Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-09-08
jCOMMUNICATED.

he addition" Of is 10 terror cassiGS in thy threats
for they pass by nae as "'nu' w"'cn
[ regard not. ''-iShaESpc0re.
W, J, X, and all the other letters Of the al;
phabct may threaten US with passing around
Alexandra, but is it likely that alter crossing
the Long Bridge, the Fredericksburg or the
Pennsylvania Central will make dctour around
a city of some ii 900 souls and eXpend Tor the
right Of way through farms and lots in its
vicinity an amount of capital, hard cash, the
interest on which annually would more than
equal all that would be expected from the pro.
poscd road for the use Of our streets
Beside, let them divergo from the direct
road to this city, the route to which is nearly
natural grade prepared to their hands, and will
they not ct once have to encounter the ridge
formed by the amnhcthcetrc OF hills al! around
this city, from Hunting Creek to the Long
Bridge, the grading OF which will cost tens OF
thousands exclusive of the right OF way.
II has made the most OF "hydras and CHM
cras dire" to frighcn US from our proprlety
and demand for just compensation and OF
our rights.
He says the farmers between this point
(mcaning between Alexandria and Frederlcks-
burg l supposc) Accotink, Occoquan, Prince
William and Stafford, now send as much OF
their produce as they can, to Washington and
other points north OF US"
Well, if they do now send aNMW can, which
is by the river almost altogether, cannot they
still do so over o railroad which can run
through our town without breaking bulk, when
that road shall be completed, If it be to their
interest to DO so? and they can do 50, whether
the road runs through or around the town.
NJ has rcycr interposed an objection to this
course, if the people desire it.2 on the contrary
he has again and again disavowed any attempt
or wish to dam up trade within our limits, an
attempt which he knows is as futile, as to
dam up the Potomac between here and George.
town. Trade will as inevitably flow in its re.
guar channels as certainly as the waters or the
streams, be they large or small. We must en-
dcavour to gct some of its refreshing influences
as they pass along.
II says il it (thc trade) does not fairly come
into this city and It certainly uWn0t, the italics
are not H's-it this right OF way be Tot grant
ed. This looks as if e spoke by authority
aud from the card. Perhaps H may have a
controlling power III this mattcr-he may be a
| director, 4 secretary, II u!htr attachc OF the
| company, or he may he stlpendIaIy, vino, for
| a valuable consideration, expects tv alarm US
| into surrender OF rights which arc justly ouI
| DUE OF which 70 high minded man would at
tempt TO deprive us hy threats or intimidation.
The case stated as to "a ground rent on
property already conveyed" is not parallel.
am no lawyer, but have always supposed that
property conveyed without q consideration, Is
not properly or legally conveyed, and no con
sideration has ever been made for the use OF
our streets The Washington, Alexandria y
| Georgetown Railroad Company never had O
legal existence, and | hope the City Counel
will yet gct firmly and compel the track on o.
Asaph street to be taken up, and not be de-
tered by any threats of legal proceedings OF
their consequences.
Besides, ii tic Frcdcricks burg road desires
to run over our streets, what has 1t to do WITH
any privileges granted,if granted at all, to othel
corporations OF this kind Two wrongs never
make right. II we nave teen unwlse IN one
| case must we be uhwse in all similar cases
Must VIC also grant to the Bernie Bank koao
and all other roads similar privileges upon the
same hard terms to ourselves and 10 their grea
pecuniary advantage NJ.