The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-11

| "oiS Ach, tHen WOulQ Tespect anu carry
out his wishes, always, however, in sub
ordination to the leading idea Of an open
and impartial highway between the two
cities, Of which these gentlemen were
trusted to be the judges. / believe there
is perfect understanding between these
gentlemen, and no apprehension Of any
breach of faith.
| q. The Petersburg railroad intcrvenes
between the Richmond and Petersburg
railroad, and the Weldon and Wilmington
railroad, and 1t is understood that the Com
mon Council of the city of Petersburg,
| which owns majority of the stock in the
| Petersburg railroad, is averse to selling the
stock to Walters and his associates, or so
voting it as to further the plans and pur-
| poses of Walters and his associates. If
that is 80, can you explain the philan-
thropy of Mr.. Walters and bis associates in
furnishing this large sum of money-nearly
5000, O00-to these Richmond gentlemen
without security and without interest to
protect the interests of Richmond and Pc
tersburg9 :, :. e. .,,.,.-.
A. To the best of my knowledge and be-
lief it is
| NOT TRUE
that the city of Petersburg owns majority
of the stock of the Petersburg Railroad
Company believe it is true that the Com
mon Council of Petersburg and large
majority Of the citizens are averse to selling
the city stock in that company to anybody.
! do not believe that the Common Council
are ayerse to voting the stock in such man
ner as to further the plans and purposes OF
Mr.. Walters and his associates, but believe
that when those plans and purposes are
properly disclosed and understood, the.
Council and the community will be almost
unanimously in favor Of them: have
never heard or understood that Mr..
Walters intended to furnish the nine gen.
tlemen above mentioned with six hundred
thousand dollars in money. Our estimate
was that the bonds or certificates of debt
required to pay for the stock would cost
about $500, 900, but in my conferences with
Mr., Walters about furnishing these bonds,
I was informed that he had been for many
years "
TIE HOLDER OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF VIRGINIA
BONDS
as an investment, and the impression was
left upon my mind that he had already near
| ly or quite enough to pay the amount with
out buying any specially for that purpose.
Mr.. Walters never had, or pretended to
have, any motive of philanthropy in making
any of these propositions. His purpose
always avowed was to make a good and
profitable investment, with the expectation
of making money by converting railroad
which has heretofore been, in his opinion,
OBSTRUCTIVE OF COMMERCE,
| into a profitable channel of commerce. L
can give no explanation of philanthropy
which 7 do not believe has been in exist
ence.
@. In your answers heretofore you have
several times declared it to be the purpose
of MI. Walters and his associates, and OF
the nine gentlemen making the proposition
to the Legislature, so to use the State stock,
if ACQUIRED, as to make the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad an open highway, inter-
changing freights and passengers with every
road connecting with it without partially
or preference. If not unprofessional to 90
so, will you please state whether or not
there is not an agreement, expressed or I'M
plied. between the parties named, their
agents or attorneys, or any OF them, ana
any company or its agents or attorneys
north of Richmond?
A. I am not aware Of the existence OF
any such agreement or understanding. The
impression on my mind has been that MIR.
Walters and his associates wish to feel sure
of their position on the Richmond and Pe-
tersb,lre railroad before entering into any
arrangement with any other company, and
then
TO GIVE EVERY COMPANY NORTH AND SOUTH
FAIR CHANCE.
o. Is there any agreement or understand
ing, expressed or implied, that when Wal
tiers and associates shall have gotten sure
footing on the Richmond and Petersburg
railroad that then they will make any con-
tract or agreements with any company or
road north of Richmond? If so, state what
road or what company.
A. There is not, within my knowledge.
Q. Is it not within your knowledge that
declarations have been made by Walters
and his associates, and verbal assurances
given to the representative of some railroad
company north of Richmond, that when
| Walters and his associates shall obtain con-
troll of the Richmond and Petersburg rail-
road they would either make an arrange
ment to that effect, or cause the manage
ment to be entirely friendly to such road
north of Richmond? ~.
| a. answer no. l cannot recall any oc-
currence which could give foundation for
| the question. If any such declarations
were ever made in my presence l either
failed to notice them at the time or have
! forgotten them.
| MR.. wALTERs's ASSOCIATES.
BY Mr.. BUDD: You have spoken of Mr..
do you mean to include the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, or any one acting as
their agent or attorney?
A. I do not. | mean only MIR. r. K.
Bridgers, of North Carolina, and MIR. New
conner, of Baltimore, who were the only
persons who have been introduced to me as
| his associates.
By Mr.. HILL: When you were before a
committee of the House during the discus
sion of the Washington and Richmond rail-
way bill, did you not state that you repre-
sented parties in friendly alliance with the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company.