The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-02
fCoinInunicated.l

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fCemJnunicated.1 si{
Tho Answer OF THO Presidcnf OF the
Richmond. Frederickshurg and FO-
tomae Railroad Company 20 the At,
torncy.Saenesnl. ss
RICHMOND, ,FREDERit'EsBURa ANB poToMAC3
R. r. Co.,, PRESIDENTS OFFIC2.
RICHMOND, Va, September 80, 1878.
Hon. James q. Fsssiad, d 4itorDsy- General.
Dear Sir,-Your favor OF the cath in
slant, addressed to the President OF the
Richmond, Fredericksburg aud Potomac
Railroad Company, requesting G certain in.
formation relative to the controversy be-
tween the stockholders OF The said railroad
as to the reestab bFishment Of a connection
between the said company and the Poto-
mac Steamboat Company" has been re-
ceived and considered. s.ss .r ls
ls Notwithstanding the statement that the
Information may possibly be used against
the company to which the inquiry Is ad-
dressed, 1 waive any objection which per-
haps might reasonably be made because OF
that fact, and proceed to answer your ques-
tions as fully as can, so far as they relate
to the affairs OF this company:
]. Your first question is, Sc How many
shares OF the stock Of said railroad company
are held in Europe?"
I Ianswer, 935.
2. Your second is, 8. How many shares Of
said foreign stock were represented by Mr..
Moncure Robinson, Thomas A. Biddle, and
other persons cooperating with them at the
meetings Of said railroad company, held in
July and September, in ordering the re-
establishment OF the connection OF said rail.
road with the said steamboat company in
running daily line between Richmond and
Washington city ?"
Before answering specifically, it is proper
that should exclude conclusion which
possibly might be drawn from your express
sion, I" establishment OF the connection of
said railroad with the said steamboat COM
pany."
On the 25th OF April, 1872; Mr. John NJ.
Robinson. on behalf Of this road and Of the
Potomac Steamboat Company, Of which
several corporations be was the president,
and Mr.. W. j. Howard. acting in behalf of
the Alexandria and Fredericksburg and
Baltimore and Potomac railroad companies,
entered into an agreement, the first article
Of which is as follows:
"It Is agreed between the above compa-
nies that on the completion OF the Aiexan-
dria and Fredericksburg railroad to the
point of connection with the line Of the Po.
tomae railroad south of Quantico creek, the
night line between Washington and Rich
mond shall be run by the continuous rail-
road which will then exist between those
cities, and the day line between Washington
and Richmond by steamboat TO and from
the wharf at Quantico, and between that
point and Richmond by railroad"
The parties to this agreement were four
70 Soxo
mac Steamboat Company, the Alexandria
and Fredericksburg Company, and the Bal
timore and Potomac Company. 1t was
made about the time when the Alexandria
and Fredericksburg road was completed to
Ouantico. In pursuance OF it a night line
was run by continuous railroad and day
line BY steamboat between Quantico and
Washington for several years, both giving
satisfaction to the public and afording
an opportunity to passengers to take either
route, according to their choice. This
contract, by its terms, provided that it
might .be terminated by either OF the
contracting parties by giving three months
previous notice to the Others" No such
notice has been given by either OF the
parties, so far as am informed or believe.
Nor am informed OF any act, Of one kind
or another, which has dissolved or termi.
mated that agreement, especially as between
the steamboat company and the Alexandria
and Fredericksburg road, who were and
are parties to it. Whilst it is true that the
steamboat company has not run line OF
boats from Quantico to Washington for
more than year past, yet l do not under
stand that such a fact, unless accompanied
by refusal on request to perform the duty,
would forfeit the rights OF said company.
r hoyo cold fhiS p,uah loSt po,1 iSrb inf
from an answer to your second question,
without this qualification, that considered
the old agreement dissolved or terminated;
The specific answer to the inquiry is, that
the number Of shares Of foreign stock rep
resented by the gentlemen mentioned, on
the occasions referred to, was 853.
8. Your third question is as to the num-
Der Of shares Of the stock Of this road held
by Mr.. Moncure Robinson, Thomas A. Bid
die, and others cooperating "in the reestab-
lishment OF said connection"
I answer, S,704, including in this amount
the S53 foreign shares.
4. To your fourth question, as to the
number of shares of stock OF this company
held by the steamboat company, Ireply that
the number is 1872.
5. Your fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth
questions relate exclusively to the affairs OF
the Potomac Steamboat Company, with
which / have no personal or official con-
nection. / am not informed as to the mat
tiers involved in those inquiries, and X
were it would be very improper in me to
make answer. Without intending the least
disrespect, am constrained to say that it is
surely enough for me to respond as to what
might perhaps be deemed the private af-
fairs of thls company, without being eX-
nected to communicate information as to
the stock and business OF another CON-
pany over which I have no CONTROL
especially when I am notified that
the disclosure may possibly be used in the
interest of adverse litigation. But whilst I
cannot, for the reasons mentioned, reply to
your specific inquiries, / do explicitly state
that the interest OF the persons whom you
designate in this road is much greater than
in the Potomac Steamboat Company, no
matter what rule OF computation may be
adopted. In this connection / desire also
to call your attention to the recent iEstruc-
tion of the stockholders which forbids the
expense Of the boat service to exceed that
paid to the rail line.
And now, having answered your inquiries
as best could and best ought, may not,
with the profoundest respect for the Attor-
ney.General and the Board of Public Works,
ask, why this sudden heat? The majority
OF the stock Of this company, at the recent
meetings, only directed that the arrange
ment which was in practice between 1917
and 1877 should be continued, with the ad-
ditional provision that boats OF such speed
should be employed that the difference In
time between rail and boat from Quantico to
Washington would be irnmaterial, and from
~ Isay, of