The national Republican., 1869-02-12
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.


number Of the business msn Of the city were
The meeting was called for ne puypsse Of
discussing certain projects now before Con-
gress looking TO increased railroad facilities
10 and from this city.
At se'clock the meeting was called 70 or
der by the president Of the Board, John T.
Mitchell, esq, with Mr.. II. b. swecny as
secretary.
The Chair stated the object Of the meet
ing, which he said was alike interesting 10
the members Of the Board both ~ citisens
and business mon.
The treasurer Of the Board, Mr.. Y. B.
Mcclure, made his report, showing esse.5s
in the treasury at this time. Report accepted.
Mr.. Bacon offered resolution that the
dues Of the members be remitted for the year
ending November, 1869. Adopted.
This action was considered expedient In
view of the healthy condition Of the treasury.
Mr.: shepherd offered resolution appoint
ing Mr.. Mitchell, Mr.. Swecny, and Mr.. VIM.
A. Cook, Corporation Attorney, committee
to urge upon Congress- the Importance Of the
passage Of law to modify OF repeal the
usury laws now existing in this District.
Mr.. Shepherd stated that II the Corporatior
Attorney could be interested In this matter
he thought 1t highly probable that n law OF
this kind could be passed by Congress thii
session. The business men Of the city did
not have the time to devote TO this matter
and Il seemed to him eminently proper thai
the Corporation Attorney, standing In al
official position to the city, and supposed te
know something Of the wants Of the bust.
cess community, would naturally Interest
himse,,f for their benefit. The resolution
On motion Gf Mr.. Bacon the Finance Com.
mlttee were Instructed 10 surrender the lease
of the rooms of the board 10 hessrs. Clagett
& swccny, the proprietors.
Col. Wall offered the following resolution;
Whereas it is evident that unless the prop
erty owners and business men of the Dfffict
take immediate action the Southern Mary
land railroad will be diverted to Baltimore
instead of being built frop here to Point
Lookout, as 1t should be ; therefore
Resolred That committee Of five be ap-
pointed by this board who shall walt on the
property owners and business men OF the
District, with the agent OF the company, and
impress on them the necessity Of taking
stock in said road, with the provfso that the
building Of the road shall commence at
Washington; and that the con4Aittce Of the
board before Congress, In conjunction with
the Mayor and City Councils, ask that body
to empower the corporation of Washington
to make a subscription TO the stock Of Che
road, provided its building Is commenced
from the Washington terminus, and that i'm
mediate action be urged 10 prevent this road
from being diverted from its natural route.
Mr.. Hutchins, the agent Of the road, men.
toned in the foregoing resolutions, was
present and in response to an Invitation ad
dressed the board at some length, giving O
history OF the road, stating the route pro
posed from Washington through fnncS
Georgc's, Charles and St. Mary's Counties
About s500, 900 Is needed to insure the buiid
ing of the road, and the most Of this viii
have TO come from the District Of Columbia
Mr.. Garrett, the president Of the Baltimor,
and Ohio railroad, had offered the board o
directors that If the terminus Of the roa,
was to be made at Laurel Station, QgnorinI
Washington,) the Baltimore and Ohio roai
would provide the rolling stock, lay the tract
and only require the directors Of the Poin
Lookout road to grade II. He urged tn
business men Of the city TO take hold Of th
matter, as the construction Of this roat
would add greatly to the advancement
of the business interests of Washington
Mr.. Shepherd said that 1t was eminentl,
proper that they should assist In the estab
lishment Of the road proposed. The grea
agricultural fields of the adjoining countie
would be opened up to this city, and would
beyond q doubt, increase trade. Care shoul
be taken, however, to see that the Washing
ton subscribers should have q say In tn
workings of the road.
Colonel Wall spoke Of the fact that alread
one half of the funds sufficient to construt
the road had been raised In Maryland, an
IL was highly desirable that the corporatio
and business men of the city should wor
against the proposed efforts which wer
being made to divert Its course.
Mr.. Metzerott said that Mr.. Garrett ha
offered to equip the road and lay the tract
for the purpose Of showing his vindictiyt
ness. He Mr.. GARRETT did not want thI
road to come to Washington because 1t woul
injure the trade of Baltimore.
Mr.. r. NJ. Hall said that when Mr.. Gar
rett attempted to carry point he general!
succeeded; and II he had determined to d.
vert the course of this road from Washing
ton he would do ii, unless extraordinary ei
forts are taken by the people Of this Distric
to prevent 1t.
DR.. Morgan said that he had converse
with number of the directors and stocl
holders of the road, and they were all vel
well satisfied that the building Of the roa
should be commenced from Washington
and as the guarantee would be given thi
il would be started from this city, he thougl
the people Of Washington would go into Il
matter cheerfully.
Mr.. John T. Mitchell spoke Of the diff
Guilty Of procuring individual subscription
He thought that the corporation shou
shoulder $500, 900 worth of-Stock, and lea
a smaller amount to be subscribed by Il
business men. The speaker at some leng
reviewed the subject Of securing indiyldu
subscriptions.
Mr.. Shepherd suggested that as there W
now bill before Congress to allow this ROT
an entrance into the city, 1t would be go
idea If a clause was inserted granting Il
city the right to subscribe for the amoul
of stock necessary.
Mr.. Orme moved to strike out Of the res
luton everything in regard TO the corporate
taking stock In the road. He was oppos
to It. II the citizens wanted to subscril
let them do 1t. He spoke Of Point Lookou
the terminus Of the road being a sand beac
and contended that II was not right to al
the corporation to subscribe TO the stool
Mr.. Shepherd referred the last speaker
the fact that the great watering places Of Il
country were sand beaches, and the su
rounding country sterile, but the constru
tlon of railroads to these points had built I
and enriched the country ad Jacent.
He spoke OF the great expectations
Washington, and the only way the city ca
be built up and improved would be 10 ado
such measures as will add TO its wealth.
Col. Wall ridiculed the remarks OF N
Ormc. He wanted 10 see more public spil
exhibited. The only way we can reach Il
men who wont subscribe as individuals, Is
make lhcm pay their quota by corporate
tax. lie did not believe the debt Of the co
poration was too large. If II was large al
the money devoted to Increasing the pro
perlty of the city, II would be better for
Some little pleasant controversy occurr,
between Messrs. Ormc and Wall.
The resolution was adopted, and the fC
lowing committee were appointed to car,
it out Messrs. Wall, Shepherd, Hall, Mo
gan and Metzerott.
The board then adjourned,
FIFTH AND sixth WARD GRANT AND Co
PAX CLUB.-The regular weekly meeting
the Fifth and Sixth ward Grant and Golf
club was held at their hall, corner Eigh
and @ streets, last evening, Josiah Venab
president, In the chair.
The constitution of the club was read, a
motion adopted to enforce the proyisio
relating to finance.
Messrs. Boron, Dobbins, aud Getzendan
were appointed as a committee to act in CO
junction with similar committees 10 ma
arrangements for the reception OF that 81,
ling patriot, Governor Brownlow.
Mr.. Frank Gaines, q member Of the FIJI
ward Republican club, was called on a
made an explanation In regard to the s,
posed difficulties existing between the wi
club and the Grant and Colfax club.