Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-09
Al&fau0rla 0azGtte
~
THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUSTA.
Hsr. Barbour'S Letter on tile Removal
OF the Railroad Shops.

HEr. Barbour's Letter Oh the Removal
OF the Railroad Shops.
TO the editor Of the Lmchbwy Nrgtatua:
DEAR SIR: [ called Mr.. Barbour's attention
to the matter Of the removal OF the shops from
this city, which has been discussed for some
Time in this community. The following letter
from llr. Barbour On the subject explains
itself, and | beg you will iusert it ia your
paper. Respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHAs. NJ. BLAcKFoRD.
Lynchburg, August 6, 1877.
W. G., V. NJ. e. &. S. RAILROAD,
GENERAL OFFICE,
ALEXANDRIA, Va, Aug 4, 1877.
| t. ". BlachJoyd, esq:
DEAR SIR AS the reasons for making re-
| lay of engines drawing trains over this railroad
| TO Charlottesville and tho transfer OF some of
| tho operatives from Lynchburg To that point do
not seem to be properly understood by your
community, | beg to submit through you
brief statement in explanation:
The proposed change has been deemed neces.
sary both on the score of economy and efficiency
OF service sirco the extension of the line TO
Danvic, and particularly of the introduction
Of coal for use of engines from the line Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, and was
urged upon my attention last winter by
the late General Manager, Colonel Foreacre.
and subsequently recommended by his sue
cessors, the present Superintendent of Road
aud Machinery, Major Randolph, and Mr..
Spencer, the Superintendent Of Transportation,
in special reports on the subject. Mr.. Spencer's
report is dated 10th April, and that of Major
Randolph bears date May 10Th last. have
delayed acting in the matter uotIl fully salts.
fed Of its necessity. as we'll as from general
indsposiion to make changes 10 the operations
of the road without due consideration of all the
relations thereby involved. But several recent
disasters to our locomotives clusod by the long
continuous run between terminal points. aud
the loss and Inconvenience resulting therefrom,
have made the necessity OF establishing a cen
trail station for relay Of engines obvious, and
Charlottesville, in view Of all the surroundings,
has been selected as the most suitable location
at least for the present. Though not exactly
cqui.distant between Alexandria and Danville
Charlottesville is the point where our coal is re-
ceived from the G. Il D. r. r. for distribution,
aud offers facilities for care and protection Of
the locomotives in the side tracks and engine
house erected there already by the Q. & .. Il.
Il. Co., the use Of which have been granted Tor
our purposes on very favorable terms. tits not
contemplated at present to establish any machine
shops at Charlottesville. aud understand from
posed change will only involve transfer Of about
ten men from tho Lynchburg shops s. Accord
ipg to the report Of Major Randolph before re
ferred to. the establishment Of relay for en-
gines and coaling station at Charlottesville will
make a reduction In cost Of hauling coal, car
mileage to the 9. 4 o. r. r., difference Of
rate saved by usiog v NJ r. II. cars, and la
Dor Of handling coal, Of the sum of $l,OSO per
month, or $l2, 9GO per annum, over the former
arrangement. Ia the report Of MIR. Spencer,
Superintendent Of Transportation, ne estimates
the saving to his department at larger amount
over the present plan by having the relay for
engines at Charlottesville.
lie estimates that the same work which here
tofore has required six engines aud crews for
our freight trains could by done by the proposed
change by four, thus releasing two engines and
crows, and saving in operating expenses BY the
Reduction $4,000 per month, and giving tho
read in its busy season the use OF two additional
locomotives, which if hired would be worth SIS
each per day, and amount to the sum of $4,000
per month Of twenty six days. The above
statement Is too striking for any discussion as
10 the cxpedicncy Of the measure. If by
adopting it an annual saving OF 900 In
operating expenses can be made, as re-
ceiver OF the road | would not be justified
III LILY os3Cut VI !SlhuR W ~ III
operation without delay. The amount is too
large TO allow ne any official discretion to do
otherwise. l. should regret very much, per
solally, TO be 4 party to any measure dctri-
mental to Lynchburg, and recognize fully The
obligation Of the Railroad Company to pro.
mote its material interests as lar as may be
practicable without sacrifice Of the rights OF
others. The effect Of the proposed arrange.
mcnt al Charlottesville upon the interests of
Lyochburg has, think, been greatly exagger-
ated and ovcrstatcd. The small temporary
structure put up by the Orange and Ae1an'
dria Railroad Company there could hardly be-
magniied into the proportions oil "maehlue,
shop" and the transfer of the small number oil
meI originally brought to I.ynchburg from AL
cxandria for convenience Of repairs 10 engines.
while it may produce some temporary moon
veniencc to individuals, cannot seriously impair
Tho business of The community. Ii the exten
sion Of the railroad 10 DauviIlc has put Lynch
burg at Disadvantage, geographically, as a
proper location for repairs and relay purposes
Of locomotives, the compensation will be found
in the additional facilities and more extended
communications for business and traffic which
the line now affords. Very truly yours,
JOHN S. BARBOUR.
Receiver.
OPENING AND CLOSING OF MAILS. Until
iurthor notice tho following will be the hours