Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-06
The Lease ofthe w., O. 4 ~. p

Mr.. r. T. Barton, of Winchester, who has
recently returned from New York, where
he went on business connected with the
lease Of the w, 0. & ". railroad by the
R. & D. Company, says in an interview in
the Winchester Times:
"When Col. Martin aud his associates
purchased the property in 1883 their Dur.
pose certainly was TO extend it TO Wlncbes.
ter. They were unfortunate in losing ore
of their richest members because OF his fin.
ancial fnilu.c. They had hoped too 10 re ceiye
substantial aid from the owners ofthe Shca
audoah Valley Railroad Company. ard ir-
deed their chief expectation was to make
their road part OF tho main line of the
Norfolk & Western and Shenandoah Valley
Railroad into Washington.
The bankruptcy of tho Shenandoah Val
ley Railroad, though not appreciated Mt the
time, was really great blow Meanwhile.
ahhouSn the support OF the scheme was
weakening, the debt for rolling stock, equip.
ment, steel'rais, bridges, &C., had become a
very large sum ofmoney.
Those who were left Of the sssoriation
were financially unable TO carry ont the
scheme in a bona fide bushes, way.
The Richmond and Danvile Co. saw
their opportunity to control the road and
prevent its making the Shenandoah Valley
dangerous rival to the Midland line and
they offered terms for an extended lease of
IL Whlch suppose any set Of men, situated
as the owners were, would have gladly &C.
cepted.
AS to its prospect of extension under the
Richmond and Danyille control, felt when
first learned of this lease that it meant an
end of tho scheme, and lest week went to
New York under that impression; but was
glad to receive there assurances to the con-
trary from gentleman very high in author
lily in the r. &. D. Company.
| vi course no assurances were given me
that it would certainly be extended, but the
gentleman to whom l alude authorized me
TO say that it was not leased to prevent an
extension
The situation seems to be this: The r.
q u. Go. have just secured the road, feel.
Ing that the important thing to them was to
BE- able to control it, whatever they might
afterwards determine to do with it. It is
very obvious that extension can in no way
hurt the purpose they had in view in secur.
ing it; the question they will have to
consider is: will it help them to have it ex.
tended?
"The advantage that this strong corpora.
ton has over all others who have owned it
consists in their being entirely able to ex
tend it If they are willing to do it. The
others were all very willing but not able.
II availed myself of my opportunity TO
impress upon the prominent and influential
gentlemen of whom speak the advantage
of the extension, and hope you will induce
our people to more earnestness in the mat
ter. If that little road OF tifty-three miles
with but one advantageous terminus, pays
so we'll now, it ought TO pay much better
when it gets 10 Berryviile and Winchester
and shares the trade of the Shenandoah
Valley and 3. 6. 0. roads. And then as
coon rs it passes through Clarke county it
escapes ut once its present liability for the
interest on 100000 Of bonds, and will really
make that sum as clear gain.
Moreover, the +. & D. Co., although it
OWES and operates ., 400 miles of road, does
not touch coal ut any point. An extension
to Mr.. Davis's coal mines in West Virginia
will secure that desideratum to the compa.
ny, and there ia no reason why it should
not be as profitable q coal road as the 3. &
0. road.
"All this leaves out OF The question the
general gains in traffic and travel that it
will acquire when it enters the Valley of
Virginia and the NIooreield Valley.
Our people have some good friends
among the Il. & D. authorities aud believe
If we press these and other points upon their
attention We will secure the extension for
them.
Nov, you ask NE what effect this has
upon the Winchester and Frederick county
subscriptions voted in 1885,
That subscription expires OF course ia
1885, unless the road is Constructed by that
time; but I imagine that the lease does
away with all the necessity that existed fer
the subscription, because the Il. & D. Co.,
with its splendid resources, can float tie
bonds OF The company at par by its own ct
dorsement, and woald not regard county
and city subscriptions to bouds as of all;
value to it. There arc other reasons, TOO,
that make me regard that subscription n,
practically at an end
1T was confidently believed that TO make
the subscription would give the Company
all the aid they needed to construct tho
road. 1t turned out not to be so; but it Ger.
tainly did tho county and city no harm.
Every cent OF tho cost. even down to paying
Tor the ballot boxes was paid by the com
pany and not one cent by the county. Az
a condition, too, to that subscription, the city
was released from liability to q subscription
Of $4,000 TO tho stock Of the COMPANY,
which was great gain.
While | have nothing more substantial
than have given you. upon which l base
my expectations, yet l feel quite confident
that, if the matter is vigorously and wisely
pushed by our people, we will yet secure
both this extension and that Of the Cumber.
land Valley road"
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES riding 10 the