Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-03-11
.ffIoMMuNICATED.

nature tof ~ uStlce, coupler with an e8tIace
from the Warrenton Index, 10 the Alexandra
Gazette Of the I'D ult., in support OF the man'
sgemept OF the o. A., Il NJ: K; Il.
'SeTrnIy the name OF Justice has been TOO often
invoked in support of wrong and injury done:
to elicit that profound reverence ior her sacred
character as in other times, without closely 10,
yestisati1g the predicate upon which. il based
the argument There is an ancient aud iun
-tsme6ta principle 81 the English constitution,
which declares, "The King can do no wrong,
but with us the rule is quite different.
1.-The glare of pomp proclaims NE master,
Yet am the servant Of the people.
Your correspondent says that. The matter
which has induced various newspaper conmu
nicatious should have been left to the Stock
holders of the 0. A., & M. R. r. i'll general
meeting assembled" This is but relteratlun
and should have the necessary quotation marks
H oTever [ think ct least respectable por-
ton of Stock holders, and the people generally
differ with Justice 10 this particular. They
seem to be we'll pleased with the discussion Oh
a matter 30 nearly affecting their Interest, be-
cause they now feel better prepared to act al
yisedly when tho time arrives Tor acrl'n. /
claim that it is tight, and not only night
bnt A duty oil every citizen OF the State, to
cIo,ely scru,inize the official acts not only OF
State, but of corporation officers, aud paitlcu
Iar)y il it their right and duty to enquire INTO
| and discuss the official acts OF the officers OF
those railroads where the Slate has SO large
pecunary interest.
The Warrenton Index | have no doubt has
| been correctly informed in relation TO the ui3
| satisfaction existing along the Manassas roa",
| on account OF discrimination against mat rOau
and Alexandria, but | do believe that lie mas
| been misinformed when he says, some CHI
zens Of Alexandria are urging that their city IS
| allowed no advantage over Baltimore think
| | but express the sentiment and feeling OF the
| citizens of Alexandria when say they do not
urge, nor do they ask in The management oi
this road that they be allowed any advantage
| over Baltimore, although in view ct The iuct
that they we're the projectors OF these roads
and contributed literally OF their means, to lie
extent of $3.50, 600 towards building them, they
might with great propriety urge such claim;
vet in view of all this they only ask 10 be lia-
ced upon an equal footing with Baltimore, The
Index also says that complaints too ara heard
along the main line oil discrimination IN favor
of through freight This is true, and may
add 10 much greater extent than probably
the Index is advised and as believe properly
and justly made.
| However. he says: I'VE know nothing 81
|
that they may be all true, and yet form no Just
objection to the management oi the road.
Now desire to invite the attention OF the In
dex specially to some Of the grounds upon
which these complaints are founded. lst. me
Manassas road was not bought out ty the w.
"a. R. r. Co., as supposed by the index
The State Of Virginia, the counties OF RocK
inpbam and SHENANDOAH, the city Of Arxan.
dria and the private stockholders gave ldll
not selD their shares Of in that road tt
the O. & A. Il. r., upon certain conditions tt
be performed by the O. j. A. R. r. Co. Amons
these conditions is to be found the toIoWln!
one prominently mentioned as we'll IN that &C
| OF the Legislature providing Tor the conSo''oa
ton Of the two companies. Us 10 lhe co"' ~
authorized BY said Act Of the Legislature en-.
tered into By said companies. And that tn.
charges for transportation OF local freight and
passengers shall be the same pro rata % tie
lines Of the Manassas Gap and Orange aud
Alexandria, The people along the Inc Of
the Manassas road would Eot complain II this
provision Was fairly and properly carried OUT IN
! the spirit 10 which it was conceived and enter
ed into, nor do they wish to avoid any Just
burtheD growing out Of the consolidation oil
the roads, they only ask that they may be ac'
corded their fair and legitimate rights. This
they claim has been denied them, as will az.
pear by an examination Of the present tariff
sheet. For instance they are made to pay the
same amount OF charges upon all TONNAGE Tor
distance of l3S miles from or to Alexandria and
Harrisonturg thatare charged uponilke tonnage
from or to Lynchburg and Alexandria. dis
| lance OF III miles, and SO it IS with all inter
| mediate stations.
| I tell the Index that the people OF AI,xan.
| dria deenly regret that this sense OF injury Is
| existing in the minds Of their heretofore best
customers, for the people along this road are
| already maniiesting great pleasure IN antlclpa-
| ton Of the early competition of the road from
| Winchester to Strasburg, that they may then
| occupy that enviable position spoken OF 10y the
letter to the Richmond Dispatch, in store for
| the people Of Orange. An extract from that
letter is copied in the communication OF Jus
| tice, in relation to discriminating rates.
The case referred TO by this letter, is not prop
erIy stated if he intended TO convey The idea
that the O., A. & NJ. railroad, thereby iuten1
ed topro:ect the interest OF Alexandria. Upon
enquiry he will find that the rule laid down by
the company is to charge hIg her rate for
| goods elipped to contiguous stations than are
charged for others. For instance, the CON-
paDy makes precisely the slme rate OF charge
from Springfield to Alexandria; distance OF 9
miles, that is charged from Orange TO Cor
uUuSFllIc. uC Cilat SCS di"o dio VIC sun nun
Gordonsville to Springfield, that are made from
| Orange to Alexandria. The Index further
| says: IF there be any discrimination in favor
| OF through freight over the main iue, we can
| not only understand how it might be, but
| even approve it. He then proceeds TO give
his reasons why he approves it. ''Lynchburg
is the great distributing point OF Southern
trade, and there Alexandria with Baltimore to
| bacl: her, meets with Malone and Norfolk.
| If the Index understood the ground Of these
complaints it may be that he would not b" 50
ready to give his support to longer conrlnna-
ton OF these discriminating rates and clasSIilca
tions complained Of, despite the argument he
uses in support thereof Now suggest that
be enquire in to The truth Of the following
complaints:
Isl, That the o., A. 4. NJ. r. r. tariff OF
charges are enormously loo high on local freight,
as compared with the through. In proof
thereof this road CHARGES sugar coffee mOias-