The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-25
evening State Sonrnat.
WE ARE MARCHING ON.

The public attention is now interested
In another war which the Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac railway company
has inaugurated against its quondum
friends, the Alexandria and Fredericks-
burg railroad company and were not the
consequences too serious, it would be
amusing to witness this aeic effort to resist
public progress and general advancement
From the date of its charter for thirty-odd
years the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac has dragged along, dead to every
entreaiy to wake up to realization of'the
wants and demands Of trade and travel.
For third of century it has made no
move, and stirs now to carry out a "settted
policy Of fifteen gears" only when the fire
of an irate public has been placed upon its
back.
This little road, SO small as to be carried
in ones pocket, whether breeches or vest,
does not appear, by its policy has 50 man
aged to divert trade from its line, that all
It could accomplish in the past two years,
in the way of through freights, was to
approximate the receipt of ten thousand
dollars. 1t is not at all wonderful that
Mr.. Daniel tits presdent) should be anxious
to place to the /" geographical position" of
his line, what is more properly deducble,
if there be any truth in rumors, from his
contracts with competing lines, whereby
he is restrained from the receipt Of through
freights.
1t is rumored that this Richmond, Fred
ericksburg and Potomac company is SO
bound up in the interest of somebody, that
cotton purchased in Raleigh for delivery
In Alexandria was refused transit over his
line, and was compelled to find its way to
It's destination by theSeaboard road to Ports
mouth, thence by the Bay Line to Balti-
more, and thence by Washington to
Alexandria; and yet the excellent gentle-
man who adorns the Richmond, Frede-,
ricksburg aud Potomac road claims for his
road the fullest capacity for all tile de-
mands of the public, presently, and for
fifty years to come.
Fair play is jewel-and the public
think that they have allowed Mr.. Dam
iel's road too long to play at the game,
"heads win, tails you lose" and conf
IDENTIFY look to the Legislature to open up
a way which can, ard will, afford to trade
and travel certain and full accommoda-
tion.
Mr.. Daniel was very keen to pursue the
Alexandria and Fredericksburg company
now, and Indignantly claims that no
parallel road to his shall be built If we
have not read his own words awrong, he
was perfectly willing to lock hands with
this company to obtain from the Legisla-
ture- this very present Legslature-au-
thority to construct road from Alexandria
to Washington, regardless of the rights of
the Alexandria and Washington company.
Mr. Daniel was no less keen to obstruct
the passage of the bill asking permission
to extend the Alexandria and Fredercks-
burg road to Richmond, in all possible
forms, charging fraud, &c., &c. A mem
ber from Fredericksburg headed the move
ment, of which no complaint is made, but
we rather incline to the opinion that he
would render his constituents, and
the public generally, greater service
if he would now inaugurate an in
vestigation into the charges made against
Mr.. Daniels road, which come from every
quarter and are as numberless as the sand
upon the sea shore. The public would like
to see in parallel columns the names and
residences of the stockholders in the Fred
ericksburg road, in the Seaboard and in
the Bay Line--and would like much to see
the contract said to exist between the Sea-
board and Bay Line and Mr.. Daniel. If
false charges are being made, let it be
shown; if they are true, let the public
know the fact.
Who will ask for the information