The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-19
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.


tSG.-It will be remembered by our readers
that on the Sd Of December a meeting OF cit
zens was held at the City Hall TO talk over
the various rairoad projects which had been
brought to their notice. AT this meeting q
committee Of 1fteen cltlsuns was appointed,
who were requested 70 cooperate with the
Mayors and Councils Of Washington and
Georgetown, for the purpose of considering
the railroad question, to secure such legisla-
ton and aid from Congress az may he re-
1uired.
Subsequently n meeting of citizens was
held at the Board Of Trade rooms to confer
on the same subject, and especially to con-
slider the feasibility Of taking active measures
to secure from Congress the necessary au-
thority to enable the cities Of Washington
and Georgetown to subscribe sufficient
amounts TO the capital stock Of the Alexan-
drla, Loudoun and Hampshire railroad to
further the extension Of that road, as well
as to result In building branch Of that
road, to connect the cities of the District
with the immense coal aud agricultural
Acids through which Il passes.
At this meeting Mayor Bowen presided,
and by authority then given him he ap-
pointed the following gentlemen as com.
mittee to prepare a suitable plan by which
the objects desired could be contaminated.
The committee are! Mcssrs, J. W. Wright,
Chas. b. Church, VIM. d. Todd, Hallet Kill
bourne and Samuel Bacon, of Washington;
Charles II. Cngln, A. II. Herr and W. II.
Tenney, Of Georgetown; and j. c. Lewis, Of
the county. By agreement these two COM
mittccs met at o'clock yesterday afternoon
at the office Of Messrs. Kilbourn Il Latta,
corner of Seventh and F streets, Judge J.
W. Wright In the chair, and Ilallet Kilbourn,
esq, acting as secretary. The Chair stated
that the object Of the meeting was to ar
range bill to be submitted to Congress to.
day to give the cities of Washington and
Georgetown the right to subscribe to the
capital stock Of the Alexandria, Loudoun
and Hampshire road aud the Point Lookout
railroad
DR.. Cragin having been called on for
word from Georgetown, said that city had
been waiting for one year for the action Of
the Washington people. Georgetown was
ready and willing to subscribe with Wash
ington to aid tho Loudoun and Hampshire
railroad project. They were anxious for the
branch road TO be built, were willing to co.
operate with Washington. for the people
were convinced that The road would be of
incalculable benefit to all the Inhabitants of
the District Georgetown is waiting for
Washington. As soon as Washington sub
scribes her share Georgetown will act in a
proportlonate manner.
The chairman laid before the meeting the
following bill, which had been prepared to
be submitted TO Congress, lie hoped il
would be carefully considered, properly
amended and prepared, so that II could be
presented ut once. The bill Is Us follows:
A BILL TO authorize subscriptions by the cor.
poratc authorities Of the cities Of Wash
lngton and Georgetown, respectively, to
the capital stock Of the Alexandria, Lou.
doun and Hampshire Railroad Company.
Sec. /. BE u enacted, d.. That the corpo.
rate authorities Of the cities of Washington
and Georgetown, respectively, be, and thew
are hereby, authorized and empowered TO
subscribe and pay for the capital stock ofthC
Alexandria, Loudoun aud Hampshire Railroad
Company Of Virginia, namely: the corporate
authorities of Washington for not exceeding
- shares thereof, and the corporate au-
thoritles of Georgetown for not exceeding
- shares thereof.
Sec. .. Be u FURTHER enacted, That for the
purpose Of raising the requisite funds to pay
their said subscriptions, Il shall be lawful for
the said corporate authorities respectively to
issue their bonds in the ordinary form Of cor.
porate bonds bearing Interest at the rate Of
six per centum per nnuum, payable either
half yearly or quarterly, which bonds shall
he legally valid and binding upon the said
respective city corporations. It shall be law
full for the said corporations to issue and de-
liver their said bonds to the sail company in
payment OF their said subscriptions wholly or
in part.
Sec. 3. Aud be Il FURTHER enacted, That the
said corporate authorities respectively be, and
they are hereby, authorized aud required 10
raise, by taxation annually, a sum sufficient,
In addition to the dividends II any, derived
from the stock so subscribed for, to pay
the Interest upon their said bonds, together
with one per Ceut. upon the amount Thereof
for u sinking fund for the redemption of III,
principal thereof.
Sec. 4. lJid be u ftiFtl,r enacted Tlat tho
holders of the said bonds shall have a lien
upon the said railroad stock held by the re-
spective corporations Issuing the same as adj
ditional security for the principal and inter
est thereof, and that the dividends which
may be received from said railroad stock
shall be applied to the said corporate authorl.
ties respcctlvclyi first to the payment of the
interest on their said bonds us the same shall
become due, and the surplus, If any, TO the
sinking fund.
Sec. ). Ind be i futler euar,sl, That IL
shall be lawful fOrthe said railroad company
TO operate their road with necessary turn
outs and switches TO such point in the city
OF Washington Us they may select for their
depot by and upon such streets and avenues
as they may deem most eligible, provided
that the consent Of the corporate authorities
OF said city shall he first given to the use Of
such streets or avenues, or any Of them.
Lewis Mckenzie, esq, the president Of the
Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire road,
who was present, said that 1t might not be
thought modest In him to ask leave to say a
word, but In order that the commlttc &c might
properly understand the facts In regard TO
the Loudoun road, II was probably proper
for him to say that arrangements arc in
progress for the speedy completion of the
Alexandria, LoudOun and Hampshire road
to Winchester, 80 miles from Washington,
and II Is the further intention of the com.
a. I
OF Virginia meets, to change the name OF
the road to that of ''thc Washington and
Cincinnati railrOad,' the ultimate dcstlna-
ton of the road being TO the Ohio river, at
some point near Point Pleasant, West Viz
GINA, which will make the route from Gin
cinnatl to New York, through Washington
city, from 100 TO 1870 miles .lortcr than hy.
any other route. This project will not be
contaminated through ANY unkludncss 10
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. There is
room for all. II Ia for the people Of the Dis
trict TO say whether they win continue TO
talk, or whether they will act. The time
has arrived when the most liberal views
should prevail. Congress would soon ad-
lourn, and what was to hr done should lie
done quickly,
Mr.. Samuel Bacon was In favor of amend
Ing the bill so as not 10 ask Of Congress the
privilege OF subscribing 10 one single road.
Let us ask that We he allowed to subscribe
<2,OOO,OOO to such railroads entering the ciIv
As we may select.
The Chair and other gentlemen, in answer
TO Mr. Bacon, suggested that specified
amounts for specified roads lie decided on,
and then amend the bill in that way.
lht Joint committee then proceeded 10 vote
- 70 me amount to be subscribed by Wash.
IhBtoh 10 the Alexandria, l.oud0un and
Hampshire railroad.
On a call OF the gentlemen comnosing tho