Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-04-02
The w. 90 r. R, AND ALEXANDRIA,

The w. 4 0. r. R. AND ALEXANDRIA,
Some Of the good people of the good county of
Lnndoun seem seized with determined desire
to have more direct communication with the
cities of The District Of Columbia, and as one
of the means to attain this end are holding meet
ings in which, it is said, the present manage
ment OF the Washington aud Ohio Railroad is
denounced, and the motives OF the President
impugned by bringing against him charges
which, without any knowledge on the SUBJECT
we do not thiuk can be proved. Whatever
,uay be said of Mr.. MckeuZie, it must be ac-
knowlelged that, 10 the face of obstacles that
would have staggered men of less determna-
ton he has, to the establishment, as well as
the delight, of all, been able to reconstruct the
road from this place to LaeSburg aud build 40
additional section to the village of Hamilton al
most unaided, and has finally succeeded in IN
ducing the investment of sufficient capital to
push the work on at least to the Shenandoah,
With fair prospect Of building it to Wlnches-
ter, whence there seems no reason to doubt,
it will be constructed, without further de-
lay, to the Hampshire cJal fields, and then on
to the Ohio, there To connect with the net
work of roads and become one Of the short
est and most direct of the great projected
through lines from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Now what has been done, and as far as our IN
formation goes, what is to be done, will be With
out the slightest assistance from either Wash,
ngton or Georgetown, but principally, and
indeed entirely, until lately, by the exertlons
of the people of this city and those living along
the line, with the assistance Of the State of
Virginia, in whose interest the road should be
run first. Repeatedly have overtures been
made TO the corporations Of the District cities
for assistance in the construction OF this I'M
poltaut highway Of trade and travel that must
benefit not alone Alexandria, but Washington
and Georgetown also, BY bringing the rich ag-
ricultural and mineral products Of the, as yet,
undeveloped section to be traversed, but al
ways in vain; the corporate authorities OF the
two cities never signifying their willingness to
subscribe one cent, save and except for the con-
struction of short branch to some point on the
main stem nearer to Georgetown or Washing
ton than this city, and thus, by the expendi-
ture of few thousands reap the full benefit of
all that will have been accomplished by the
outlay of millions That there should be dis
elimination in favor of Alexandria, by the rail
road, company is not at all surprising, aud in it
the management will be sustained, but this is
not asked All that is asked, is that there shall
be fair play, and that there Shall be no dis
elimination against Virginia city in favor OF
outside corporations, as has been attempted by
some who would, if their schemes were carried
out give to Washington and Georgetown all
the benefit that is to accrue from the construc-
ton of a work in which Alexandria is so deeply
interested There is no desire on the part of
the citizens of Alexandria to deprive the people
of Loudoun, or any other county, of the benefit
of choice of markets for their produce, but
when systematic endeavor is made to give to
those who refuse to lend helping hand in
time of need, the reward of the labors Of others,
at the expense, too, of those who have right
to expect return for their patient and long
endurance of oppressive taxation, and who are
living in the expectation of fruition of their
long cherished hopes, it is time that she should
raise her voice in her own behalf and urge
upon the management Of the Washington and
Ohio road due consideration of the interests
of Alexandria, and express the hope that in
any and all arrangements that may be made,
her claims will always be held paramount, and
the welfare of her people be made second to
none.