Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-22
COMMUNICATED.
Alexandria and Fredericksburg RI.

Philosophers tell US that the human mind is
past finding out. Their teachings receive il.
Illustrations every day, and notible one lies in
tho communication of M" 10 the Gazette of
the GOTH Why it is that men supposed to be
endowed, at least, with observation, alter Sec
ing how ALL the interests of a country arc ed
yanced by works of public Improvement and
convenience, how cities rise, fields revive, de
bris disappear and men improve along the Ines
of railroads, &c., and how the actual nccessl.
ties OF our present busy life require rapid and
easy communication with the great world and
all its parts, can go perslstenty set their faces
against such improvements passes understand.
ing. Allow mo to notice some OF m. 8
chimeras-lor they cannot be called conc!u-
sions. -.
| pass by the exclamation notes, the piatl-
where shown, either in the bill or its iratc op
nonent) the Gigantic monopoly" dropping
the mask" "cajoliug,' &C., &C., with which
stale bats mot "batcs"j the advocates OF
moor cause are accustomed to lure men from
the contemplation OF facts His objections
seems to be, lst, that the bill gives eight coun-
ties the privilege of a railroad. %, that the
road may construct convenient branches, and
Sd, may connect with other roads.
Now is there anything wrong, abStractly, 10
confcrriny these powers? Will the State, or
any county, or any single individual be dam
ared by it? Or can they be DAMAGED hy it,
under any circumstances, unless they voluntarily
assume the possibility, by purchasing an inter
! est in the work In either event then; Wheth'
er the road and its branches shall flourish or
| fail, no one can be injured save those who
own an nterest-(and the bill don't require
any one to purchase stock, and 10 the event
| of its success, tho eight counties must share It,
whether they arc stockholders or not. Again.
as to controlling tho tide water COUNTIES :-How
can that be, unless there was proV5o that
no other road should ever be constructed 10
them II more roads should &c needed, they
will be built there. Does not M. see that
it is impossible for single road to control, ,
any locality, when it will support two! Could
any road be stronger than the Baltimore and
| Ohio? Yet it has-s4ound rivals. who have
sprung up from the wants of tie country, and
the laws of demand and supply arc as strong
as anything in nature.
But the secret is that this privilege IS grant
ed to foreign corporation. 70 Lord, no"
long" How long will it be ere the people o.
Virginia shake off the scales OF toe pltliu
prejudice these words disclose! What matters
who builds our roads-so they are built we
! can cpioy them none the less. And it we dra"
no dividends from stock and bonds, we will, al
least, derive them from our appreciated lands
and our more remuncratiVe labor. Suppose
for example, Senator Spraguo should desire
to occupy three tourths OF the waste and marshJ
suburbs of Alexandria with factorlcs-all tol
the sake OF his own gain. | verify believe he
would find among the Anticipated population
Bello Haven, M" .en who would try to drive
him of, by hurliDg doggrel couplets from ole
mummicd poets at his head.
In the language of Col. Stuart, 20, for liVt
men ~ If hundred ''soulless' foreign cor
porations desired to build roads, iuto, around
near, through Alexandria. let them come. L
they will build them without our help. ST
much the better. We arc sure to be benefited
by the work-wo would NOT be sure OF large
dividends from our stock. And VIC are very
much obstructing our own good, if We objec
merely because charter, as is most pronGra,l
in its own interest,"" and to build whero thu
wants nt the country require it. Its interest l.
our interest, and 1t is in possible for one to ad
vance independently Of the other. Governor
Walker has shown himself an able Statesman
and [ commend his language as quoted b,
M" Whenever people can be toun6 who
will invest capital in works Of public i'm
provement, close with them at once. Get tia
capital located here And every sensible man
will gctit as near him as possible, and as mucl
of it as he can. And whether Joe Stewart
| Though he is quite ruled OUT or a Ulysses
or Satan himself wishes to bring it, | say le
him invest And whether no calls his wors
by lalso name, or By no name at all, let him
come. DEXTER.
| 1Sn