The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-17
MIJTIIAII INTEREST.

that your communities have been fair
II their dealings to us. Assuming ths.t
a business measure taken by us may
work temporarily somewhat to your detr1-s
me1,t, but not enough to- apprectaolyi
Inquire you, i cannot conceive that your
people will undertake to turn and try
to pull down what they have helped to
build up AS we cannot injure You with
out injurlng ourselves, so you cannot hurt
us. without hurting yourselves You can
do nothing to damage our properties
which are in a nea sure yours, also, with
out diminishing taxable values, thereby
throwing new burdens on yourselves,
dcp1iving your own working people and
citizens OF employment and decreasing
your own advantages and facilities.
az know you understand more clearly
than L could tell you that new capital
and enterprises cannot be attracted by
harsh treatme of capital and enter
prises already with you.
Permit me to suggest that it seems to
me the wise way would be for you to help
us to so develop our various enterprises
and new ones and the enterprises OF 9TH
erss among you that the one or two hun
dred Seaboard employees whom we may
find it necessary to transfer may be re-
placed quickly by five or six hundred
new families or more. That appears to-
me to be q business-like and progressive
view We had better work all together
to build up the community and the en-
ested, than to develop feuds amongst our
selves and try to tear each other down.
Now. gentlemen. this is a hasty presen-
taton of our side of the case. OF course
you understand that it is impossible for
me to take any action in this matter by
myself. I have a StenOgrapher here for
your convenience and will have anything
YOU may wish to saysand any discussion
that may ensuc faithfully reported and
transcribed and will furnish You copies
OF It, which you may send to the Board Of
Directors with any documents YOU may
wish to add.
really. mat is all I have the power to
do now: but do not think I am trying to
evade the responsibility. I am willing to
TAKE my full Share of it.. I am not able
to act sinsle-handed. but naturally ard
without any doubt. my recommends tions
ana representations would have weight
with the Board. I am ready to hear any
tnlng you gentlemen may do nle the hon
or to say.
CAPTAIN FLAPPER's ARGUMENT,
Captain Happier, City Attorney Of
Portsmouth, was introduced by AR
Sherwood, and made l4rief address
After a few words of Introduction. Can
tain HaoDer said:
1T was the industry. the energy and
the zeal of the representatives of Nor
folk county, then embracing the town or
Portsmouth, which secured from the
General Assembly of this State in March,
1892, charter which incorporated this
company, giving to it its birth and
christening it with its name-the name
OF our toWn-the Portsmouth and Roam
oke Railroad Company. During the same
year the same energy and zeal secured
from the State of North Carolina a char
ter ratifyng that of the Genera! Assem-
bly, of Virginia.
OF course, you are we'll aware Of the
history of this road. This road at this
time was a failure. It was discovered:
the portion lying in the State of North
Carolina being sold to one party. and
the part in Virginia being sold to an
other; but SO much interested was the
town OF Portsmouth in the welfare and
success OF this road for the purpose Of
preserving its charter and its franchise.
that it became in 1877, July 5th, by deed,
the absolute owner of the Virginia por-
ton Of this road. And in this same year,
without remuneration and without bene-
fit other than to be derived from, that
portion Of the road. it conveyed it by
deed to citizens of that town. We, there
fore think that we have a greater right
in reference to this road than perhaps
to any other Here was its birthplace. It
was christened in the name of the par
ent-the city OF Portsmouth 1t was Sc
cured through the energy and zeal OF
her representatives-then the representa-
tives of Norfolk county: and We showed
so much interest in the welfare and in
the development of this road. that rather
than its charter should be forfeited we
became the absolute and undiSouted
cvrer of this property. This shows to
YOUR mind sir, the interest which the
people Of Portsmouth then took in the
advancement of this road, and this in
terest has actuated the people from the
time of its birth in 1882 to the present
time.
FACTS OF HISTORY.
After some illusions to the Importance
of the section surrounding Norfolk and
Portsmouth, Captain Happier continued:
"Now. sir, I understand from your
statement that as president OF this ROAD,
and living in the city Of Richmond, 1t is
n the best interests of his system that
your offices should be in the city OF
Richmond From 1892 up to this present
time the Offices have existed in the city
of Portsmouth, where 1here Was ng
n,esident then living. Mr.. Robertson, l
believe. had his home in the city OF Bal
t,uore He managed the road so tar as
know successfully-tle interests OF Inc
seaboard and Roanoke Railroad.
understood that other railroad systems
are managed successfully by pres'oeli's
whose homes are not where the general
offices arc located; and the question lor
Won to determine, sir. is, Whether ~ -
fo. fine best interests of your system 1il1t
this road should be brought to you or
whether YOU should 80 to the offices. or
overlook them from the point at winch
YOU live LEI,
"Now. I say. as our people look with
COMPREHENSION upon it. and as they are
the friends and desire to be the 1i1chos
of this system, by this removal you may
antagonize this people. I do not mea'
10 say they will be you have referred 70
II in yo,r communication to this people,,
but we cannot answer-cannot answer Tor
what steps may be taken by this people.
They may do whatever they can to IN
jure your prospects: they may succeed
in diverting traffic from your road. we
do not hold these out as threats-We can
tho OpoDIa will do tniS-Wc