The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-01-28
HEARINGS CONCLUDED
COMMITTEES Will Vow Prepare Re.
port on Railroad Bill.
STRONG AReUMsNTSAT
CLOSING SESSION
Citizens Of fredericksburg Make Statsmsnts-
Annsuncsd That eOuds Nan, Charter TO
Washington. Etc

ence. " nlch crowded the floor aud gsallef,
oi the Senate chamber. ia Richmond, ann
vigorously appiauded every point
brought out by either side, the heariup
oi the X 4 P. repeal act was con
cluded Friday night
The railroad officials has Mess-s. C c
Cox aud ". II. Richards, Jr.. from Fred.
ericksburg, who testified in rebuttal of
Judge Embrey's speech of Thursda,
night, charging the X. +. & r with hav-
ing retarded the progress Of that city.
Mr.. ". ii Richards, Jr., who for twen-
ty-one years has been employed by the
r.. r. q Z. X X known as the NARROW
guage,' running from FredeficksburR to
Orange, answered questions put to him
by MIR. White, who read extracts from
Judge Embrey's speech.
Judge Embrey had said that ten years
ago Mr.. Duke, a capitalist, Game TO Fred
ericksburg and acquired the rights of the
water power
Did he give up his rights because be
could not get manufacturing Industries
20 come 10 trederieksburg ON account OF
| rellroad facllities1' asked Mr. White
| Replying Mr.. Richards declared h.
could not say that this was not true. but
ne Old not think railroad facilities euter-
eo into the question, but believed Mr.
Duke became discouraged on account of
certain provisions In his franchise Mr
Richards did not think that the railroad
company had in any way retarded the
growth Of FTederlcksburg. Mr.. Richards
said that Mr. Duke had never men
tloned TO him that his reasons f7r giving
up .ne water power Was ON account 81
Insufficient railroad facilities Mr.. e. c
Cox, who for a number of years has been
agent Tor the K. + 4. z. at Fted.rirk--
burg, said that he believed that ar. Duke
had been driven away 10y uufavorab!e r.-
ports from the engineers whom be had
employed TO Investigate the matter and
the railroad question had nothing 10 do
With his leaving. Besides, he said the City
Council had refused to grant Mr.. Duke a
iranch'ee 10 run q street railway line
which be had applied for.
The station at Frede-icksburg." )" said
MT. Cox In answer To a question Of Mr.
Moncure, lie as good as any ia the Stat.
Tor town oil its SIX .. and the road con
templates making improvements In both
lts freight and Passenger station at the
place"
la answer To questions put to him by
Mr.. ButIner Mr Cox said he beiisx,.d
that both the K. F. a. Z. and the NJ. ID
4 V. Ry. Co. (steamers) had raisen
their rates In recent years, but this was
Que TO the general advance in ratee Ali
over the country.
Alter undergoing q eross-examination
Mr.. Cox retired, and was followed by
Judge holladay, one Of the State rroxie
OF the K, +. 4 p, who show wed the 0ood
work done by the road, espscialIy in
Richmond. He had visited -Fredericks-
burg with the States proxies. and mot
withstanding Judge Embrey's deroga-
tory remarks, he was surprised at The
handsome residences, the macy mills and
factories, and the ease with which the
noble OLD city is riding abreast OF the
times. oelnR, possibly, ahead of any COM
muhity OF its population in the State
Let the good people Of fredericksburg
tell Us their grievances. and We will AZ
our best to grant them " hat they want
We have now eighteen through trains a
day between here aud Fredericksburg"
senator Lassiter Interrupted Judge
hoiladay, saying that there had been
some complaint that the r., +. l. p. had
never built any lateral lines. Judge Eol-
iaday replied that the road had been
busy by reason OF dOuble-trackin0 He
showed where vast amounts had bean
expended In improvements, So 500 600
having been used since 1902 In connie
tracking and adding to rolling stock.
Mr.: henry W. Anderson in closing the
case Tor the repeal was the only one to
speak Tor that side. He did not wi.h TO
manufacture sentiment, but would call
attention Co the fact that the Goulds
.n ueu ~ .n's state been as much philan-
thropsts as investors.
The work OF building the road 70 Ash
land has been serious onesrion and
mas been done under the greatest diff
Guilty, Mr.. Anderson said. and he er.
planned that the pushing Of the survey
beyond Ashland had been abandoned
only when financial stringency compelled
tne owners to disbend the corn. uf an.
gineers de showed that Mr.. Gould had
spent $SOO,OO0 in building the road no
Ashland and $2U0, 900 ia acou,rino land
adjacent to fredericksburg.
At this point Senator Eassiter fntsr-
rupted Mr. Anderson and said thar he
would ask the committee to pass bv his
amendment prohibiting any line being
Duiit parallel to the K. F. & 2. until after
isls, as be considered the expenditure
oi ,ocO 900 an evidence of good faith
M.. Lassiters announcement was
greeted with loud applause.
Mr. Anderson ended by making an
earnest appeal for the Consideration Of
the bill. saying that he was asking Tor
sr. Gould no special privilege, bnt onlu
equel rights with any other citizen ~ |
the State Mr.. Anderson was enthusi.
applauded.
Mr.. White asked the COMMITTEES to in.
duige him Tor lew moments. saving
that ne was glad that the fact that the
oouid object was to develop the water
power and Indirectly to build a line TO
fredericksburg had been brought out.
Tor be believed that when TIE people Of
Eastern Virginia heard OF this throwing
away OF an asset sufficient to pay OF the
public debt for the mere development OF
the water power at Frederick sburg. to be
used Tor private gain, there would bel
q movement In opposition by the people.
who pays for the presence Of these men
irom fredericksburg here to night7'' ash.
ed Mr.. White.
Judge Enbrey replied that the city OF
fredericksburg did, and Mr. Z. W. Mills.
as chairman OF the Public Int rest Com
mittes OF the Council OF Fredericks-
burg. presented resolutions to the com.
mittes from the said City Council.
Inen Mr.. White wanted to know who
nea paid for the many other expenses
sucn as the delegation from Newport |