Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-30
A CONNECTING LINK.
A Proposed Line to Join the b. and O.
and the Norfolk and Western.

A Proposed Line to Join the b. and O.
and the Norfolk and Western.
A bill introduced in the Virginia legis-
lature few days ago. and now pending In
that body with every prospect Of its early
enactment into law. is regarded as of great
Importance to the people Of Washington.
The bill authorizes Messrs. Jacob w.
Starr, John S. Duf1e, r. Allison Baker.
Charles w. Starr. Joel Grayson, Benjamin
P. Detwiler, Benjamin c. Garrett, w. Floyd
Middleton, Enos L. Garrett and others, all
OF Fairfax county, Va, to build what is to
be called the Hudson and Aide railroad.
The incorporators are authorized to build
and operate road from a point on the
Potomac opposite Washington, westward
through the towns of Hudson, Arcola and
Aldie in Virginia.
The capital stock Of the company is fixed
at not less than 100000, nor more than
$4,000. and it is provided that the work
must be begun within two years after the
approval of the act by the governor.
There is general impression among the
people through whose lands and towns it is
proposed to have the route of the new road,
that II constructed it will be largely
through the aid of the Norfolk and West
ern Railroad Company, which by this means
VIII secure an entrance into Washington.
A railroad having one terminus at point
opposite Washington and the other at or
near Aide, in Virginia, would be practi-
cally bottled up, but with an extension west
from Aide to some point on the Norfolk
and Western and the other terminus join
Ing with the tracks which the Baltimore
and Ohio has authority to build across the
Potomac, and few miles above George
town, the question of how to get Norfolk
and Western trains into Washington over
practically direct line would be answered.
While there is the utmost harmony ex-
listing between the management of the two
systems-the Baltimore and Ohio and Nor
folk and Western, and the trains of the
over the tracks of the former. it is a very
expensive mode Of operating. Were there
road between this city and Front Royal,
or some point in that vicinity, a saving OF
90 or 40 miles could be effected-Quite an
item when the subject of operating ex-
penSes is considered.
A number of surveys believed to be under
the auspices of the Norfolk and Western
have been made through the section where
1t is proposed TO charter the Hudson and
Aide Company. Members of the engineer
ing corps who performed the work said
that a route which was located near Hern-
don was the most desirable of those sur
veyed. as it was not only very rich coun-
try but had the advantage of several miles
In distance, and would really afford a short
line to Washington from the main line o.
the Norfolk and Western road.
AS the readers of The Star are aware, the
Norfolk and Western is now in the hands
of receivers, the hard times of a couple OF
years ago having gotten it into difficulties
cept with the aid of the courts, and The
matter Paving Progressed as satisfactorily
as was expected bill is now pending in
the Virginia legislature authorizing com.
plete reorganization of the company's af-
fairs.
So confident is the management OF the
Norfolk and Western that the bill referred
to will become a law that committee on
reorganization, which was given charge OF
the matter, and which is composed of
Messrs. Alexander Brown, chairman; II. p.
Sturges, H. ]. de Lanoy Meyer, C. Sligo de
Polthonier and William Vivian, all of Lon
don, acting in cooperation with New
York committee, as follows: George Coppell,
J. Kennedy Tod, A. A. II. Bo.sserain, Rob-
ert Fleming and Gen. Louis Fitzgerald are
at work upon a plan of reorganization,
which is expected almost daily to be pro-
mulgated.
1t is worthy of notice that Gen. Louis
Fitzgerald, a member of the reorganiZa ton
committee of the Norfolk and Western, is
also member of the board of directors OF
the Baltimore and Ohio.