The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-21
r., r. xP vs.. A. & r. r.. r.. COMPANY.

r., r. Il r. vs.. A. & r. r.. II. COMPANY.
Majority and Minority Reports Of the
Committee Of Investigation
into the Affairs OF the
Alexandria and
Fredericksburg Railroad.
The Committee on Roads, to whom was
referred the resolution of inquiry into the
organization and affairs of the Alexandria
and Frederic ricksburg Railroad Company, on
Yesterday submitted their report to the
House OF Delegates. !"
THE report states:
1. That 1920 shares were subscribed to
the capital stock of the Alexandria and
Fredericksburg Railroad Company either.
by parties acting for themselves OF through
agents or attorneys.
". Ihat the treasurer of the commits
sloners received either from j. B. Stewart
or L.'J. Huyck in cash 5000, and check
draWn either by said Huyck or Stewart for
S5,400; that after paying the expenses of
OF SAID commissioners (about S50) the resi-
Que was Withdrawn from bis hands BY
draft drawn upon him by L. j. Huyck,
treasurer of the company that the aggre.
gate OF said cash and check, to wit, 1000,
was ~ per share on 1900 of said 1920
shares OF capital stock, as required by the,
CODE OF Virginia for the organization Of
such company, while the charter of the
company required that $40 per share should
ne palo at the time OF making the subscrip-
lions. 1t appears from the evidence that no
one of the subscribers made any nayment
upon the subscriptions except the above
mentioned Stewart and Huyck, and it does
not appear that any of the money so paid
upon SAID subscription was ever returned
70 sald Stewart or Huyck; but, upon the
contrary, 1t appears from the evidence of
Carter Braxton that SC, 900 were expended
upon SAID road in payment of engineers.
lanG damages, &C., before any money was
reailzed from the hypothecation OF the
ponus OF the company as hereinafter stated.
o. Certlhcates were issued for said 9. .O2O
shares OF stock as all paid up stock. for
Whlcn no consideration was paid, eXceDt as
above stated, and none at all by many of the
sued. "eio t7'
"4. The company entered into q contract
WIN bodnsn, Nils Co. to construct and
equip the whole linenof road from Alexan-
drla TO frederlcksburg, and issued to said
contractors ITO bonds, of the par value of
81 900 each, upon which bonds said con.
tractors realized by hypothecation the sum
f$43,000. '''
''The above" says the report, "answers
all the inquiries propounded by your reso.
luton; and after careful review of all the
evidence, your committee are bound 70
conclude that the original organization was
illegal and fraudulent; but your committee
find nothing to show that the present own
ers of the purchase, e. B. Roberts, were in
collusion with or had any knowledge of any
fraud perpetrated by the original corpora-
tors, and believe that they are innocent
purchasers for value, and should not he
disturbed in the enjoyment of all the rights
thus acquired"
A minority report was also submitted.
1t is signed by w. w. Wood, of Halifax :;
F. L. Marshall, of Fauquier; A. N. Fretz,
of Prince George; and Isaac D. Budd, of
Loudoun. After giving q very full recapitu-
lation of the evidence elected before the
committee, it concludes as follows:
Your committee finds from the evidence
before it that the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company is aiding materially in the con-
struction of the alexandria and Frede-
ricksburg company that it is now con.
structing railroad from Baltimore to
Washington city at cost Of some six or
seven millions Of dollars that it has ob-
tanned possession of the long bridge at
Washington, and is proceeding TO recon-
struct it In the most substantial manner;
that the Alexandria and Fredericksburg
Railway Company, backed by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company, have purchased
all OF. the stock of the Alexandria and
Washington Turnpike Company, at u cost
of 10000; that the said company has ex-
pended Si5, 900 in land damages, and in sur
veying and locating the road that twenty
six miles Of the route Southward from Al
exandria is actually under contract, and
more than one hundred hands are now at
work upon it that ample means have been
provided to complete the road as now char
tered; and so finding, they cannot doubt
the honesty of purpose and ability of Geo.
B. Roberts and his associates to complete,
ut an early day, the construction of the AL
eXandria and Fredericksburg railway.
Your committee further finds that,
while the Alexandria and Fredericksburg
Railway Company has Il distinctive organi-
cation and name, yet it is being contracted
and will when completed be operated by
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and
that it is that company which has furnished
the sums already expended, and has pro-
vided means for the construction and COM
petion of the line of railway southwark
from the city of Baltimore to q point In
Virginia at or near Fredericksburg, and is
now asking Of the General Assembly the
privilege of coming to the city of Rich
mond."
"Your committee deems it proper to re-
port that there is nothing whatever in the
evidence adduced at all calculated to excite
the faintest suspicion of q want of the most
perfect integrity and good faith on the part
of George B. Roberts and his associates.
And if it should be the opinion Of the House
thai there wa irI e gul rity ,iegaiity, Or fraud
in the original organization OF the compa-
nv, and that the same was not covered by
the act approved June 4, 1870, then your
committee recommends that such action
shall he taken in regard thereto as will fully
protect George B. Roberts and his asso>
ciates in their rights of property, and insure
the completion at al early day of an all-rail
through line from the city of Richmond to
the cities of the North"
Both reports were laid on the table and
ordered to be printed.
TIE FLOOR OF A BUILDING ON MAIN
STREET FALLS THRoUGH.-Y yesterday morn
ing about II O'Clock the merchants on
Main street below 18th were startled by
hearing a tremendous crash close upon
them. It seems that the second floor of
the building which is being remodeled next
door to Mitchell & Tyler's jewelry estaD-
lishment, being too heavily taxed, lell
through, causing the loud noise which
alarmed the neishbors. The carpenters
work is being done under the direction of
Mr.. j. II. GlaZebrook, who states that
fbara urnc :, baayy milo of hrinks inst over