The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-11-12
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
ouR RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.


Kenzlc, president Of the Alexandria, Lou
doun and Hampshire railroad, on tho sub.
jcct Of extending that road to the Ohio river
and the reasons why the city Of Washington
should subscribe to the capital stock and as
sist In completing the road.
There were present Aldermen Baker,
Champion, Emery, Knight, CLARK, Davis and
Slater; Councilmen Williams, Thompson,
Mcknight, Hall, Piper, Burgess, Nutter,
Derrick aud Bcall. There were also num-
Der Of our prominent citizens In attendance,
among whom wo noticed Hon. T. l.. Tul.
lock, Judge Wright, Samuel Fowler, J. 8.
Brown, s. ID. Castleman, Col. II. Taylor,
Franck Taylor, Henry Polklnhorn, j. q.
Adams, N. W. Burchell, ]. Y. Davis and
many others.
The meeting was called TO order at s
o'clock, Mr.. Joseph Williams, president Of
the Common Council, presiding. He an
nounced that the Joint meeting OF the two
Boards had been called at the request of
President Mckenzie, that he might present
the claims which the road he represented
had in the city of Washington.
He said that Mayor Bowen would have
been present had his health permitted. The
Mayor, he was happy TO say, fully Endorsed
the enterprise, and the object OF the meet.
Ing had his hearty approval.
Mr.. Mckenzie was then introduced, and
/ rttu No uAu piuhbuft VI huuIossiug u
large meeting Of the citizens Of Washing
ton In February last on tho subject Of the
| completion Of the Alexandria, Loudoun and
Hampshire railroad. The feeling then eI-
hibited was highly encouraging, and the
assurances received very nattering TO the
friends OF the road.
Congress was appealed to In accordance
with the sentiments expressed at that meet
ing, but for some reason nothing was &c.
compllshcd.
The enterprise was one OF great import
ance, and the cost Of the road would not be
less than els, 900 900, and perhaps 1t would
sum up to SO, 000, 900. In carrying out this
project 1t had been proposed that Washing
ton city should subscribe loan Of 81 200, 200
to aid the company in completing the road
to the Ohio river. With property valued at
nearly sec, 000, 900 he thought this amount
was not too large. Already forty -four miles
Of the road were completed, and the further
construction Of the road to Winchester was
] In the hands Of ten Of the most enterprislng
; might name Mr.. McComb, Of Wilmington,
Delaware, and Cakes Amcs, OF Massachu.
' sets, both prominently before the people as
: interested In new railroads.
The company had engineers In the field
l surveying the country west Of Winchester,
c with the view of Determining the most fcas-
4 ibe and practical route to the Ohio river,
v
I II would place Washington eighty or ninety
: miles nearer Cincinnati than by any estab'
: lished route, and would open up the shortest
e possible route with that section Of the coun.
1 try. 1t was designed to reach the abundant
; coal-helds of Piedmont anyhow, and to com
plete 1t to the proposed western terminus as
e soon as the money could be raised. When
Il completed 1t must necessarily be the great
4 thoroughfare, opening up line Of commu
= nication that would benefit Washington city
for all time to come.
n The State of Virginia had already sub
scribed 81, 000, 900, and the like amount hat
. been obtained from other sources. With thii
Is capital the road was In working order be
r. yond London.
A. lie then alluded to the complaints con
stantly made against the Baltimore aud Obi
10 RAILROAD, and suggested that the easiest wa
w for the corporation to release itself frou, tn
~ control of John W. Garrett, was to assist /
VI building the Loudoun and Hampshire road
.' Not only could they be independent Of th
a. single line leading out Of the city, but woul
Il, set at rest the question Of removing III
nv capital.
al The advantages of this road were ther
cn dwclt upon, and o table of distances Wa
IL read to show what would be gained In I'll
az way Of shortening the route westward.
~ lie thought the subject commeded itsel
,nS At the meeting last February, he fully e.
'ou planned the whole matter, and he presume
ahu the members of the City Councils were
,Se miliar with the leading features Of this pr
Si, posed Improvement. Money was want
..;,'E now to carry on the work, aud he thong
the citizens Of Washington should not he
Is to tate to encourage this company In pressi
M this enterprise to a successful end.
The city of Baltimore subscribed 90, 500, o
'Pe- to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, aud /
DO State OF Maryland had also assisted to 1
} be amount of $500, 000 besides loan Of Is, 00t
Il al TO- GNatna
ing. ties aud cities to aid Internal improvement
c Of Washington would never be an exception
ter the general rule. II never would impT0
Pro- II 1t remained inactive. Nothing could
'ible accomplished without au effort, and W
y of should the citizens hesitate to build up /
here capital of the nation.
ling Abiding to tho loan of 100000 to Il
c OF Washington and Alexandria railroad, whit
rse, had proved a bad investment, and had ey
nau since scared the people OF this city, lie sa
the little city of Alexandria, with a popul
rItv ton OF not more than five thousand person
,Ity had subscribed 100000 to help found q
az Orange and Alexandria and Manassas CT
icoi railroads. Surely, II Alexandria could Il
arm that much, Washington was able to 81
ans Sl,000,000 The residents of the FEEDER
mai capital should cooperate with the people
the the surrounding country, II they expect
/, 10 sustain their character for enterprise.
or, The benefit the road would be to Was
llBlOu was luChlCuihDlcs ~ Woulu iuSlVo
-. Its business Importance, strengthen Its co
40" merclal relations, and supply the cltiZt
VINO with the abundance OF the fertile valleys
ngn Virginia. Again he would say, the cheap
val way the Baltimore and Ohio road could
'oks checked in it's monopoly was to make
Iaeh l.oudoun and Hampshire road its formida
VINO rival. The passenger travel over that re
was not large. Its revenue was deri'
iicr- mainly from Its large freight business.
the tend the Loudoun and Hampshire westwS
lita. and II would make competition, securing bC
Is freight and passengers TO the Virginia ent
that prize. He did not think there was any cat
for quarreliDg. There was room for bo
pltc and the prestige OF the Maryland 70
My would greatly help the Loudouu and Ham
and shire.
ent lie desired the action OF the Councils
Tect soon as possible, for the reason that the V
ginia and West Virginia Legislatures wou
the soon meet and 1t was proposed to change Il
ons name of the road. II Washington city su
IbIr scribed 100000, the name Of the cl
Ter would be Incorporated In the new nan
adopted. Perhaps II would be called t
Washington and Cincinnati railroad,
use Washington and Ohio railroad, or whatey
might be determined upon hereafter. lit
city subscribed the amount asked, II won
-, have controlling influence In tho manag
'Hu neut of the affairs Of the road.
The people OF Baltimore In aiding the Bi
lty, timore and Ohio railroad considered not q
.sh. amount but the benefit such asslstan
to would be directly to the business Of the cit
!, No one doubts the Importance OF the road
nth the prosperity Of that city, and what W
cry true of Baltimore would In the same mann
T 10 be true of Washington. For the purpose
ing bringing the subject directly before I
hat Councils, ne had prepared inc ioiomii
,me which he would submit for their conside
one ton, and trusted at the next regular sess
tall OF the Council 1t would be adopted
1 he Rs,oIped by The Board Of Aldermen and boar
One Common Council Of The city, Of WGShingion, 7
4 90 the comIhr,sG ApRo'hseg W angEess t hn
and Nnested 10 obtain nom ConKre,s authorit,
laid sub.eribe to the capital stock OF the Alex
The dria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad q.
hnnt pany an amount not exceeding one mill
- dollaTs, to be applied to the extension Of Il
un' railroad westward OF Its present terminus
,unty tbrongh tn WInchesisr whether Wa,hinp
table - :, -, ~ - =. -. mt ~