Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-02-19
ALEXANDRIA.
Proposed Extension of the AleXan.
dr1a, LOudOun & Hampshire II. *


dr1a, LOudOun & Hampshire IL. K
We gave in yesterday Gazette the substance
Of the proceedings of the meetiugueld in Wash
ington relative to the above work, but, as the mat
teris one OF great interest we publish, to day, the
full report OF the speeches aud remarks made
by those present who took part in the discus
sions, as furnished by the National lntelligen.
cer: 0.yar
In accordance with the request of Mr.. Nc
Kenzie, prominent citizens OF the District as
sembled at the rooms of the Washington
Board of Trade yesterday morning at IL o'clock
to confer with the President and directors OF
this road, in reference to extending the road
westward to the coal region OF Virginia, to con-
meet at Winchester with roads running through
the Valley The Alexandria, Loudoun &
Hampshire railroad has now in operation forty
Jour miles from Alexandria, to point beyond
Leesburg, near Hamilton. aud the proposed
extension passes Hillsboro' and through Reyes
Gap 10 the Blue Ridge, over the Shenandoah
below Long Marsh Branch, through Berryvlllc
and Winchester, then taking a line north OF
the old survey for the Manassas Gap extension,
crossing the Great Cstoctln, through Romney,
at which point it passes over the South Branch
crossing Middle Ridge near Burlington, up the
west side of Knobby Mountains to Paddy
town, on the North Branch of the Potomac,
thence to Piedmont-a distance Of one hun
bred and twenty four miles from the present
terminus, (torty four miles from Alexandria,
making total length of one hundred and six
weight miles.
The persons present from Virginia were
President Mckenzie. r. Johnston, Q. +. Lee,
Col. Powell, OF Fairfax; Wash Blythe. j. NJ
Orr, of Leesburp; w. +. Mercer, and Capt j.
W. Foster, OF Loudoun county; u. Z. Wedder-
Turn, Andrew Jameson, OF Alexandra; and
Joseph Segar.
Delegations from Washington and George
town were present, comprising members of the
City Council, merchants &c.
While the gentlemen were assembling, q
large map, showing the proposed route of the
railroad, was exhibited and examined with
much interest.
The meeting was called to order at II o'clock
by Mr., j. T.. Mcclure, upon whose nomina-
ton Mr.. Samuel Bacon was chosen chairman,
and Mr. Levi Davis, Of Georgetown secre-
tary.
Mr.. Mckenzie, the president Of the Alexan
drla, Loudoun and Hampshire railroad, then
came forward and said: | will endeavor to ex
piain as briefly as possible, the object which
We have 10 view in coming here TO- day. 1t has
been my desire for many years to see the Alex
yudria, LouGoun and Hampshire railroad com
peted. 1t was chartered by the Common
wealth OF Virginia, and was intended to pass
through the richest coal region OF the State
and connect with Piedmont, on the Baltimore
aud Ohio railroad, In Western Virginia.
We thought enterprise of such magDl-
Jude would be worthy of the consideration OF
n tha
The road was fostered by the State OF Virginia
previous TO the war. and received liberal sup
port until the breaking out of the late rebellion.
Had it not been for this unfortunate Interrupt
ton, the Commonwealth would have continued
its support; but by the war we lost $500, 900 OF
{ e State subscription.
He had always desired that Washington and
Georgetown should be connected With the road
and had in years past brought this subject be-
fore the people of the District La this the
directors were equally interested, and as the
basis ofour operation Is on the three hiths
principle, it would always prove alike advan
tsgeous to the road aud the people.
The subject had been presented to the peo-
ole OF the District III years past, and during
The time of the iamented Seaton it Was warmly
advocated in this city, and he could not say
the matter was received with Goddess or indlt.
lerence, but tor some reason tailed TO gam the
support and announcement then sought. lie
had a!so conferred with the people OF George
town, aud the subject of crossing the POto
mac had teen agitated at different times with
ut resulting ia anything practical
Having resolved 10 complete the road as ollgl-
nally planned, and the rates per barrel, perbushe
n ID per passenger from one town to another
ueing the same on all parts OF the road, 1t
seemed fair that as the State had expended
1000, 900 in the construction of tie road thus
lar, that the people should take hold and drive
all the advantages which its completion would
open to them
The road was last wear extended seven miles
beyond Leesburg TO Hamilton, and the purpose
now was to further extend it TO Winchester,
and thus connect with the richest and most
Furnishing part of the State. To do this 1t
would cast 81, 600, 600 Now, we ask the peo-
ple OF Washington, do you want to connect
your city with the best part OF Nlrglnla-that
region rich in iron and coal, and With road
running through the county OF Loudoun, that
in 1850 produced five hundred and seventy hive
thousand bushels OF wheat, seven hundred
and forty nine thousand bushels OF corn, pro-
ducing total amount OF one million TOUR hun.
dred and sixty five thousand bushels OF cereals?
AT this point Mr.. Bacon requested the
speaker TO suspend his remarks, aud invited
Mr.. Sayles j. Bowen, the Mayor of the city,
10 take the chair. MIR. Bowen accepted the
honor and presided during the meeting.
Our object in coming here to-day was to see
il the people of Washington are sufficiently
Interested in this road to help build it on to
Winchester, to which point, as have already
said. it will require $l,600,000. 1t it had
been possible to build the road by good wishes,
by arguments and encouragement through
newspapers, and the talking OF business men,
it would long since have been completed. 1t
is true we have been struggling against adverse
circumstances, and had already expended
large sum- but what was needed now was
money, that alone would secure the completion
of the road As | have remarked, the amount
already expended is S2,0O0,OOO, on which
there was but very little Indebtedness. There
were $40, 900 out in mortgage bonds. that
readily sold at eighty cents. $4,000 In other
bonds, floating debt of 100000, and day
there is not another railroad in the country
that is in any better condition than the Alex