The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-29


noes, 1,j20.
Mr.. Seddon offered resolution that 500
copies Of President Robert Oud's letter to
the stockholders be printed and one sent to
each stockholder. Adopted.
DIR. Anderson, State director, here offered
the following paper:
ANDERsoy's PROTEST.
Gentlemen, n,-Representing, as do in
your directory, the interests OF the State
Of Virginia, | feel it incumbent on me to
report to you from my standpoint the pre-.
sent status OF your company as far as /
may in brief communication.
YOn will remember that in consideration
OF the extraordinary subsidies which were
annually paid by this company 10 the PO-
tomac Steamboat Company. amounting in
seven years to S349, 1876, 1t was unani-
mously resolved to sever our connection
with that company on the 3lst Of March,
1877, and never to renew boat connection
with that or any other company so long
as friendly relations could be maintained
with connecting rail lines north OF us.
On the Sd OF July, 1878, despite the able
and unanimous report Of the president aud
directors Of this company to the contrary,
1t was resolved by stock vote, in round
numbers, Of 1920 TO $500, to restore the
boat connection with the Potomac Steam
boat Company-the majority vote being cast
almost exclusively by owners or representa-
tives OF the latter company, and for the
sole reason, as was urged at the time, that
the greater attractions OF the boat.line
would increase the travel and enhance the
revenues OF the railroad, as well as MAIN
tain an independent outlet over the Poto-
mac.
BY the terms OF the resolutions the work
might be performed by the steamboat COM
pany, at the time, with an ordinary boat,
but that "as soon as practicable the SER
vice should be performed by an iron boat
or boats, guaranteed by the builder to have
an average rate OF speed OF eighteen miles
per hour. and built TO run through ice
three inches thick"
On the 10Th OF November, 1873, the presi-
dent and directors OF this company, among
whom were directors and stockholders in
the Potomac Steamboat Company, reported
"thlt in addition to the requisites named
in the resolutions OF the stockholders, it has
been deemed advisable that the boat to be
provided should be capable OF carrying
sleeping, postal, and other cars" BE 1t
remembered that the "requisites" " alluded
to we're an iron boat or boats, guaranteed
by The builders to have an average rate OF
speed OF eighteen miles per hour, and built
to run through ice three inches thick"
On the 18th OF November, 1879, the presi-
dent and directors OF this company, promi-
nent amongst whom was the president Of
the ''OtOmac Steamboat Company, reported
to tie stockholders of this company in an
nuaI meeting assembled, "that in pursu-
ance OF the resolutions OF the stockholders
in July, 1873, contract has been entered
into between this company and the Potomac
Steamboat Company for the construction Of
a swift iron steamer for such service" On
motion Of Colonel Ellis, the report was re-
celved and adopted by the stockholders.
| The contracting parties-vlz the president
Of this company and the president Of the
Potomac Steamboat Company-haying an
nounced these facts in their annual reports,
and those reports having been accepted and
adopted by your company, | hold that you
are under no obligation, moral or legal, to
| form any connection. save what the laws OF
| Virginia require, with the Potomac Steam
boat Company, at Quantico or elsewhere,
"until they provide for such service a
swift iron steamer, guaranteed by the build
ers to have an average rate OF speed OF
eighteen miles per hour, and bnilt to run
through ice three inches thick. and capable
OF carrying, besides the passengers, postal
sleeping, and other cars"
In order to meet the requirements OF this
proposed connection the engineer OF this
company was required early in 1880 to re-
construct. with all possible dispatch, the
wharf and build Il" "f)ater" at Quantico,
which was completed at a cost Of more than
$4,000.
THE BOAT CONTRACT NOT COMPLIED WITH.
would specially call your attention to the
following facts:
|. By your action on the Sd OF July, 1873.
the Potomac Steamboat Company was re-
quired to provide an iron steamer OF certain
capabilities "aS soon as practicable" Ex-
| perienced engineers inform me that it is
easily practicable" TO construct such a
boat in yeir and bali. so far as am ad'
yised, though nearly three years have passed,
the first step has yet TO be taken in compli-
ance with this requirement.
.. Though the boat to be provided was to
be as above described. the Potomac Steam
boat Company in its stead has substituted a
wooden boat, which | am credibly in
| formed i, incapable OF making the requisite
| rate Of speed, without "pOstal, sleeping,
and other cars" "even under the most ausp-
cious circumstances.
2. Asa reason for the boat policy you
were assured that the attractions OF the boat
line above those afforded by the rail line
would be such as greatly 10 increase the
travel. and thus enhance your revenues.
But, having provided boat after their own
heort. regardless OF assurances given in your
annual reports, and, according to their own
public announcement, possessing all the
.tIr "a
be desired, they sent her forth on her grand
mission between Quantico and Washing
ton. and having most slgnally failed 10 secure
even three passengers per day, they nov
come to demand that we shall adopt policy
of helrle.s discrimination against our
friends and allies OF the Alexandra and
Fredericksburg Railroad Company in their
favor, that we may, perchance, bya sacrlilce
OF our peaee, honor, and revenues. secure
for them moiety Of that patronage they
promised to bestow upon as.
OBSTRUCTION TO TRADE.
4. So soon a. practical demonstration OF
| the fact that we were about 10 estaDllsh a
steamboat opposition TO our rail- connec-
tions was made, the Baltimore and P0tO'
mac the Baltimore and Ohio, the AleXln-
dria and Fredericksburg, the Virginia Mid
land. the Chesapeake and Ohio, the York.
River, the Richmond and Petersburg. the
Richmond and Danyille, and the Petersburg
and Weldon companies, aroused and out
RACED by such an uDiuslitiabe obstruction
to the trade and travel OF the country on
our part, combined with the post'efiice, ex-
press, and sleeping-clr interests to open
upon us a concentrated fire. whereby we
would have been speedily crushed; which
catastrophe was only ayerted by peremp-
tory orders from headquarters for timely
and judicious retreat on our part.
5. Having had nearly three years to