Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-11
W. & 0. r. R.
Letter from Hon. Lewis Mckenzie.


am obliged by copy of your paper of the
4th instant My great objection to appearing
in he NEWSPAPERS has hitherto prevented me
from noticing good many things which have
heen said about our road which l knew to be
nntrne: but your article is so kind and respect
full, that depart from my usual course in like
cases. and proceed to write this 10 regard to it.
AS early as 1858, the stockholders of this
company, then the "Alexaudrla, Louduuu
and Hampshire, in general meeting, author
lied the construction of u branch to the Poto-
mac river opposite Washington. Oct. 90,
1854 Board OF Directors authorized, by gener-
al meeting, to locate the branch so as to con-
meet with such bridge as Shall he built by
United States. Dec. /, 1854 President directed
to inform the Mayor OF Georgetown of the last
named order, aud TO express the readiness of
the company to proceed with the construction Of
the branch So soon as the position Of the bridge
shall he fixed. July 24 1855, President to
furnish Mayor Addison Information respecting
the Georgetown branch. May, IA, 1858,
President authorized to negotiate for mod-
Gca,ion of the terms of subscription by George-
town. Juue Is, 1859, President authorized to
agree with the Alexandria Canal Company for
right Of way upon their aqueduct at George
town. Aug %, 1859, draft of a resolution III
relation TO subscription Of $500, 900 submitted
to the Geurge own authorities. Act OF Con
gress, approved Feb. 5, 1861, to authorize the
extension. and use OF d branch within George
town. Oct =. 1867, President and Mcssrs.
Orr and Edwards appointed committee to at
tend meeting to be held at Leesburg III reIa-
ton to the Georgetown branch; which meeting
was held Nov. >, lS67-prcscut, committees
from Lecsbu:g, Washington and Gcorgetowu,
the Bard of Trade Of Washington, the Mcr-
chants Exchange OF Georgetown, the Corpor'
alton of Alexandria. and the Board oil this
| Comnapv; when it was resolved by the Board
that the avaiIs of any subscriptions made by
Washington and Georgetown would be applied
to the cJnsrruc ion OF said branch; aud that
the charges Tor transportation on all articles
and persons carried over said branches, to or
from lhe sad cities shall be the same in amou2t
as upop the same or ikr articles and persons
carried over the road To or from Alexandria.
Aug. III, 1868, committee OF The Corporation
| of Georgetown appeared at a meeting OF the
| Board Of Directors aud discussed the su ct
of connection with that city by branch Sub
sequen y the following paper Was received
| trOtu them -
Minutes to be presented to the Directors of the
| Alexandria LrudUuh and IIam>hire Railroad
Company, with a view Of obtaining proposals
for az arrang "meDt from them.
l. We will make a connection with the a.,
L. Il b. Railroad by the way OF Plmmlt Run.
=. We will subscribe to the common stock OF
the company the amount required, not exceed
ing 100000.
Procaied, That the road shall not be extend
ed beyond the limits Of Georgetown, or conuec-
ton be made beyond that towo, without the
consent of It's corporate authorities
And pr0raled further, That the branch so
built SHALL never carry freight or passengers to
any point beyond Georgetown at any less pro
rata tariff than to Georgetown.
and further, That frcights are to be as favor
able to Georgetown as to A!cxandrla.
We submit these minutes, subject to tic APP
proval OF the Corporation of Georgetown.
LEVI DAVIS,
Chairman of Committee.
Whcreupon, the Board Of Directors passed
the following resolutions =
| |. That the Board agrees that Surveys aud
estimates of cost shall be made intly by two
cngineers-ouc appointed by this Board aud
the other by the Corporation Of Georgetown
with the view of ascertaining the most advan-
tageous route for branch to Georgetown ::
such route to be located so as to be as nearly as
practicable equally Beneficial to Georgetown and
Alexandria and the expense OF such surveys
and estimates to be equally borne by George
town and this company.
,. That this Board will adhere to their rcso
luton Of list of November, 1867 in relation to
| equal charges upon persons aud things carried
to or from Georgetown and Alexandria from
the point Of divergence OF the branch.
After some delay, au examination was made
by Messrs Blythe aud Brewer, engineers, of
| ~ ro,t, Ilo D,n,n,it Run r,,,to mo. h
iected to by the engineers, because of its length
and responsiveness. The Falls Chutch route
was preferred by the Georgetown committee, if
practicable. The engineers returned their re-
port to the Georgetown Councils, when the
Mayor, Recorder. and President Of the Council
were appointed committee on the surveys
| They considered the Pimmit Run and the -Four
Mile Run routes both practicable in poiut of
grade. but unalvisable, the first by reason of
its length, and the other on account OF its pear
ness to Alexaudrla-a very Singular reason,
when we bear 10 mind that the charges should
be no greater upon transportation to George
town than to Alexandria. upon persons and
things, whatever the difference of distance
might be. The third route was to overcome
the difficulty presented by the hills between
the Arlington House and the Canal Aqueduct,
and in going from Arlington to Falls Church
or Carln's Spring. This route was examined,
and the grades to be assembled we're so feet to
the MILE with cut of IS to ~ feet for nearly
half mile in length, mostly through rock.
This expense was considered unnecessary and
inadmissible, in view of the TACT that the Four
Mile Run route was shorter and much cheaper,
and presenting very light grades. This Was the
judgment Ut the engineers az We'll as of the
Board.
This Four Mile Run route is still open to
Georgetown, if she will cooperate with US up.
on fair terms in the construction Of a branch
By that roure. and the company, as heretofore,
will ask no advantage 10 the matter of charges
upon transportation that is to say, We will de-
liver bushell Of wheat or anything else, or
passenger 10 Georgetown, for precisely the
same for which we deliver them in Alexandria,
and with fully equal facilities 10 every respect.
What more could be asked by reasonable
people, when we propose by this branch to give
them, in consideration of very moderate sub