The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-21
THE RAILROAD WAR.
MR. ROBINSON FORCED TO AN
ANSWER.
THE ROBINSON DYNASTY BROUGHT
TO ITS KNEES.
How ti,e ScnbOnrsl and Roanoke Rail
road E;vadcs the law and Fattens
fss Controllers at the Ex-
pense of Virginia.

The Senate Committee on Roads and H.
tcrnal Navigation, Mr.. Taylor OF Norfolk
chairman. met in the Senate chamber on
Monday. January Goth, at 3 7. NJ. to further
consider the bill proposing an amendment
to the charter Of the Petersburg Railroad
COMPANY authorizing its extension north
ward to a point on the Potomac river oppo-
site Washington city, dc. The following
members Of the committee were present:
McSsrs. HoIladay. Cochran, Terry. Quesen'
berry. Ward, and Smith-Mr. Holiday pre-
siding.
The Chairman announced that the hrst
matter was to hear from Mr. j. NJ. Robinson
in response to pending question when the
committee adjourned on Friday.
Nlr. Peter Y. Daniel said that his col
leagues Of counsel for Mr.. Robinson. Judges
Ould and Crump, were detained at the Cir
cult Court on an argument in progress there,
aud that message had been dispatched Tor
them. He expected them directly, and Mr.
| Robinson would accompany them.
The committee had to wait for few min,
utcs, when Judges Crump and Ould arrived
with Mr.. Robinson.
Mr.. LYON then repeated his question to Mr..
Robinson. which he had put ut the last meet
ing of the committee, and which Mr.. RoDln-
son then declined to answer:
Please state to the committee what have
hccn the profits OF the Baltimore Steanl-
Packet Comr,ny for the years 1858, 1863,
1870. 1871, and 1872:
Mr., Robinson: hesitsted to answer these
inquiries at the last meeting of the commlt-
tee because did not sec their relevancy 10
the matter before the committee, nor could
! see how any answer could affect the ques-
ton whether the Richmond Fredericksburg
and Potomac Railroad Company obstructed
through business, and doubted the pro-
pricty of my unnecessarily exposing
to public curiosity the affairs of cor
poration of another State and Of pii-
yatc individuals interested in it, as
to which. also. did not then have the rcqui-
site information. Having since received
that information that will enable ME to an
swcr the inquiry. have determined, under
existing circumstances. to do 50 rather than
to rcrnit the counsel for the Petersburg
Railroad Company 10 gain from my silence
the advantage with this committee, and with
the public which he seeks. to the injury OF
he Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad Company.
The profit of the company from Apl:i,
1868, to April, 1869, (being the fiscal year,
was $40, 1898. From April, 1863, to April,
1870, $64 .10o.S6. From April, 1870, to April.
1871. SIS. 1891. From April, 1871. to April,
1872, $jS, S,759.l3. The present fiscal year has
| not ended, and its profits haycnot been asccr.
| tanned.
From 1865 to April 1st, 1870, the company
| paid dividends Of ten per ccut. From 1870
| to 1871, sixteen per cent. From 1871 to
| 1872, sixteen per cent. Since then fourteen
| per cent. has been declared. The residue OF
profit lr,s been invested md placed in re.
serve to provide means to build new
| steamer. now required and about to he built,
| and has been used in payment of debts.
The effect has been, by asking for an eaToSt
of the private affairs of this company. to
| establish an alleged disposition of obstruc.
| tivencsS on the part of the Richmond, Fred
| cricksburg and Potomac Railroad Company
| Mr.. Robinson then went into statement
and submitted the tariff Of frcights Of hi:
railroad company, and said that he was per
lcetly willing to pro rate through to Wei
don hy his tariff and to pro rate through
over his line by the tariff of the Petersburg
| Railroad Company. or any tariff the com
miltce might suggest.
said that you would telegraph for certain
| bpohS dhu IL fpitS WIN sou Salu hpuioA LIZ
| ble you to give certain information to the
| committee. Have you those books and re-
| ports here now, so us TO enable you TO an
>wer!
Mr.. Robinson: | have no recollection OF
any such promise, and | have not the books
and papers.
MI Lyon asked him what was the capi.
;al stock of the Scaboard and Roanoke Rail.
road Company in 1853, and he said that he
needed books and reports to enable him tc
answer the question. / asked him if he
| would telegraph for the books and papers
| and he said that he would.
Mr.. Robinson have no recollection ol
| that at all.
Mr.. Lyon: The committee were here, and
they lecolect We then left the Seaboard
and Roanoke Company and went into the
affairs of the Steam-Packet Company.
Mr.. Holladay: There were such questions
is Mr.. Lyon refers to, aud they were post
poncd on some misunderstanding between
Mr.. Lyon and Mr.. Robinson.
ITO be continued In our next issue.