Evening star., 1870-02-26

l. Ra1lRo0A 0eeefnG.
An adjourned neSting of the eokizens OF the
District, to discuss the subject q Railroads,
took place at the Aldermen's Chamber, City
Hall, last night, Aldermen 8. 8. Baker in the
The first business, after the reading Of the
minutes, in order was the amendment offered
by DIR. Snodgrax, at the last meeting, 10 the
70 the sse n ing
CITY Councils to include, n second on the LIST.
rLoudoun and Hampshire road
tn nSS, snodgrass made lengthy remarks on the
MI. of the Loudoun and Hampshire
sdsintasts he ereas is.rtiity Of the soil in the
roantIy tSroush which tns road is destined to
nsss. Inc counties Of FairfaS, Loudoun, and
Elark, were the finest In the world Tor "a,
growing. More fruit and les. ....ma, food shnnIS
be eaten by the citizens Of washington. This
farming, fruit growing, and stock raising; rich
in timber and minerals: wealth untold lies scat
tered broadcast over this country of the Vir-
ginia Valley, which would be brought to our
doors BY aiding the construction Of this road; in
fact, this country possesses more attractions
than any section contiguous to our city, and
could be made available at less cost than any
other. Inc worn-out fields through which some
Of the other lines proposed would pass, espe-
cially In the State Of Maryland, were Of small
moment compared to this country. By connect
ing the city Of Washington with this road at the
four-mile Run will make Washington the main
stem and terminus, and Alexandria the switch,
practically. This road should receive encOur-
agement from the people Of this city. instead Of
the roads through the old fields OF Maryland.
Alderman Connolly said the LOudon and
Hampshire road had been constructed forty-six
miles. 1t passed through beautiful country but
Ryer cost 81 as rGae tSs 20 ine ono
means. 1t would cost S30, 900 900. What was
desired was to encourage any line offering COM
petition to the Baltimore and Ohio road. This
road does not give us this. The character of the
country was high hills and deep valleys. 1t
would take five years to complete the road.
Washington city Is sick, and to wait five years
asking rather too much. At least s19 900 900
would have to be spent before any great results
would follow, and how much Of this money can
the city Of Washington give? The State of
Virginia has something to say about her rail-
roads. This State has men a. wide awake and
as able as can be found anywhere. Hhe wanted
to find practical and sensible men, he
would as soon go into the State of Virginia
for them As any other State. Our Councils
already stood committed to this road and he
held still to what had been done; but the
any road proposed, competent engineers had
said that this road the easiest to construct of
any in the country, the land being level through
ont the entire length Of It. Harrisburg was
our coal must come through Philadelphia. An
eminent engineer had told him that with a qua
rantee Of one and a half millions Of dollars he
would agree to complete this road, and on this
amount ell he would require was the interest to
be paid annually, leaving the principal to be
paid in twenty years. An abundance of timber
was to be found on this line; 1t would bring to
our markets a set of men that mad never been
seen here before, with an abundance OF trade
BY favoring this road at comparatively small
cost the same results are reached that would re-
qulre millions Of money on other routes By
building this road the prosperity of our people
would so increase that in short time they
could lend aid to build other lines which to un-
dertake now would make them bankrupt.
Mr.. Hawkins Taylor said that nothing could
be done by this city without the consent Of Com
gress, and he offered the following as a substi-
tute TO the resolution under considerations
keotred, That the city authorities be requested
" mns;morai1e Csngrsss TO authorize the city Of
and all railroads, commencing or terminating in the
DISTRICT Of Columbia, any loan not exceeding $1,000
and promote the interests of the citizens and when
such subscriptions are necessary to the speedy build
the bonds Of the city, runnns not exceeding twenty
years nor bearing higher rate Of interest than
any road except the completion Of sections of at
least fys miles each.
Mr.. Taylor. ALI the railroads should be built as
proposed, they were needed here; but let Con.
gress give them the right to act, and then take
the shortest route to the Ohio river. This was
the garden spot of Gods creation. His friend
DIR. Snodgrass could get much fruit as he
wanted out there. A new impulse was much |
needed in this city, new set of carpet -baggers
that had will and determination to take hold of /
these public works and push them through; not |
the lobbying, lazy kind that we now have. that |
sell cadetships and anything for money. A rail- |
should ss SSs Sare the s Point %
road made, so that we could be accessible to the
seaeoast, when his friend Alderman Connolly
wished to battle in the salt water and his friend
Dr. Snodgrass could get his pears and plumbs,
and all could sleep soundly. TLaughter.l
Mr.. Connolly replied to Mr.. Scott in a warm
manner for making light OF serious subjects. He |
opposed the resolutions.
Mr.. Hawkins Taylor addressed the meeting in
favor Of the substitute.
Mr. Scott said he was here about thirty wears
ago. when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad first
brought their cars up to the depot on Pennsyl-
yanla avenue. The city here was jubiant at
the event. In his State there was scarcely a
population Of 200 now the State was checked
all over by railroads, and the city Of Washington
still held her one road by permission Of Mr..
Garrett.
Mr.. Connolly-How much land has Congress
granted to build railroads in your State The
gentleman should not brag.
Mr.. Gideon T. Walker spoke against the res
oiuti0n, and favoring the substitute offered by
Mr.. Taylor.
Mr.. H. n. Easily said that Congress could not
grant us any powers to the city to increase the
debt beyond so, 600 without the consent of a
majority Of the electors. 1t would be in viola
tlon Of the Constitution. Our hands are tied in
the District. As to the railroads that had been
enumerated in the resolution He favored All
of them, but all could not be built. They could
affoi d to endorse the Point Lookout road be-
cause it would cost nothing. He favored any
road that would reach the great West in the
shortest time and at the least expense. The
Loudon and Hampshire road would bring to
this city all the wealth Of the Valley Of Virginia:
road without getting control of the road. No
money should be contributed to this road unless
We get the terminus in this city.
The meeting adjourned without taking any
OK RFyDPR-TimOthy Dovla UilJ;ar, II