Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-21
THE NEW SOUTHERN LINE.
How the II. and o. VIII Get TO Ridge.
way, n. C.. From Here.

way, n. e.. From Here.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, March q, 1894.
The commercial interests OF Richmond
and Petersburg are very much interested
in the question whether the incorporators
OF the Richmond and Manassas road really
intend to exercise the privileges granted
them by the general assembly.
The burning question now Ia, viii the
Manassas line ever be built, or is u, as its
opponents say, only a pocket charter affair,
passed In the interests of the Farmvills
and Powhatan Railroad Company, which pro-
poses to make a deal with the Baltimore
and Ohio people? Il has been claimed all
along that IL the charter were granted the
Baltimore and Ohio, the great rival Of the
Pennsylvania road, which forms the con-
Meeting link Of the Richmond, FredericksN
burg and Potomac between Quantico and
wa, WASHINGTON, would put up the money to
build the new line.
Whether or not the Baltimore and Ohio
Is backing this scheme, and Is anxious 10
ASSIST In making new southern line
through Richmond and Petersburg, Is not
positively known, but il is believed by ths
majority OF those on both sides interested
IN the new line. II is a prevailing idea
that the Baltimore and Ohio will extend It's
branch known as the Metropolitan over 10
Manassas; then build from Manassas TO
Richmond. The Virginia and North Caro-
lima charter. owned by the city OF Peters,
burg, includes the right to construct a line
from richmond 10 Ridgeway. n. c., on The
Seaboard and Roanoke line. A good Zeal
of heavy work has already been done on the
Virginia and North Carolina road between
Petersburg and Ridgeway, The Farmvllle
ana Powhatan Company proposes II is said,
% make some terms with the Virginia and
North Carolina Company 20 I'LL upx-he zap
between here and Petersburg, tho charter
in its possession granting that privilege
An 1mnOrfnnf 10 he "a &c sNos
the act granting the charter to the Rich
mond and Manassas Company reQ2ires the
lncorporators 10 put up as a erRntee
100000 OF Virginia bonds, worth about
$4,000, 70 begin construction by Jahuafy /
1896. They are also required D build
twenty miles Of the road withil1fa year
after the first Of January next u forfeit
the charter
When the Virginia and North caroi,ns
charter was granted that company made
big claims as TO what IL was going TO do,
but the Atlantic Coast Line and the Rich
mond and Danyiile. as is well known,
Its completion. The Richmond and Chesa-
peake charter and the Tunnel charter,
granted some years ago. have also failed to
materialize. The Richmond and Chesa.
peake propose TO open up territory row
tributary 10 Baltimore and make IL trib-
utary to Richmond Capitalists however
did not have faith enough in Il as a paving
investment 70 induce them TO put I'D tho
that proposition seriously. and II ie now re-
garded as abandoned. The Manassas line
however, looks much more feasible and the
prevailing opinion is that the project bas
been set on foot in good faith, and soms
tangible result is looked for.
The act providing for the sale OF the
states stock in the r.. r. and p at not lees
than certain stipulated figure puts the
burden Of the purchase OF that stock on the
friends OF the new charter. for unless the
states stock is sold the Richmond ana Man.
assas cannot proceed with construction.
The amount OF money required to buy tho
stock Is over 100000.