Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-28

eressionaI legislation failed to secure the object,
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
entered into contract with the Washington
CITY and Point Lookout Railroad Company,
who held chartered privilege for the purpose,
to lease so much of their branch road, when
built as would extend from Bladensburg, to Il
point on the Potomac opposite Aexandrla,
distance of about twelve miles. This line has
been 10 progress of construction for several
months, and is expected to be finished III Janu-
ary. When completed, in con- JUNCTION with
barges propelled by steam of capacity to carry u
train of cars without traushipment across the
river, will afford cheap aud direct route tor
the traffic passing between your road at Alex
andria aud the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
The river can be crossed by this plan III a few
minutes, aud tine delay and expense OF running
freight trains through the corporate limits OF
Washington city be avoided. The Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company are now taking
their freight cars across the harbor of Baltimore
at Locust Point by similar means, without Serl-
Gus interruption FROM the ice, or other causes.
While the proposed arrangement will answer
the purposes of through business, it does not
meet the requirements Of the company to reach
Washington with its trains directly Tor the trade
and travel proper of that important polu. Nc
gotiatons have been opened with the couIpany
now operating the line Of railroad between
Alexandria and Washington, for trackage Tor
the trains of this company over their line, SO
as to secure direct communication to Washing
ton as terminal point The proposal has been
fayorably entertained, and terms vii! probably
BE- agreed upon, to take effect at an early date.
IF this should, however, Unexpectedly tail, the
company will have to obtain from Congress the
necessary authority to extend It's line into the
city of Washington by another route. y liue
of railway extending irom the Potomac to the
North Carolina border will present proportions
of too much magnitude to be denied direct ac-
cess to the National Capital!
LATERAL ROADS.
The recent discoveries of extensive veins Of
valuable iron ores near to the line OF your rail-
road 10 the counties of CuIpeper, Orange, Al
bemarle, Nelson, Amherst and Campbell, have
attracted the attention Of capitalists, some OF
whom have made preliminary examinations,
and propose to make investments IN these prop
critics and develop their values, II suitable
terms of transportation can be arranged. The
location of some of The largest OF these deposits
are few miles distant from the main line OF
railroad, and will involve the construction OF
lateral roads for their profitable Development.
| Among other parties the managers OF the
| Philadelphia 4 Reading Railroad Company,
| corporation OF large means aud the highest f.
nancial credit, have made partial purchases OF
| these orchards and mineral privileges, and are
| looking to the transportation Of the crude ores
TO the furnaces upon the Schuylklli, which
will give the line of this railroad large amount
| of tonnage 10 be shipped from Alexandria to
PHILADELPHIA by water. The matter Is, OF
course, of great Importance to the Company
| and should receive its cordial cooperation AID
| announcements As the lateral roads viii he
required for the proper development OF the trail
6c, and as the business TO be secured will yield an
ample return for their construction, 1t will DC
clerely the interest of the Company, upon sui.
hcient guarantee of tonnage to be offered, TO
build them. By the Code of Eirsiuia lateral
| roads not exceeding ten miles III length eau be
constructed FROM the main line OF any railroad
with consent of the stockholders. 1t is suggest
ed that authority be given to the Directors to
build such branches for the purpose stated as
may be required at different points to develop
this new aud valuable class Of tonnage, and to
issue bonds ard mortgage the said branch roads
to prcvdc meaps for their construction. Ii
| this field of operation eau be otce successfully
opened upon your line It will lead to other IN
vestments of value, and attract population aud
capital to an eIteut which the most sangune
expectations can now hardly realize. As these
ores become known and their values appreciated
the whole tier OF counties from the fapldan to
Pittsvlvania, along the Blue Ridge, will be prob
ably penetrated by latera roads, and afford
TRANSFORMATION TO your main line. 1t Is apparcut
that the future policy of the Company must re.
gard as its highest aim the development by all
possible means of the material Interests
and the fostering of new industrial pursuits
along its line of road. From these sources
mainly the road will derive receipts sufficient
to maintain its capacity tor transportation, aud
| to make adequate return upon the large amount
| of capital heretofore expended IN Its construc-
| ton.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of D,rec-
JOHN S. BARBOUR,
President.
| In their report, the Examining Committee
Your committee then proceeded to examine
the machine shops of the Company. Here
thew were pleased to see splendid passenger
coach nearly completed, making the secoud one
recently built entirely 10 your own shops. Both
we're of very superior workmanship, style and
finish, aud will compare favorably vii any
| purchased abroad, and that too. as was learned
from your euterprising Chief Engineer, Major
Randolph at saving OF S9OO on each coach'
as compared with the prices paid tor similar
coaches 1t may reasonably be expected TOO,
that being built for use aud not for safe, under
the supervision of your own skilled Superinten-
dents, out of carefully selected materials, that
another considerable saving will be found IN
the item of durability.
"Severa new box freight cars have also been
finished, and are now in the shops ready Tor
| use.
1T is the purpose of your Chief Engineer, at
as early day as practicable, to erect upon the
site of the burot building, a large forge tor
heavy work and your committee cherish the
hope that the development OF the immense
mineral wealth. now being discovered along the
borders Of yonr road through almost its entire
length, will so greatly increase its revenues
both from freight and passengers. as not only
to justify, but to require the erection OF toun-
dry and rolling mill for the purposes Of the
road"
TIL ro,,p,;ttoo m ,rhom UgS referred the