The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-17
FRIDAY EvEN'G, JAN. II, 1873,
Tp1EoaApH srArros, January IA, 1878

For he State Journal
Will you inform your numerous readers in
this vicinity why the Alexandria and Frede-
ricksburg railroad charge such enormous local
passenger rates Our station is about twenty
miles from Washington, and we pay S1.25 to
ride there. No arrangements are made for COM
mutation of fares as on the local train from
Washington 10 Alexandria.
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
road sell tickets from Fredericksburg TO Rich
rRond in packages of twenty tor twelve dollars:
They sell yearly tickets between Ashland and
Richmond at fifty dollars each Why cannot
this end of the road be managed in the same
liberal spirit2 1t would certainly help us to get
settlers, and would pay the railroad better in
the end. We hope you will give us some light
upon this subject. L. H. 3.
We are not in the secrets of the man
agement OF either of the roads referred to
by our correspondent. We can see no
good reason why the road from Washing
ton to Quantico should not be run 80 as to
accommodate the people living along it to
as great an extent as those living between
Quantico and Richmond. A wise policy
dictates 10 every railroad the fostering of its
local traffic. This it can make forever its
own, and a source Of growing income. 1t
is like the reputation and circulation of a
good newspaper, which it costs much money
and time to build up, but which is then
a permanent source Of power and profit.
The road from Quantico to Washington or
at least that portion Of it above Wood
bridge, runs through country already
largely populated with intelligent and
thrifty farmers, many OF them from the
North. It is beautiful, picturesque, richly
endowed with attractions for suburban
homes. 1t needs only local train running
up each morning and down at night, per-
manently, TO fill up with parties doing BUSH
ness in Washington and others, who will
rapidly purchase lands, thus accessible to the
city. Such train we kaosu would pay mol
at once perhaps, but very speedily. The
Alexandra and Fredericksburg road will
find the extension of its local train now
running to the former city, one of the most
popular and best paying charges it car
make. There are potent reasons for 1t t.
nurse the way travel and traffic. 1t is thu
most important roadway from the north tt
Virginia leading direct from its great cities
into our borders. Let it build up beautiful
rural villages along its line, and the coun
try would speedily develop around them
Hundreds are waiting, to invest in this por
ton of Virginia, for this liberal and far
seeing policy, If the company O,oning tn
1oacsr portion Of tie line can sell a,lnua
tickets from Richmond to ashland a
ffy dollars each, the other cal
certainly sell such tickets at proportioneC
rates from Woodbridge, Telegraph Road
Long Branch, and other stations nea
Washington, to that city.
An enlightened self-iuterest certainly die
tatcs this course, and we hope to see thu
management Of that road seriously under
taking the building up Of the country alonl
its line, as the Orange and Alexandria
fredericksburg and Richmond, and othe
roads are doing. The interests Of the peo
pie and the interests Of the railroads coin
eide. Ultimate rather than immediate re
suits are to be considered in the wise man
agement Of affairs.
The road that does most to promote I'll
interests Of the people ,oho lire along il
while it serves faithfully the general public
will make for itself a sure and enduring
mr. ,sperty