Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-01-06
ALEXA. & FREDERICKSBURG X. X.
Investigation Of Its Affairs by Conf
mittee Ofthe Legislature.

card to the Alexandria and Frederick sburg rail
read company met Wednesday. in the lecture
room of Sycamore church. DR.. Graham. "i
Rockbridge. presiding. =,
The Alexandria and Fredericksburg l:iiroa;l
was represented by Judge Hunter Marshall, OF
Richmond. and Mr. Smith. of Alexandria; and
Judge Ould and Hon. r. r. Daniel: OF Rich
mond, appeared for the Richmond. frederck>-
burg and Potomac railroad company.
Judge Marshall on behalf of the Alexandria
and Fredericksburg Railroad Company an
nounced that the books of the company were
now here. and if the committee wanted them
they We're at their service: but if private indl-
yidlmls wanted them of course the company
was not bound to give them up. He then
handed the books Of the company. two III num-
Der u the chairman Of the committee.
Judge Oud asked what order would be pnr-
sued by the committee in the investigation He
apprehended that it was the duty OF the COM
pany to show. in answer to the resolution Of the
House. that the company was i legaiZed one.
Judge Marshall said he did not understand
that there was anything for his clients to do.
Their company had been chartered in 1864 To
build the road in five Years. but failed to do 1t:
but on Jnne 18th. 1870. the charter had been
extended. and under that last charter the com
panv now operated They stood ready ia show
that they were legal company legally char
tered. and would await any questioning OF their
position that mi ht be made
Judge Ould said the whole matter rested Oh
information wholly in the possession OF the yen
temeu who had the books of and conducted the
affairs of the company. 1t was information
upon which Mr.. Roberts pretended I" he prr>l-
dent of the railroad. and parties i'll fhiadcllha
pretended to he directors. They must show
the affirmative. iiley must answer the rc>1lu-
ton of the Legislature, and show that they con
stilute legal organization.
Judge hall-Who is it that charges
that We are not Il legal organization: You had
rs We'll charge the pauville or the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroads with being illegal corpora
tons. fit is charged it should 20 before the
courts ON quo warrantu. The Legislature will
not constitute itself court TO try this matter.
The law has the power to make the lnrr>tga
ton Who is it comes here and charges Us
with being an illegal corporation? We are
ready to repel any charge made against Us. Our
books were in Philadelp hia. and there WIS N"
process by which You could have golcn them
if We were unwilling. So far from that. VIZ
brought them here willingly
Judge Guild 1.-THE resolution Of the Le"is!a-
ture calls for al invest CATION into how was this
organizations which you claim to be legal effect
ed? That is the question that the Lcgisl.t urr
asks and instructS the commute 10 yet III al
swer to- No matter whether there Is any one
to bring the charges or not that Is the question
that must be answered Ii must be answered
whether there WAS any one here representing
the Alexandria and Fredericksburg Railroad
Company or not But the officers OF the COM
,sany are here. and have all the information.
and should give ii.
jude Marshall Roberts will answer
any Questions of course: but he c;,nnht hr rX
ptcled Ia volunteer information a'H'N HIS
affairs
Mr. Hill. Of the committee said the question
asked in the resolution Wa How many shares
of the capital stock have becn regularly sub
scribed for according 10 law?
Judge Marshall read from the subscription
book of the company. showing hat 1000 shares
had been taken by Gov Pierepoint. Gen. Stahl.
J. 2. Stewart H. IT, FAINT. Suit, and others.
At a meeting of the commissioners. Reuben
Johnston reported that 1920 shares had been
subscribed and the proportion paid in accord
ing to the law Of Virginia. AT this mrctln"
Stewart. Gen. Stahl. FAINT and others. Were.
present in person or by proxy. y >tuckholder-
meeting was then. heidi and X. ". Latham
elected President and Reuben Johnston Sccrc-
tary.
Judge Ould.-Does it appear that any pay
ment was made On shares?
Judge Marshall-EcS. They paid 81.
Mr. r. T. Daniel.-It should have been $40,
under the code.
Judge M.-We will show about that pre-
Sently.
Judge Marshall (Still referring To the books =.
Contracts We're made for construction tlr,1
with kiehler. who broke down. and then with
Bodfsh Mills 4 Co.. who also broke down and
their contract also was forfeited. Things Went
on that way till 1870
Mr. Reuben Johnston. of Alexandria. sworn
He testified that he Was on" OF the committee
for receiving subscriptions They were made II
his office in Alexandria just as they are entered
on that book have no reason Ia doubt the
correctness of the entries. was secretary OF
the company till last June With the cxcep-
ton Of those made by Stewart for other parties.
the subscriptions were made by the parties IN
person at my office
Judge Marshall here read an affidavit of
treasurer of the Alexandria and FrederckS-
burg Railroad Company the fund paid in ex-
ceeded $40 900. and was lost in the failure ot
the Merchants National Bank of Washington.
of which bank he (Hykc was president and
that all statements to the effect that the legal
amount on shares had not been paid i'll are all
false. Judge NJ said that the gentlemen who
had become connected with the company since
the extension of the charter had paid their
money in good faith. and had receipts for it
By this means they became possessed OF all the
stock which had been issued. except i small
amount left in the hands of few individuals.
They paid for all this. forty thousand in cash
and $4O. 600 in good railroad securities Since
that they have made contracts for the con-
struction of the road-one of which is for
twenty three miles.
Here. Mr. r. +. Daniel having one of the
company's books. Judge Marshall said it WAS
the company book. and not Mr.. Daniels and
was brought here to answer certain interro@a-
tories. not to be examined by private ndivl-
dualS
Mr.. Daniel.-I have perfect right to look
at it. As citizen of Virginia. independent of
my position as counsel, have right TO come
here and see what this committee is doing. and
I'LL the evidence before it.
IL. 81 I.,