Evening star., 1869-06-09
GEORGETOWN.
Affairs in Gesrxesswn,

RAILROAD MEETING IN 0goRGRrowg-Tzs
Proposed CoansetioR soitA tic LOsdoa assd Ham D
sATe Rditrodd-Rep0rt Of tAe C0mm,t;se-lRes solu-
tons oad Speeehes.-A meeting OF the eitizsns
comprising most Of the prominent business me n
Of Georgetown was held last night, at new
Market Hall, to hear and consider the report of
the committee of citizens appointed some time
since TO examine and recommend what action
may be deemed necess ary with regard to the
proposition OF the Aq uednct Railroad AID
| Bridge Company to connect the city of George
town with the Alexandra, Loudon and Hamp-
shire Raiiroad ria the Aqueduct bridge. Mayor
| Swsrny was chosen to preside and Mr. q =
| Rsmsb burg 10 act as Secretary.
| MR.. w. w. DUNCAN, Secretary of the Alexan.
| dria Canal Railroad and Bridge Company, AT
the request Of Mr.. w. II. Teuney, Of ;hs citI-
| zens' COMMITTEES, recapitulated the terms of the
proposition which had been submitted by HIM
| In behalf of the company. OF which he is Sec.
retary, (Which has been already published in
| the STAR.)
The Secretary OF the meeting then read the
| meeting, iniwhich they say that they nave .sex .
amined the title 10 the canal, az ueduct and the
| bridge and the piers supporting the same; also
the charter empowering the company to pulld
railroad from the southern terminus of the
aqueduct To Alexandria on the oerme bank of
the canal, with the right 10 diverge therefrom
and connect with other railroads, which will
enable them u connect, as they propose to do
! with the Alexandria. Loudon and Hampshir
railroad, ana the committee believe their
| power ample for this purpose. The committee
"
| Colonel Samo. United States engineer. wh1
mas given them The benefit of his expeTisnca
and prsctical Knowledge, and have come TO
the conclusion that the route near the head OF
-Four Mile Run is the easiest grade and cheap
est route.
II is to be observed that this point of c ,nnec
ton Is not more favorable than that offered
several years since, and again receatly by TIE
Alexandria, Loudon and Hampshire Railroad
Company, which has been declined by those
representing the town as not sufficiently favor.
Ia to .v.tar IUa
1t is OF the utmos. importance that we shou Id
have, railroad connection, and all our en-.
deavors To this end for several years past have
met with such obstacles that we have not beeu
able TO attain the object. The proposition now
offered 10 our acceptance possesses enc great
advantage over any other we have ever con.
sider.d d, that is, the use Of the piers on which
to lay the track OF the road without any ad.
citional cost and becoming partners with the
company will have voice IN its manaRement
To build separate and distinct road, with a
crossing at any other point, would involve an
additional outlay OF several hundred thousand
dollars, which The people OF the town Would
not be likely to sanction. Another important
advantage would be in an immediate com.
mencement and prosecution Of the work tn.
moment the necessary funds for the purpose
are obtained, without waiting for any further
legislation on the part Of Congress
The route examined by Us leaves the berme
bank OF the canal and crosses the country near
the toll gate Of the Colum ola turnpike aud in.
rersects the Alexandria, Loudon and Hamp.
shire railroad near the head Of Four.miie run.
The point OF connection is about four miles
from the southern terminus Of the 40 ueduct
three miles from Alexandria and three miles
from the Long Bridge. The advantages OF this
route is Its comparative cheapness, owing to
the nature Of the country, and its giving us a
connection with two roads instead Of one
run or Carlih Spring route.
While your committee, with the people of
Georgetown, have always favored u point Of
connection more distant from Alexandria VET
examination q onA
the survey Of H w. Brewer, Esq, showing a
grade of eighty feet to the mile, and heavy cut.
ting on the summit, estimated by Colonel Samo
to cost not less than 1000, have led your com
mittee reluctantly TO the conclusion that Carlin
Spring route is beyond the means of the town,
unless Washington would join us IN the heavy
additional cost. This road once made, and the
Aqueduct made the point OF crossing, the time
will come when the Orange and Alexandria
railroad and the Manassas Gap road will find
II TO their interest to make a direct road to the
AQueduct bridge. The Washington Branch
railroad has altered her route three times and
other roads having made frequent changes,
object Of Georgetown should be TO make the
Aqueduct bridge the grand crossing for all
railroads going South. and should the citizens
and corporation avail themselves Of this op-
portuniiy before any other route is selected, il
would In all probability be the only route.
The National Junction railroad proposes to
connect The Baltimore and Ohio railroad and
Potomac railroad, and such other roads as NAV
come into Washington with the proposed road,
the profit from which roads IN crossing the
aqIeduct bridge and the tolls on that bridge
VII make the stock paying stock. To con.
lect at point higher up the A. L. and H. r. r.
than the one designated, even if the nature OF
the country permitted, would confine the travel
and trade 10 the A. J.. and H r. X. alone as il
is not 10 be supposed the Orange and Alexan.
dria railroad would accept route taking them
several miles out Of their way to get to the Dis
tricf. at present the trade in the Orange and
Alexandra railroad would be more important
10 US than that from the Loudon and Hamp-
shire road. But II this were not so the freight
On the last named road would come to u.s. IA
much of the grain now sen: by that road seeks
our market ut a heavy additional expense
Your committee. therefore, in consideration
mat 'ne proposed route can be commenced at
once, that It will give Us a connection with
TWO roads, that the cost Of making 1t is within
the power of the corporation, by the exchange
OF its stock held by the commissioners of the
sinking fluid, for the stock OF the Alexandra,
Loudoun aod Hampshire Railroad Company,
without adding any additional tax to the prop.
erty OF the town, recommend the proposition
of Messrs. DUNCAN & Co., TO the favorable con.
sideration OF the corporation and citizens Of
Georgetown.
1t has been suggested to the committee by
some OF our business men and property hold.
ers, that it would be preferable in order 10
secure this desirable railroad connection that
the credit Of the town should be loaned to the
company for such sum as may be necessary,
with the property mentioned in this communi-
cation as security for its payment; but as this
plan was not submitted TO the committee they
nave UOt udu uuueI COuslueTdtlON.
lS,gnedl-Eyan Lyons, A. II. Herr, NJ. H.
Tenney, John T. MITCHELL
Mr.. w. II. Tenney called attention to the
fact that the report had not been signed by
all the members OF the committee, and desired
to hear the reasons which had Influenced Mr.
John Marbury, Jr., in Withholding his sig.
nature therefrom.
MIR. Marbury expressed himself In favor Of
the project, but not OF the copartnership, and
hoped that no one would think he was op-
posed to the scheme. He was willing TO re-
commend that the credit OF the town should
be loaned for the object mentioned.
MIR. Ramsbrrg offered series Of resolutions
g. that the growth and prosperity of our city
will he greatly promoted by the speedy con-
sruction OF a railroad across the piers of the
Alexandria aqueduct TO unite with the rail-
road system Of Virginia; that owing to the
limited means at our command il is essential
that the cheapest ard most direct route OF
connection be chosen: that the proposed con-
nection at the Four Mile run, while ii pre-
sents the only route within the ability Of our
town unaided TO complete, will, in the judg-
ment OF this meeting, by bringing us into d.
rect union with the railroad centering at
Alexandria, afford greater facilities for trade
than any oiher route having for its OBJ
ject simply connection with the Alex
andria, Loudon and Hampshire railroad;
that IL proposal Of the Alexandra Aqueduct
Railroad and Bridge Company to construct q
railroad across their piers and along the bernie
hank of their canal, to intersect the Loudon
aud Hampshire railroad at Four Mile run, pro.
%Ef