed to improve Its condition nna,
/ cially and commercially. Tho qucstio
(; seemed to resolve itself simply into Il
r proposltion-would the corporation inve
In IN improvement that must certainly I'D
/, millions to Its wealth. The man who won
4 not improve his property because 1t co
4 something never would succeed, and
h Washington did not aid the Loudoun al
d Hampshire road and open up direct rou
V with the West the capital ought to be move
!, He had recently been solicited to becon
t one Of company to purchase G0,000 acr
II Of land In the vicinity Of Lynchburg. Va
a for the purpose Of colonizing II and direc
G Ing emigration TO that section OF the Stat
O That land could be had now for two dolla
}. an acre. 1t would not be many years befo
d Virginia would have q population OFFS ,OO(
4 900 people, and the land referred to won
! be worth 800 per acre. Would washln
i, ton city connect itself with n road that W
q destined to improve the section Of Virgin
through which 1t passed q hundred fol
d Again, he would say II Washington had n
d enterprise to aid the road, the capital shou
a be removed.
Mr.. T. G. Connolly argued In favor Of |
q creasing the city debt, because he believed
4 would stimulate enterprise, and money
1. vested In railroads wonld come back 10 '
q rous ways. The citizens need not expt
4 heavy dividends from the Investment, bui
n increase Of population-incrcas OF the val
n Of real cstate-au Increase Of the boundarl
d Of Washington would be an inevitable res,
a Of the completion Of the Loudoun and Ham
a shire railroad. Senator Sherman had plalr
| baN1a nd that IN fut ~ Of w.
% question of railroads, and he meant VII
Is he said. Our citizens should be wise, n
|, heed the suggestion.
,f Mr.. A. p. Pardon gave an interesting
l. count OF the benefits which certain parts
a. New Jersey had derived from the building
IF railroads and the great increase It made
IN the value OF lands In that section OF |
d country through which they passed. il
as long as Washington was shut out FRI
the civilized world for want Of railroad
'R Just so long the people would complain
rs high taxes and the low prices OF real esta
a, He was In favor Of Washington city inve
N ing heavily In railroads.
n, On motion ofMr. Beall, the chairman,
RI @. Emery was added to the committee
or resolutions.
s. On motion of Judge Wright, Col. Stew
ls was also added.
h. The meeting then adjourned until Tuesd
~ cNculnB ncNt at FoU O'CLOCK.
ID =
The METROPOLITAN MEMORIAL NJ.
u. CHuRcu.-We regret 10 learn that the abe
y, ~ named church which Is credit to the i
Il. tlonal capital, Is In an incomplete condltlt
ed the spire not having been completed.
G. understand that some 100000 will be
-, quired to pay of the present Indebtedness
the church, and further sum will be wan
nd to complete the building and furnish 1t W
u. a chime OF bells. The membership of
ct church Is one Of the largest 10 the city, a
p, embraces the names Of the most dist
" guished men Of the country. A commit
In OF the representative ladles of the chur
nS Mrs. President Grant theoretically taxi
,,e. the lead, have taken the enterprise In ha,
"e and the ladies feel confident that the d
It. will be cancelled by tho close OF the 'bres
year. The church when fully compile
will cost quarter of million OF dollars.
RELIdIoUs.-A most interesting ser,
was held at the Christian church on
street, last night. Many came forward
made the "good confession"
THE Council and the Tribe of iona,
meet at Jonadab Hall at 1:30 o'clock d.