Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-12-28
railroad Matters.

1
nroocb Of Christmas, az we'll as numerous en-
oapemcnts. have prevented ne from writne
few lines in reply to the last communication OF
y At an earlier day. Indeed, in my reply 10
the communication Of y, | little anticipated
any prolonged controversy IN relation 20 the
views therein contained and would Willingly
let the subject rest; but under the construction
he has placed upon my communication, 1t be-
comes necessary for me to add rejoinier
In the first place, desire to state most en-
nhotcally that did not hold out any threat,
and | do not think my language will, even
nnder stress of the imagination, bear such
construction. | certainly could have no motive
or authority Tor doing so, "a | am not con
nected directly ur indirectly with any OF the
railroads named. My object was ii show thai
if the views of y in relation to an al capita
tax be carried out, it would dive the railroad
companies TO one Of two expediens, either 10
levy this additional tax upon the passenger
or else locate their stations outside the corpor'
ME limits either Of which would, IN my
opinion, prove materially injurious TO the
future prosperity OF our city. Certainly moth
inp was more foreign TO my intentions than TO
use ANYTHING like u threat. The great object
| had in view at the time hurrledly penned
renlv 70 the communication OF y, was to
show that this policy of an ad capita tax was
an unwise one, and 81 doubted the authority
of the CITY Council to levy such tax much
less the propriety of it" and | have seen no
reason for changing my views. On the con
trary, so far as the legality OF such an acton Is
concerned, l deny that the CHy Council mas
ann authority to impose such Il ta1. ! would
state, Tor the benefit OF X, that tn? Washlns'
ton Branch OF the Baltimore and OHIO ran
road, to which he has referred as criterion
has not paid this ad capita tax, wh!ch was
imposed by the State OF Maryland. Tor some
, time and assigns the following reason;
l.I'hc ground on which the company places
ire declipation longer to pay the State one-hlth
Of receipts from passengers Is the TACT that II
: bas not imposed this burden upon competing
. linz in course of construction between Bald
moro and Washington In addition, the com
nanv holds that it has nos now the right, as a
corporation, to continue TO pay this tax, as II
now terms the requirement. in view OF the de
c;,;on of the Supreme Court in the case OF
(;randall W. State OF Nevada, which is declared
I to be in express opposition TO the power OF Q
State to derive revenue from such source
Tho State of Pennsylvania imposed SIM
lar tax not only upon the passengers, but th(
freight passing over the Pennsylvania Central
hut the TOO partial discrimination resulting ~
1 a necessary consequence IN favor oil sthef r"au'
in that State, as well as the nncon'titu'''ha"N
. | of the act, caused her to repeal the same n
| early as 1861.
> The fact that Alexandra has become IN
{ volved in a heavy debt, incurred in the behal
I | Of certain railroads, and through some ms
). management no direct income from such onth!
y is realized to the city, is no reason that a re
sort 10 scheme worse than lulnOus should b'
. adopted, for it does strike me, and with grea
! force, that after having helped to build NJ
y | these roads now to cripple their general utl'l'1
nv unwise legislation, would be to prent cxten
y parricdal TO our interests.
Y j. evidently restless and impati'n' iron
;, the fact that little or nothing has been reaIlZr'
;, from this outlay on the part OF tho city III
- certainly deserves much credit Tor The lntcres
! | manifested but he must be patient, and re
u member that there is great competition be
u tween railroad companies to this day. twenty
wears has produced many changes IN the wal
of inroads and improvements OF this character
| and consequently there are many outlets anC
= channels through which trade anil travel an
- perverted from our roads, thereby deprvlni
rs OF q revenue which We were aiming Il
control and bring in our midst.
9 As regards the indebtedness OF the city
q which Y has alluded to with SO much torc'
4 and feeling, aud which he has shown In b.
v correct by his supplemental answer, 1t 10 fac
| to be regretted. and gladly would | see some
| feasible and legitimate plan adopted ty whIcf
our citizens could be relieved OF tins burden
: but let Us not throw barriers IN the way o
those enterprises which must eventually add
| to our development and advancement
@ A few more words and so far as am con
G cerned, | will dismiss the subject, not through
4 4 III
o ton of the views contained in the communlca-
, ton of Y, hut for fear that a further prolongA
' ton would be tedious To your readers. and a
| trespass upon your patience and kindness.
0 " may be older, aud therefore have garner
ed more experience than Ncrtls-he may te
F., "nativc to the manor born" = but his love
and devotion for the Old Commonwealth, and
y the anxious desire for her future prosperity
a and honor, cannot exceed NINE. ] love the
proud old memories that cluster around her
escutcheon, and cherish with feelings OF
mingled pride and devotion her long and brll'
! liant roll of honor; but at the same time | am
tree to admit, that in my opinion. 1t Is this
, hostility to foreign corporations, aud the
cry of our capital to which Y has shown him
self to be so partial that has retarded To a
r very great extent The onward march OF enter
prise throughout the State y should rcmem'
Der that this is the age OF progress, aud every
obstacle in the way OF the approach OF foreign
add to the State, or to our municipalities,
should be battered down, and not only invita-
tons, but inducements held out to foreign
capitalists" do not mean by these terms
; men who come to fasten and fitten upon our
msfortunes, but men OF bone and snew, who
have he capital can command it, and whose
warm and cordial grasp Of the hand attests
the sincerity of their motives.
!. Our future looks bright, and when the let,
tiers OF military dcspotism shall have fallen at
our feet, when civil law becomes paramount,
and the vox popuIi shall be heard in its freedom
and majesty from everV mountain top and
4, every valley, and the State assumes her for.
= mer position, them indeed, this foreign aid "
: will redound to our interests, the thousands OF
acres of land now idle, and tenautcss, will
produce large harvests, virgin forests will give
way. and the beautiful streams, everywhere,
in silence traversing our State, will break and
dash themselves to pieces over countless num-
: bers OF spindles; the iron horse, un!etercd by
u burdensome taxation, will 70 deeper ard
. deeDer into the country, winding along rich
| nd cort lilo un llics nm throu1h rho in