Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-19

their heavy freight through the city BY. a
specified time. In compliance with the
order the company set their corps OF engi.
neers TO work and surveyed and staked out
| a route Ia Henrico county now known as
| the Belt Line. They advertised for con-
tractors, and in their own good time SET to
work an army OF men with the ususi APP
pliances TO cut and eli and grade the road
bed. You say the company only erred IN
their haste TO carry out the wishes OF the
CITY fathers. think they erred In another
little item. In their haste. or something
else, they forgot 10 notify the landowners
of what liberties they were about TO I'M
dertske with their property. Not so much
as by your leave. sirs. One OF the inte-
rested parties asked the company by apo
lite note to have O conference. To this
note no reply was deigned. The contract
ora we're at work ere any notification 70
the owners or legal condemnation OF the
land. All owing TO the haste 10 carry out
the wishes of the city fathers.
Finally Judge Minor appointed fourgen-
tlemen Of irreproachable standing, dIsln-
terested. and OF good judgment. They care
, fully went over the lands TO be condemned,
compared values OF land recently sold near
or adjoining, summoned and examined ex-
perts. and after mature delibcration made
their report to the Court, which was &C
cepted. The company refused TO accept
the decision of the commissioners. but
urged the work ahead in their haste TO
obey the city fathers, Of which old gentle
men they seemed to have wholesome
dread. Believing that possession was nine
points in thelaw, with their army they held
the fort. dug trenches and threw up earth
works regardless or the feelings OF those on
whose land they were trespassing.
This company. grown fat. like "Jehu-
ron's bull on their rich franchise, 50 libe-
rally conferred on them by the State, igno-
rant of her ultimate need. refused to pay
the assessed value Of the LAND which they
must have.n but also. they neglected 10
comply with the law which required de
post of the amount awarded in court TIL
compelled TO do SO by legal process. We
have been forced into the courts IN defence
of our own interests. and in the interest Of
our county and State, and not IN factioue
or obstructive spirit. The action OF Court
shows that we OF least had law on our side;
Had the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad Company obeyed the
golden rule-dOne as they would be done
by-and not attempted to ride roughshod
over US, we might not have been found
looking into their position so closely az we
have done and the company might not DC
in the strait 10 now is that you write OF:
] hold that this corporation, sitting anu
TO sit for all time free of taxation, have
grown wealthy, while we landowners,
paying our heavy taxation to county.
schools, and State, have grown poorer,
does not deserve the extension Of time or
the leniency you advise.
They have long been looking to acquire
this Belt Line. and with covotous eye have
hoped to gain this large slice of Henrico
tax-paying land and convert itnudcr Their
charter 10 mountaineering Tor all time. aud
are annoyed that we Of Henrico did not
give them our high priced suburban lands
rs our Chesterfield farmers have done IN
der tho manipulation of an able lawyer
employed for the purpose.
Corporations are said 10 have no soul hs
a sequence we need not look for con-
science. l believe. with the exception OF
one man. the injunction on whose land IL
was necessary to remove 80 as to go Oh
with the bridge over the James. this COM
pany has made no attempt to come to
terms with tho landowners, though many
months have elapsed since the commission
reported. For purposes known to them.
selves they pose as martyrs. while we and
the courts stand as obstructionlsts and
lions in the way. Like the wolf IN the fable,
they muddy the stream and charge 1t to US.
Respectfully, j. u. BEAIIIk.