The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-02-02
Alexandria and Fredericksburg r. r.

MIR. Lewis, OF w estmoreland, introduced
in the Senate on Wednesday, the following
bill to amend the charter of the Alexandria
and Fredericksburg Railroad Company:
1. Be it enacted, Sc, That the corporate
name of "The Alexandria and Fredericksburg
Railway Company" is herebJ changed to the
"Washington and Richmond Railway Company,
and is hereby declared q body polite and corpo-
rate and by such name may sue and be sued,
and shall have all the privileges and be subject
to all the provisions of the Code and general laws
of Virginia, applicable to such corporations, and
all legal proceedings begun and pending in the
name of the first named company shall be con-
Quoted and maintained to completion in the cor
porate name in which they were commenced.
2. That the said Washington and Richmon
railway company be and is hereby authorized to
survey, locate, construct, equip, and operate
railway from point at or near the southern END
of the Long Bridge, in the county of Alexandria,
opposite the city Of Washington, through or near
the city of Alexandria, and through the counties
of Alexandria, Fairfax, Prince William Stafford,
King George, OF Spotsylyania, Caroline, King
William, Hanover and Henrico, into the city Of
Richmond, or by such route and in such manner
as said company may deem most eligible, with
the ght to construct branch road from its
main line to or near Matthias Point on the Poto
mac river, and may connect its main line and
branches with any railroad or railroads in either
of the counties named or adjacent thereto, and
may lease, purchase and operate such connect
ing roads.
8. That in order to enable said company to
construct and equip its road and branches, it is
hereby authorized to increase and issue its capt.
tai stock to an amount not exceeding three mil
lions of dollars, ($3,000,0 00,) and it is also au
thorized to borrow the additional sum of two
millions of dollars ($2,oOo,o00,) and to issue
registered or coupon bonds therefor, bearing in
terest at rate not exceeding eight per centum
per annum, and convertible into the capital stock
of the company, as it may hereafter from time to
time determine, and may secure the same by
deeds Of trust or mortgage upon its franchise and
upon the whole any portion of its property
| a. The organization of said Alexandria and
| Fredericksburg railway company heretofore con-
stituted, is hereby made valid.
s. The said Washington and Richmond railway
company shall complete its main line within five
years from the passage of this act.
i 6. That if the said Washington and Richmond
/ railway company shall become the owner of u
majority of the capital stock of the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac railway company,
then, and in such event the said Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac railway company shall
be subject to taxation, the same as other proper
| ty and the said Washington and Richmond rail-
way company shall be required to redeem the
cap1tal STOCK OIL sHlu IhlCuu0uu, FREDERICKSBURG
and Potomac railroad company, owned by the
State of Virginia at par with bonds or certif-
| Gates of Indebtedness of said States. 7t..4.
This looks like business in the right direc-
ton. What the people of Richmond want,
and what they ought to have, is speedy and
direct communication with the outer world
Every section of the State feels interested
in the prosperity of that city. and it is the
duty of members of the Legislature from the
rural districts to do all in their power to aid
in accomplishing an object SO desirable as an
allrail route to Washington, AID thence to
the great cities of the North. At present.,
passengers going to and from Richmond have
to be dumped out at Fredericksburg, and
then freighted to Washington by steamboat.
This latter mode of travelling IS not suited tv
the age. Formerly all the travel from st
Louis, West and South, was accommodated
by the Missouri and Mississippi steamboats,
But the progressive people of the great West
value time too dearly to waste it in such te-
dious means of transit, and to-day railroads
are dashing west and south Of that city, car
rying the thousands whom business or pleas
urc call to those sections, leaving the steam
boats high and dry on the wharf, or employ
ed in the transportation of heavy freight
Space is thus annihilated, time economical
the country developed, and the great ends OF
progressive business encompassed. Virginia
can never be what she. ought to be until she
awakens from her Rip Van Wrinkle slumber,
ignores Individual schemes which have help
ed to press her down that they might enrich
their projectors, and which have not in view
the accommodation of the great moving
mass of the business world.
The Fredericksburg and Richmond road,
has been in existence for thirty years, with
out having been of much benefit to the State
at large. It has been run in the interest,
according to the showing Of a large stock
holder, of the Bay line Of steamers between
| Norfolk and Baltimore and the Seaboard and
Roanoke Railroad, which are mainly CONTROL
ed by the capital Of a single individual
The day of subordinating vast public inter
ests, and the time and convenience of the
great, moving. busy hive of enterprising
people, to the greed of one man, or set of
men, is passed. The demands Of the age
and the welfare Of the State cry-a stop to
this mode of business. Great practical re-
suits cannot be coltravened to add to the
Golfers Of individuals.
The 9th section of the bill above publish
ed, presents the whole matter in MT shell.
The new company will purchase controlling
part of the capital stock of the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Company, will
redeem the States interest at par; in eyiden-
ces of debt Of the State, and will pay tax
into the Treasury Of the State on the entire
capital stock Of the road. The State will
have to divorce herself from works Of inter-
nal improvement sooner or later. We do not
know precisely what her interest in the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Road is,
but whatever it is will 60 that far to reduce
the Indebtedness Of the State. and convert