Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-20
COMMUNICATED.

COMMUNICATED.
Please publish the enclosed bill for the infor-
nation of the public and especially of the mem
bers of the City Council who will have an i'm.
portsnt matter before them on Tuesday next.
Another amendment OF the charter oil the So
called "Alcxandria and fredericksburg Rail
way!"!!
This hill shows The same skiifui hand, which,
though not ostensibIy an officer or manager of
this company, has from the first been the mas
neople OF this State and lay their interests at
the foot of o gigantic monopoly, which does
not hesitate and never spares its purse, to ao
complish its purposes through the agency Of
willing, though they may too modest to advo-
cate measures as ardcntIy as some of their COM
peers might think more cxpedient.
1t would almost SOON by the 4th section OF
this bill, that this company and its agent or
| arents had become ashamed OF the lie .perpo.
| trated in its old title Of Fredericksburg Rail.
yay and now propose 10 call it the "Washing.
ton, Alexandria and Richmond Railway Com
pany."
It would be we'll if they should drop the
| ontiro mask and strike out the word AIeXan.
| dria from the title.
Could they not fud some superservlceable
member Of the House of Delegates, who, tor
| an adequate compensation, would even carry
| through this amendment, and then Alexan-
dria es we'll as Fredericksburg would not trouble
this patriotic corporation, which has como into
the State ito do good to its people,"
Mark the skill displayed IN preparing this
bill.
In the first place the bill says, "the said rail
way coE pany under the provisions oil the orlgI.
nal act and act amendatory thereto, be, and
they are hereby authorized to survey. locate,
construct, maintain, equip, and operate a rail-
road from the Virginia State line, in the coun'
tv of Fairfax at or near the Long Bridge,
| through or near the city of Alexandria,"
Having been so successful in ~cajoling the
members from Fredericksburg, Prince William
and Stafford in the original bill, they now make
an omnium gatherum of eight counties, think
ing doubtless that the delegates OF these eight
counties will snap at the bate like gudgcons,
each man hoping lis county will come IN Tor a
slice Of the plum cake which these generous
Pennsylvanians are cooking up, to crafty the
hungry mouths of soutberners, who are so sad
" 10 want of the sustepance they have so llber
| ally distributed in their W State and now
are anxious 10 do the same Tor the once proud
Old Dominion.
Tho phraseology and provisions arc marvel
lousy liberal to this corporation.
The first section allows them to 20 through
any of these eight counties Into the city OF
Richmond by such route as SUIT company
n,ay deem most eligible and with the right to
construct q branch road at any time, 10
years hence if they choose) to or near Matthias
Point on the Potomac river" and may con
meet their said route or either OF them, at the
most available point, 1vith any other rallroods,
.,o,, ~ 1nco ,oprtr,,oto1 IN m, - u cJJIor
are authorized to construct the necessary branch
road therefor"
Our worthy and excellent Governor will see
how promptly his suggestion of a genera
tree railroad law LA, bccu oriluI upon lie
also says in his message, whenever a railroad,
or n canal, or a transportation company is
needed, and people ~(native or foreign | sup
pose) can he found, who will invest the neces
sary capital, let the enterprise be organized
and completed"
This company has taken him at his word and
this bill giving boundless authority to this 81
eantic foreign corporation to do "as seemeth
good in their own eyes arc to control all the
tide water counties to suit their appetitcs for
gain.
But the third section Of this bill is the chei
d'euvre of skill, in the hands Of its astutc
trainers.
After stating that the capital stock shall not
exceed three millions, and the shares may be
issued, sold and disposed If by them Ilom time
to time in such manner as may be determined
upon by the Board Of Directors, and may re-.
ceive bonds in payment for said stock, or by
lease or purchase; aud to sell, lease, mortgage,
or otherwise Use or dispose of the same as may
be deemed best to promote lwhat, not for
the good of the Stale or people, butt the IN
tcrcst Of the company
Wheugh a Stewart in tho amplitude
of his schemes, could not have framed a bill
so utterly regardless Of all legislative guards,
for the protection of the interests OF the State,
as has been done by the trainers Of this bill.
The third section of the bill provides for the
power to borrow money, issue bonds and makes
the bonds convertible into capital stock ii
"dccnea desirable by the Company hut not
at the option Of the Jond holders.
The 4th section as stated in my opening re
marks coangcs the style and title of The COM
pany to the WASHINGTON, Alexandra and Rich.
mond, and shall be subject to all the provisions
OF the Code of Virginia, applicable to such
corporations, not hercLy repealed oramendea."
Query-Hhat provisions OF the code are left,
alter granting the general and sweeping pro,
visions to this company b. this Gill?
| cannot restrain tho indignation reused in
my mind, by the consummate arrogance of this
s~ou!-iess corporation, and scarcely credit the
belief that any son Of this old Commonwealth
should have the hardihood, to present it for
the consideration of his brother members.
In the language of the immortal poet, Pope {:
"Who would not-if such a man there be,
| Who would not weep, if Atticus were be-"
Change Atticus to any other name so venal,
as to be entitled to take its place. NJ.
A BILL to amend the charter and change the
name of the Alexandria and Fredericksburg
Railway Company.
l. Be it enacted, DC, That the act to incor-
porate tho Alexandria and fredericksburg
Railway Company, approved February 3rd;
| 1861, and the act amendatory thereof, approved
june 9TH, 1870, and any other acts relating
| thereto, be amended to read as follows
The said railway company. as now organ
lied under the provisions of the original acts
Incorporating the same, and act eEendatory
thereto, be, and they are hereby, authorized TO