Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-12-14
Orange, alexandria ana Manassas
Railroad.


To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
In the Gazette OF the 30.h ultimo, there II
published statement in connexion with The
management of the Orange, Alexandra ano
MaDassas railroad, in the absence OF the usua
annual reports of the officers thereof! The alb
sence Of these reports, and the non meeting OIL
stockholders, are accounted for because Of "or
ders'' from military headquarters at Richmond.
The statement is primarily intended to furnish
the people of the State, as well as the stock
holders OF the company, who are so deeply In
tcrestei in the several internal Improvement;
therein, with proof Of the great ability, skill
and financial acumen with which the affairs oil
the company have been managed within the
last twelve moaths, in its several departments
A couiding people (nono more so than the
people Of Virginia. are ever ready to do honor
to their iai:hiul servants.
Nv purpose hrroin is nnt to array iaGSnoT'
uupGsltiun to- but rather to place the officials
OF this road in position that they may, u deem
ed necessary by them, refue certain reflections
aud accusations before the public, that have
been made and arc now being discussed, by an
opposition, | am assured, is OF 10 Ordinary OF
mean proportions, looking to their dlsp &C. mepi'
1t is SAID in the statement that upon txami
nation it will be found the receipts OF the road
for the preceding ten months, ending with
Sep,ecibcr, were larger than have been realized
during aDy preceding year, and amount In the
ggreratc 10 something over $500, OOo, ana the
worki0g expenses are reported at $5Oo wv,
leaving about S400. 900 OF nett revenue. This
Aat
nave no doubt ast0Hshes many OF the most car
nest friends Of the managers of the road, recol-
Letting that the last springs trade Tor about
three months was seriously aft cted, as was said
at the time, because OF the unsafe condition OF
the railroad bridge between the Virginia shore
and WASHINGTON city, necessitatng the wagon
ing Of freight from Maryland avenue depot, IN
the city Ct Washington, to this end OF the
railroad bridge, a distance OF at least ono and 4
half miles. at the COS, OF the Orange, Aexan-
dria and Manassas railroad. There are some
persons who are incredulouS, and are disposed
TO question the accuracy of these figures; they
ask if the company has metz revenue Of
$500, 600, as stated then why II it they seem
10 be financially so much embarrassed, even to
the extent of being forced at intervals to post
p9nc for months at 4 time the payment OF then
laborers, thereby imposing. upon them the
hardship of buying their necessary supplies on
credit, when possible at prices greatly above
their cash value, and 1t Is said that not many
moAths ago, because OF the great falling OFT oil
the business OF the road, It was deemed neces
ssry that some very reliable mechanics, and q
good many laborers, should he, and were, dis
charged the employment OF the company, and
those, the iaborers particularly who were re
Gained were forced to submit to large reduc.
ton Of their small per diem.
There are others who are less incrcduous,
but more captious in their opposition, who con
cedc tho accuracy of the figures, but say that
the increase Ut the receipts was caused by the
reconstruction and running OF the Manassas
branch through the rich and fertile Valley oil
Virginia to lIarrisonDurg within the last twelve
months. This fact they claim will sufficiently
appear by . comparison of the figures in the
statement with the last annual report Of the
President Of the road IL this connection.
1t is stated that since the road reverted to its
present management, shortly after the close of
the war. not only has the main line been 10 a
large manner reconstructed, &C.. &C., but the
Manassas branch, OF vital importance to the
trade o. Alexandra, has been rebuilt, from its
junction With the Orange and Alexandria rail
road, to HarrlSonburg, &C., at a cost, &c, the
trade Of which is, by her superior advantages
OF position and the established tariff of rates,
made tributary to this city. Truly because of
the superior advantages OF position, and, it may
be added the very lavish appropriations made
by the city of Alexandria towards the building
of that road, and her still further munifcent
donation Of her entire interest in the Manassas
Gap road to the Orange and Alexandria rail
road company, should at all times commend
her interest to the most favorable consideration
of the managers Of the road But, sir, fearful
anticipatiOns are now disturbing the minds of
the property holders and the business interests
of our city, it is believed, that because of the
tariff OF rates to which you advert bearing so op
pressively upon the people living along and ad
jacent to the Manassas branch uron many Of
the leadiog articles OF merchandise and agricul-
tural implements, as almost amount TO pro.
hibitiOn OF their shipment and that, too, as it
seems, in violation of the general law of the
State, intended to regulate and govern the com
pany in making up their torltf OF rates of
charges. See Code OF Virginia OF SEQ. chap.
81. sec. is. p. $50. This law uses this Ian
suage; The rate oil tolls on produce and
other articles, except gypsum, &c, shall not