Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-02-19

or ClaIke wac CeItaiuly Que VI Inc ilCHeot III
the State Of Virginia, and its natural market
was in the District There was no other place
it could resort to-
The receipts OF the road last year were ST.
900, and had it not been for the investment
necessary in extending the road, we could have
easily paid the interest on our bonds. Al
though not an old man, he could rememser
the day when the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
did not pay a cent of interest on It's bonds,
stock, or anything else. Now it has capital
of nearly $50 900, 000-is not only indepen-
dent but is building branch roads in every oil
| recton, and has surplus to assist other roads
that will prove an advantage to the interests OF
| that road in the end. Our difficulty Is In find
| ing such friends We can 6nd plenty who are
| willing to hear our story, but when 1t comes to
| investing, they prefer the Government tonds
| at 10 to ours at 80.
Now, Mr.. Mayor, understand your assess
ment FIVE years since was S38, 0OO, 0OO tna a
this wear it will be something like $50, 900 900.
Mayor Bowen. Allow me to state, Mr..
| Mckenzie. that the assessment of Washing
ton city this year will be not tar from 81
| 900 900.
MIR. Mckenzie said: Then 80 much the bet
ter for your own interests. Now, supposlng
the people of Washington should take right
| hold of this matter, and consent to be taxed
eioht cents on every hundred dollars; how
easily the amount requisite to complete the
road could be raised in Washington alone. |
| know there are great many mean, contracted
minded men in this world, and al over the
| United States, can say; but hope there are
| none in Washington city, or anywhere 10 the
District Of Columbia. 1t there are any or this
class, all | can say Is Good Lord, help them!
We are agitatng subject now that looks to
the business interests OF your District, and 10
accomplish the good work something must be
done, and that means simply that money must
be raised to carry on the work Of building the
road. am warranted in saying that our imam
| cial condition is becoming better every day.
| The distrust that has so long suspended the
energy OF the nation is gradually being dispell'
| ed, and | am sure the days of prosperity are
again returning to the country. Gen. Grant
will doubtless inaugurate with his admlnlstra-
| ton, peace. Pence restored, the capital must
! flourish and did 1t not become the citizens OF
Washington to do something worthy OF the
name and the place they occupy?
The road has thus far been conducted on the
most economical plan, and will be so managed
for the future We understood, Mr. Mayor,
that the cities of Washington and Georgetown
we're anxious to have connection with the
road, and it is for you to determine the practl-
cal method of carrying out your wishes. Let
| it DO understood we are not here begging or
asking tavors. Virginia now Is poweress to
help u.s. but had generousl y transferred her IN
terest to the people as bonus Tor their en-
couragement to complete the road.
The amount necessary to complete the road
to Winchester | will repeat, is 1000 000.
This will provide for the grading, masonry,
iron-with 500, 900 for stocking the road, and
$4,000 for contingent expenses. This estl-
mate, it was true, was made before the war
he had no doubt the road could be built for the
same amount as then calculated. Colored la
borers were plenty, and had been found, under
the right management, to be as Servcaablc as
any that could be employed These, at wages
say eighty cents per day ana found, would ena-
BILE the company to employ very large force,
and push the road rapidly TO completion. He
hoped the citizens of Washington would take
an interest in the success of this great enter
prise-one which they surely must appreciate;
and whatever they purposed doing, to do It as
promptly as possible.
Mayor Bowen asked Mr. Mckenzie what
amount the company would expect the District
citizens to subscribe; to which Mr.. Mckenzie
replied that he did not know what either tie
corporations or individuals should do. That
could be determined best by the people them
selves
The next speaker was DR.. e. II. Cragin,
President Of the Common Council, Georgetown.
He said he could assure the Mayor OF Wash
ineton aud the president of the road that the
people of Georgetown are more than anxious to
have this road completed for the mutual In
terests of both cities The Corporation OF
Georgetown is ready to-day to subscribe
$500, 600, and would petition CONGRESS for au-
thority, in union with the city Of Washington,
to subscribe literally. Oar assessment Is be-
tween SIS, ZOO, 900 and $6,000,0 900; yours over
$50, 1000, 900; and surely il Georgetown Is will
ing to subscribe $500 900, Washington, &C
cording to its assessment, should be willing 10
subscribe 81 100000.
The interests of the cities were now Identical,
and he hoped all prejudice was removed that
hitherto prevented the growth and prosperity
of our cities. There was no road that concern
ed our District interests more than the proposed
road, connecting Us, as 1t would, IN the most
direct way with the great West. The harbors
of Georgetown and Washington were certainly
as great as that of Baltimore, and there was no
reason why the commercial Importance OF our
cities should be interior to that OF our neigh
boring city Concert of action was necessary,
and by neglecting this 10 years past we have
driven the trade from Us.
He thought it was the duty OF the Corpora
tons to subscribe literally Property will rise
in value, and whether the road paid dividends
or not, the advantages to the District would be
more than treble the Investment. We have
very many things of interest demanding the
attention of Congress but unfortunately for
us, the presence of other business had obliged
them to overlook District matters. He thought
the best way to proceed would be to appoint
committee to represent Washington, George
town, and the county-the committee to be
appointed by the Chair, and consider the mat
ter in all of its practica bearings, and report at
some tutlre meeting.
Mr. Mckenzie said he was obliged to his
friend, Dr. Cragin for his remarks, aud he
would say, if encouraged, there would soon be
branches run into one or the other ofthe cities,
OF both. He read letter from Moorefeld Va,
to show that the people there are alive to the
benefits OF railroads, expressing the belief that
the counties on the line would tax themselves
to aid in the construction of the road, and sug
costing that in the direct route 10 Cincinnati