Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-07
The Freight Trains OH the Manassas
Branch of the o., A. d VI. X. X.

The above caption is one of absorbing inter
est to those who reside in our embryo city
owing to a lack of transportation for our pro-
ducts by the only outlet we have to market
The detected look of our manufacturers as
they return homeward from each east bound
train is conclusive evidence of the painful
circumstances in which they are placed. And
what is the cause of our embarrassment? Simply
this: Western produce is getting the prefer
ence of the articles our hands have made, and
upon which our money has been expended.
Long trains from Cincinnati and other western
cities pass daily, while the native product un-
dergoes the ndiguity OF waiting until It's bet
tiers are served. Ohio lumber is tai ken to the
point of destination while Riverton Family
Flour and Rivcrton wood burned lime lie Il
burden on the hands of their producers.
As to the effects? They are as follows: First,
Mcssrs. Weston, Cone 4 Lent, two weeks
since, had -four manifested for New York with
the purpose Of reaching Alexandria in time for
the New York steamer. Failing to get trans.
poration the flour lay over week mourning
the Inevitable disappointment. Subsequently
the same firm was obliged to send all rail to
New York ut d loss Of - cts per barrel, sooner
than dsappoiut the house desiring the consign-
ment.
Second, Messrs. Carson & Co. have now six
cars of lime of ten tons each ,ou the siding with
numerous smaller quantities ready for ship.
mcnt. Some Of the manitests bear date 18th
ult. This company seems to suffer most is
their business Is one IN which large stocks can
not be kept, the article deterlsratlng by being
long kept, and pcrishabIe when exposed to air,
us in bulk shipments, when there Is unusual tie
tentiou Their agents in Alexandria, Wash
ington, Norfolk, Richmond, Lyuchburg, etc.
are impatcnt; beside, the large orders they
hold FROM agricultural sections are SO delayed
that farmers threaten to cancel their orders AZ
seeding time has almost expired.
Third, The Shenandoah Iron Works have
abut $50 tons of iron on the wharf aud in the
boats on South River. The teams employed III
this business are likely to be thrown out Of en-
ploymcnt with 4 consequent loss to the iamIIn'>
of their owners.
Fourth, Major Richards had forty bcevcs in
the neighborhoOd for two weeks, being unable
to yet them to market These cattle have To
be driven to water daily, and the owner says hc
will lose 5000 by their removal and the dcprc-
CATION in price within the above tlmc.
Within five days nothing that We know of
except few barrels of -four for Philadelphia
has ueen removed while thirteen cars await Il
day in the future to bid farewell to the ''Eallcy
Of the Shcn.
The responsible officer Of the road has been
| applied to- but nothing has Yet been done to
relieve us Our object is not to impugn the
conduct of the officers Of the railroad company.
There may be good reason tor the suffering
of producers along the road lin truth the writer
has formerly found the officers obllging. But
something is now wrong which should be
remelied forthwith The local industries should
not be allowed to droOp while foreign ones are
advanced. \ man who produce two bushels
of wheat, or two tons OF iron in Virginia where
one only was before, is worth more to our State
than he who raises one thousand bushels of
wheat or tons of iron beyond the bounds OF
| Virginia. Our knowledge of these facts in con-
! junction with our losses will gain us sympathy
in the breast of every lover OF Virginia pros
| perty. We are Jealous for the prosperity OF
our growing town, and jealous least Impcdl-
ments Of this nature should discourage those
who are coming among US to engage III Other
branches of business We have, however, en-
enlargement in our difficulties from the fac,
that another candidate for our custom in the
form of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad is
coming rapidly to our aid. The completion OF
this road is Il cOusummaton devoutly to be wish
ed 1t will give us more markets, and promises
cheap rates.
Take care that our Valley products are not
soon directed from your city, and directed
northward Now impcrativcIy is the time
when the interests Of Alexandria and the o.,
A. & NJ R. r. should lead the merchants III
the former aud the officers Of the latter to
cherish all the enterprises west OF the Ridge,
and especially at this point, where there Is so
large an amount of heavy merchandise, and
where the other road is constructing branches
to our very doors. a RlNERrONlAN.
Rivertun, Warren Co., Va, Oct. 4th, ISL.
CHESAPEAKE AND ONO CANAL~-The board
of directors of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
met at Annapolis on Friday. Messrs. German,
(prcsidcnt,) Daniels. Biser, Gilmore Meredith,
Grecnbury NJ Watkins, and NJ. Bannon were
present. The president submitted report
from which we learn that the repairs ordinary,
as well as the works of a permanent character,
heretofore ordered on the whole line Of the Ca
nal, are being well aud satisfactorily done The
total earnings OF the canal for the mouth Of
September were $50 ,S13 f.; expenses ordinary.
extraordinary and pay Of officers, SIS. 2O3%.,
total, $4l ,G7UO3. Iu addition to the ordinary
expenses there was paid on account of legal
services performed prior to June !, 1872,
$1,000; tor high wall at Grcat FAILS Si,oW-
The increase in tonnage as compared with Cor,
responding period Of 1870 is 2j,Ol5 tons; de-
crease as compared with 1871 Of 1856 tons.
This decrease is attributed mainly to the extra
ordinary low state Of water in the Potomac
river, and navigation is now seriously interior,
ed with on the Cumberland division. Al
though all the water in the river at Cumbcr-
land is being used it has been found necessary
to REDUCED the tonnage Of boats from from 10
to 80 and 100. tons. Notwithstanding tins
there is an Increase in thercvcuue as compared
with the corresponding period OF ISI"
Of SIS, 1880, and decrease as compared WIFI
1871 of Sl.S4S. 30, while the increase IN the
revenue from June to October !, as comrar-
ed with 1871, is slI,74o.5 50. There was in
the various repositories to the credit Of the trea
surer Of the company on the LIST of October,
after deductng expenses Tor September, SILL,
AS 95 and it is recommended that the sum OF
$50, 9s5 be appropriated to pay the coupons on
the preferred construction bonds, due January,