Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-10-11
M. &P. RAILROAD COMPANY.
President Faulkner's Report.

AT meeting OF the PRESIDENT and Dlrec>
tors of the Martinsburg and Potomac Rail
road Company, convened at Martinsburg on
Thursday, the 29th of September, 1870, Hon.
Chas j. Faulkner, President of the Compa-
ny, presented to the Bourd the result of his
recent mission to PHILADELPHIA in substance
as follows:
He said, that the President and Directors
of the Cumberland Valley Railroad assem-
bled in Philadelphia. at the Office of the Penn
sylvania Central, on Tuesday the 9th of last
month, to take into consideration the expe
diency of extending its connexions into the
Valley of Virginia, and to determine what
aid, if any, it would give to the Martinsburg
and Potomac Railroad. John Edgar Thorn
son, President. and Thomas a. Scott, Vice.
President, of the Pennsylvania Central were
present, acting on behalf of their road. No
doubt was expressed by any one as to the ex-
pediency of extending the railroad connex-
ions of Pennsylvania from the Potomac river
by Martinsburg to Winchester, and all con
CURED in the selection of that route. No
hesitation was expressed as to their obligation
to. construct, exclusively from their own re-
sources, a permanent bridge across the Poto
mac river at Powell's Bend, and o. their read
mess to proceed at once to the construction of
that bridge Entire satisfaction was ex~
pressed at the local aid $4,000 per mile)
contributed by the county Of Berkeley, and
there was a full and distinct admission of the
obligation upon their part, to advance the res
idue necessary to the construction of the road.
Up to this point, there was an entire concur
renee of views between the Pennsylvania
companies and himself But Vice>P President
Scott here enquired in what form he, Mr..
Faulkner, expected that aid to be rendered
Mr.: Faulkner replied By a subscription on the
part of the Pennsylvania Company to the stock
of the AIartinsburg Company for the full
amount necessary to construct the road be-
You'd what had hcen subscribed by the county
of Berkeley. This gave rise to considerable
discussion, in which Messrs Thomson, Scott,
lSiddlc and others of the Board participated
on the one side, and Mr.. Faulkner on the
other. They expressed their perfect readi-
ness to advance the money on the corporate
bonds of the Company. but were reluctant to
make a subscription, as it would be establish
ing n precedent which would cmbarass them
in their future operations in Pennsylvania
Mr.. Faulkner contended that he always under
stood the aid to be rendered was to be by
Subscription that this understanding on his
part was expressed in all his communications
official or unofficial with the Company; that
no correction Of that impression had ever been
made in any reply addressed to him that he
had so announced to the voters of Berkeley
county in his remarks accompanying the Or
dinancc. copy Of which had been forwarded
to the officers of both companies, and that he
could not feel himself at liberty to accept or
carry ont any other arrangement, certainly,
not with out the instructions of the voters, or
some clear and unequivocal expression of the
people of Berkeley county. After some fur
Their discussion, resolution was proposed by
Vice. President Scott and submitted to the
Board pledSing the Company to construct the
bridge across the Potomac, and to cooperate
with the counties in advancing the necessary
funds on the Corporate bonds of the Martins
burg and Potomac Railroad Company. to COM
plete the road to Winchester, which was unan-
dntoWsIY adopted.
Mr.. Faulkner said that he could not now
make any distinct or specific recommendation
to the Board. He could not at this time re-
commend an acceptance or rejection of the
proposition submitted. That the contract had
yet to be drawn mp in its details between the
President of the Cumberland Valley Railroad
and himself. That many of the most objec
tionabe features of the proposition made to
us, might be obviatcd when the details of the
contract were considered and that he would
Withhold any Recommendation Dntilthe contract
was ready TO be laid before the Board. OPP
posed as he was to the present form in which
aid was rendered to us, he had nevertheless
forwarded to President Watts his views of
certain matters Of detail, which might obyiate
much that was Objectionable. When he re-
ceived the full views of the Pennsylvania com
panics he would call another meeting of the
Board, and submit the subject to its consid-
Grafton.
Whilst therefore the result of that meeting
was not satisfactory to him, and he will yet
struggle to modify and change its policy. yet,
it need not discourage those who look alone
to the matter of the mere construction OF the
road for if he can effect no change in the
action of the Pennsylvania companies and the
contract when perfected in its details, shall
receive the appreciation of the voters of Berke-
ley county, expressed through public meet
ings or other reliable sources of information,
he could under that arrangement. safely guar
antec the construction of the road to Martins
burg By the 4th of July next.
Tt will be seen from the foregoing report of
Mr.. Faulkner, the President of the Martins
burg and Potomac Railroad, that his mission
to Philadelphia did not result to his satisfac-
ton. The point of difference between the
contracting parties is readily perceived. On
the part of Mr.. Faulkner it was urged that
the original understanding between the Penn
sylvania companies and himself was that the
county of Berkeley having subscribed S10,>
600 per mile, the companies referred to we're
TO become subscribers to the stock of the road
for whatever balance might be required tc
complete it, On the part of the Pennsyl-
vanians the arrangement proposed, as under
stood by them, was that they were to make
advances in the way of loan, which was tc