Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-21
OUR LOCAL AFFAIRS.
TnE RAILROAD LEaBLATf0N.

Cha mbcr Of Commerce Opposed 10 the sea-
board and OspviI'e Rsiirssd Biiis.
A called meeting Of the Board Of Direct
ors Of the Chamber Of Commerce was held
ai io9 o'clock Yesterday morning. Present:
r. T.. Blankenship, president; Thomas
Potts. first yice-president, and he.srs.
t,eorgc A. Ainslie, Robert :. Bosher.
George L. Christian. r. A. Dunlop, John
:. Ellett, George Gibson, Jr., Gus. hii'hi-
ser, Robert W. Powers. and George T..
stacy. An excuse was made for the alb
sence Of Mr.. Noting.
Mr.. Blankenship stated that he had called
the meeting tor the purpose oi considering
the following bill Senate bill now before
the Housel:
A BILL To AUTHORIZE THE sEaB0ARD AND
ROANOKE RAILROAD COMPANY TO INVEST
IN AND OPERATE RAILROADS AND TRANS
PoRrArroN LINES IN THIS AND IN OTHER
STATES.
1. Be u enacted bg the GeaeTdi assembly
Of Virginia. That it shall and may be law.
iul for the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad
Company 10 purchase and hold, or to guar
antee the bonds or stocks, or lend aid 10
other railroads or transportation lines To-
Gated in this or any other state; or TO run,
use, and operate, by lease or Otherwise.
such roads or transportation lines, upon
such terms n may be agreed upon with the
company or companies owning the same !;
and such company or companies with which
IL NAV make such contract or contracts are
hereby empowered In like manner to make
and carry out the same : Provided that the
said Scaboard and Roanoke Railroad Com
pany shall not acquire or bold any shares
OF toe capital stock, or acquire. or hold. or
guarantee any OF the bonds or other obli'
cations OF. or extend aid 20. or lease.
use. or operate the works OF any
railroad company incorporated by the
laws of this State. the line OF which
il not actually and physically connected
with lis line. or Is parallel to, or a compe.
ting line with its own line: : and provided
further. that nothing in this act shall be
construed 10 authorize the Seaboard aud
Roanoke railroad to acquire or bold anv
shares Of the capital stock, or acquire, bold.
or guarantee any OF the bonds or other
obligations ~. or extend aid to. or lease,
use, or operate the works OF tie Richmond
and Danyille. the Virginia Midland rail-
road. or either OF them.
,. This act shall be subject 10 alteration.
amendment. or refusal, at ihe pleasure OF
the General Assembly.
,. This act shall be in force from IT,
passage.
The Danyille Railroad Company have be-
fore the Legislature bin exactly similar.
Colonel A. =. BufOrd, who was present,
explained their bill. II allowed them tn
Z 4. aud IfractIV Ntps thaV
have now to do in q roundabout and often
times costly way. In response 10 question
Colonel Bulord said AS 10 the Midland
road. nothing Is further than our purpose
to change the relationship OF that road u
! the Danyilc."
Mr.. Fred. Il. Scott, president OF the Rich
moId and Petersburg Railroad Company,
who was present. being asked to expires
| his opinion. said that certainly II the sea.
/ board roads was passed. the Danvillc bill
should be passed.
Colonel Buiord. having answered
promptly and candidly every question
asked him. retired, and the Board pso
i ceeded To discuss the matter among them
selves.
! The great fear expressed was that undcl
+ this legislation It might come TO pass II
( the future that the present diilcrentlal rate
would he done away with.
A committee consisting Oi MessTs. JOIN
OFT. Andrew l.. Elicit, John :. Elicit
Gus. MillhiSer, and George L. Stacy were
appointed 10 report resolutions. They rc
tired and reported a paper, which. havins
been somewhat amended was adopted II
the form follow
The Chamber OF Commerce have cOnsid
I. "a 4 NlR,s N
formation before them, are forced 10 ro gar,
il as dangerous legislation. We woull
prefer that the present laws on the subicc
be not changed mt this short session oi thI
Legislature. when there Is not the ncc"-
sary time for full discussion and careful
euardingOi the measures proposed; but
the Seaboard aud DanvilIe railroad bhl
are, notwithstanding. 10 be passed, we ap
peal to the members OF the two houses 4
insert a provision in each bill which wil
compel each OF said roads. ard roads tina
nav bc merged into them forever TecOg
nize existing dificrcntnl rates-that j. Il
say. TO make It imperative that the pre-
lent ditlcrcntial rates A. existing In IaNoi
3 Of Virginia cities aS against cities OF othel
I states which arc geographically place.
! further OIL from the markets reached bl
our railroad, bc strictly maintained. anl
that in extending privileges to the rail
roads we recommend that this safeguard
BE- carefully embraced.
Nrw Road To WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Fred. Il. Scott stated 10 the BOlrl
that before the Senate Committee on Roads
in the discussion oi the bill proposing {,
charter a company to build a new raIlroal
between Richmond and Washington, II ha1