Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-12-10
For the Spectator.
Startling Outrage by a Railroad Company

For the spectator.
Startling Outrage by Railroad Company
To TIE Editor of the Staunton Spectator:
We feel it our duty to make known through
your valuable paper to the shippers Of stock,
and the public generally. the imposition prac-
ticed upon us by the Orange, Alexandria &
Manassas R R. Go.
After "a hours travel, we. in company with
some or 10 others. arrived at Manassas juno
ton about 10 o'clock, A NJ. On Tuesday, the
26 ult., with % carl loads of cattle, valued at
not less than thirty-foe Thousand dollars, most
of them bound for Baltimore market. Here
we were told by depot-ageut Fuel. that he had
received orders to ship our cattle via rasburg,
making an increase 10 distance oil 1873 miles,
giving as reason for this unwarrantable au.
thority, ''their connection was broken at Wash
ington Knowing this iong and elrcuitous
route would seriously damage the sale of our
cattle, the entire party protested against the
order some offering to pay their freight thro'
to Alexandria and release the company, if the
agent would unload their cattle. Others de-
manded that their cattle be delivered at Alex
andria, where they would do likewise After
an interview with Supt J. Fisher, who passed
on the Western bound mail train, we derer-
mined to telegraph President Barbour-the
operator, though 10 the employ OF this railroad
company, charging US SLIT in advance.
To this time the lain had BEEN held 10 check
by orr party. who nov assembled 10 the Office
to hear reply to telegram. The agent having
promised to hold the train for further orders,
took this opportunity to have The locomotive
put in motion, and off went IA carloads Of cat
tie via Strasburg. The remaining IA cars were
held in check by our party till the order came
to deliver our cattle at Alexandria. where We
fourd through connection with Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad Company, and got to Balti-
more about 10 o clock, p. NJ. same day, when
we could have gotten there by clock, but
for the delay at Manassas The cattle via the
Strasburg route arrived next morning about 7
clock, A. NJ. worn out and fatigued-would
nei;h eat nor drink--and being sale day we
were compelled to sell or hold over another
week. The price Of corn being 81. per barrel,
and hay 81 so per hundred, makes it ruinous
to shippers of cattle to keep them long in Bal
tinore one of us determined to hold over and
| The other to sell. Those that came by the
Strasburg route lost no less than IS pounds il
weight 10 each head more than if by the other
route, and their worn out condition and appear
ance made them sell for at least $40 on the
head less than they would have brought had
they gone via Alexandria over Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad.
Is there no redress for this unwarrantable
conduct? We hope our law w-makers will take
| these railroads in hand and pass law to pro
tect our people. 1t is true we can now sue fol
damages but many of these roads have every
dollars worth of properly mortgaged, and &
| judgment against them would not be worth the
paper on which it is printed. We understand
| judgment against the Orange, Alexandra ane
Manassas r. r Go. would be doubtful of col
lection. This road, to make $24 on each ca
load Of cattle for the Baltimore and Ohio Raj
Road Company, the price of car from Alex
to Baltimore, has made US lose not less thai
$500 on each carload Of cattle Euraged a
the Baltimore & Potomac r R they take ,hei
venom out sgainst the very people who bui,
and keep these railroads in motion. stimuat
industry and make the wealth of the country
| JOHN P PORTER,
| JAMES B. MOORE, Jr