Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-04
z7FXANDRTA GAZFTTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
Washington and Ohio X. Il.

President Mckenzie paid Winchester u Visit
last Tuesday, and met a number Of our citizens
at the Town Hall in a somewhat lmpromptu
and informal interview. He made an address
ia explanation OF the financial condition and
prospects Of his road, answering as be went
along. number Of interpretations, as the
French call them. 10 ready and good hunlor-
ed way. Personally, he made, as he usually
does fine impression. ior be lSa genial, good
did not throw a great deal of daylight on what
lis the great point with our people-the pros
peer OF speedy extension OF the road TO this
point and beyond Nor to tell the truth did the
other side: the takers Of the audience, accom-
pli>h great deal more in that line. The big,
black shadow of impecuDlosty rested upon
both, and the best and quickest mode of escape
from Hereunder failed to be satisfactorily
pointed out by any one. As a practical Scot
fish friend of ours remarked on retiring from
the council: Dom it, our people wont see
that they can't build railroad with words
words, words. >
As to the foreclosure of the States lien for
failure to pay the first bond due Gu the pur-
chase of her interest, Mr. Mex said he was
goiog at once to Richmond to pay it off, The
Board Of Public Works had agreed to re-
elvrc it.
The nine men who we're originally expected
to provide means for the prosecution OF the
work had not, he thought, done all they night
have done. They expressed, however, ankle
IS for its success. and every disposition to pro-
mote it. They were substantial men, he said,
| and had already advanced 1000. Divers
| financial complications at the north. such as
the Chicago and Boston fires, had prevented
the placing of the bonds. As to hypothecatlng
- !, NJ. Nix \ of
Wall street The brokers, he was sure, would
cheat hm
! Failing to get aid from this source, lie had
gone to work himself. and built seyera! miles
of road. For this purpose, he had strained his
Individual credit. No one could be more soil
citous than he for the extension OF the road.
He would cheertuily give way tomorrow to
any one who would build it. Neither Mr.
! Huntington nor Tom Scott had made any pro-
position TO him. He thought the road would
| be valuable to either Of them, and would be
! clad to hear from them. He contemplated
communicating with Mr.. Ii on the subject.
Tie cost of extension to Winchester he e>-
tiuatcd at enc million, He had an offer to
lo the work for that sum. If the county, or
town would vote Sc. 900 in addition to the
$50, 900 heretofore pledged, he would engage
! that the machine shops would DC located here.
The road ought not to stop here, however;
the extension west was essential. Capitalists
doubted the ability of the line between Win
chester and Washington to command business
enough to pay the interest CD its bonds. For
Il movement westward, he expected a luilion
from the city Of Cincinnati. He advcrted also
to the 100000 subscribed by the city of
Washington, which failed by reason of the
stringent conditions imposed by Congress.
The assemblage was Very Respectable one,
and showed clearly the increasing interest felt
by the community in this aud other proposed
improvements. II the prosperity Of this local.
t. is TO be rescued and restored, it is necessary
thar that interest assume very Speedily an ac-
tive aud practical shape VIZ. Aeus.