The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-14
it, gsFiFs7- Z -.-1T ~ ) = 60 =
THE SOUTHWEST ALL RIGHT.

THE SOUTHWEST ALL RIGHT.
Major WooDsoN, Of Craig, replied to Mr..
| Mahood. he said: Z
Mr.. Speaker, would have contented
myself with merely listening to the debate
on this amendment (the amendment of Mr..
Thurman as amended by Mir. BUDDY but for
the remarks of my gallant friend from Giles.
Representing q. district which lies along.
side the county from which he comes, feel
bound to notice the direct and almost per-
son appeals which be makes to the repre-
sentstiyes from the Southwest. think my
friend has ~.
SHOT WIDE OF THE QUESTION
now before the House, and gone into the
general merits Of the bill. In answering hts
arguments, I do not propose to 20 into the
general merits of the bill, except so far as
may be incidentally connected with his posi-
tions. | understand the gentleman from
Giles to assert thatif we refuse the charter
here asked to the PENNSYLVANIA Central
railroad, then that company, which is also.
promising to construct what is known as
the Shenandoah Valley railroad, and which
is already chartered through Southwest
Virginia, will never. construct the latter
work.
A FAMILY QUESTION.
asked the gentleman when on the floor
how the granting, Of refusal of this charter
could in any wise afsct the construction of
that road? His only answer was-and I am
satisfied he had no other-that the same
agency that would defeat this charter would
be brought to bear to defeat the construc-
ton of that road, or, if necessary, to repeal
its charter. Sir,
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY RAILROAD IS AL
READY CHARTERED,
and I know no agency in this State that
could or would arish to interfere with it..
Its terms are such as the company asked,
and I sincerely believe there is no opposi-
ton to It's construction, unless it be founded
In the gentleman's fancy, and not IN tact.
But l ask my friends from that section TO
look more closely at the genteman's argu-
ment. Is it true that the refusal of this
charter would endanger the construction
of that road? If so, and you, sir, from
Southwestern Virginia, must pause and
consider the interest of those we represent
before we can vote anything but the most
liberal terms to This same company here.
BUT WHAT ARE THE FACTS?
Rich and exhaustless as the minerals on
that proposed route are universally admit
ted to be, does any man dream that the
Shenandoah Valley road is being built more
than 200 miles to reach themS that, too,
when that road must be constructed
through rough country all the way, and
these same minerals lie from five to fifteen
or twenty miles of the Virginia and Ten
nessee railroad? IF these rich minerals are
the great boon so eagerly sought, would
not companies be formed who would con-
struct branches to the Virginia and Ten
nessee railroad, and thus reap the golden
harvests of this mineral wealth?
AN INTERRUPTION.
Mr.. MAHooD: Does the gentleman not
believe the local travel and tonnage on this
proposed route would pay the road?
WHICH DOESN'T AMOUNT TO MUCH.
Mr.. WooDsoN know both travel and
tonnage would be great, and would per-
haps pay for the road when constructed;
but these alone would not pay for the con-
struction of road for that distance over u
rough country. The gentleman himself
ertainly knows that. The company know
that. They have had these mineral deposits
examined with view of so locating their
road as to be able to use and utilize them.
But, sir, they are the accidents and not the
object. The object of the Pennsylvania
Central Company is
THE COTTON FIELDS OF THE SOUTH,
and the prairies and broad bottoms of the
West. Now, sir, give these same gentle
men a shorter, better graded, and more
southern route to the same points by way
of Richmond as this charter proposes, and
may not we oftbe southwest
BID FAREWELL TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
RAILROAD,
so far as this company is expected to build
it: But again, sir. My friend from Giles
SAYS let this company build road from
Washington to Richmond; let them make
the State to bloom like the rose with their
capital. Now, sir, does any rejecting man
on this floor believe-nay, does he dream
have even the friends of this bill, under
the
FULLEST sURFEIT OF LOBBY CHEER,
ever dreamed, sleep or awake, that this
company would actually construct road
from Washington to Richmond under this
charter? Why, sir, they intend to force
the
RICHMOND, FREDERICKSBURG AND POTOMAC
ROAD TO SELL OUT TO THEM, AND WHY NOT
HONESTLY Ayow IT?
MIR. BUDD: 1t would cost more to buy
out the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac road than to construct new one.
The new one would cost two and quarter
millions.
YOU ARE THERE, ARE YOU?
Mr.. WooDsoN : All that'syour position,
is it? 1t would. cost two and quarter mil
lions to construct your new road, and four
and quarter to buy out the existing road.
Admit it. They don't want the whole road.
All they want is the controlling interest in
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac road. 1t is, then,
PRACTICALLY THEIR PROPERTY.
And you tell me, sir, that they would not
buy out that controlling interest rather
than construct new parallel road aud leave
the existing road as a competing line? This
is not financial ability-it Is not reason.
ANOTHER APRoPos SUGGESTION.
Again, sir, 1 thank my friend from Giles
for another suggestion. The present Legis-