Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-10-13
RAILWAY MERGER EFFECTED.

OF the Washington, Alexandria and
Mount Vernon, the Washington. Ar
lington and Falls Church, and the
newly chartered Neutrality-suspicious.
electric railways yesterday afternoon
took under consideration the proposed
merger OF the three roads. That the
result OF the individual conferences OF
the directors OF the roads was favor
able to the amalgamation is known,
but the officials refuse to make pubic
the definite plans OF the new concern
until details OF a new bond issue and
administration are fully decided upon.
c. P. King, OF Philadelphia. presi-
dent OF the Washington. Alexandria
and Mount Vernon line, will be the
president OF the new organization, and
the board OF directors will include most
OF those now acting in the same ca
nacity for the three lines. The central
offices of the company will be located
in Washington, it is stated. and the
future plans OF the company include
the building in or near Alexandra OF
car shops OF sufficient size to repair the
cars OF the lines and build new ones.
The merging OF the roads, while not
directly affecting any but the higher
officials. is stated to be the first step to-
ward future consolidation with the
Gould interests, who are now building
electric lines from Richmond TO Wash
ington.
The Gould road is already in opera
ton from Richmond to Ashland, and
it is stated that surveys have been made
for entrance TO Washington over two
routes. The Goulds will either gain
an entrance to the city through Deco
ouan. where they have already &C
duired extensive water power rights,
by means Of The existing tracks OF the
Washington. Alexandria and Mount
Vernon to Alexandria, or through
Manassas, where connection could be
made by building a short line, with the
Washington, Arlington and Mount
Vernon line. The identity OF these two
lines is practically the same, as the
Falls Church line was in 1908 leased by
the Alexandria road for fifty-flve year
term.
Gossip credits the Gould interests
with the idea of opening up direct
pathway to the valley Of Virginia be-
tween the Potomac and Occoquan rivers
by taking over these lines and estab-
fishing at Fredericksburg and Deco
guam large electric power plants, and
placing a comparatively we'll settled
section OF Virginia in direct communi-
cation with Washington. The only ex-
isting means of transportation now ex-
isting is by steamer and stage lines, and
the value OF such an opening to Wash
ington is unquestiOned.
The Washington, Arlington and Falls
Church Railway Compa ny is under
capitalization Of 100000, with out
standing 5 and 6 per cent. bonds
amounting to $4,000 The Washing
ton. Alexandria and Mount Vernon Rail
wav Company, is capitalized at 81 .5OO,-
600. with outstanding bonds amounting
10 80. 500, 900. Considerable local cap
ital is represented in the holding first
named company, with the majority OF
the stock of the latter held by Philadel-
pbia and northern capitalists One OF
the first movements of the new COM
panv is said to be the issuance OF about
$500 900 of new capital stock with
which to double track the line to Falls
Church and Fairfax.
The scene OF operations in connection
with the merging OF the Washington
Alexandria & Mt. Vernon Railway,
and the Washington, Arlington q Falls
Church Railway into the Washington,
Virginia Railway shifted TO Phlladel-
phia today.
Officers and directors and other
stockholders who attended the stock
holders meeting yesterday to confirm
the action Of the directors OF the several
roads in their plans for consolidation
left the city after the meeting for Phil
adelphia, where the details OF the mer-
ger are to be completed.
The new officers and directors elected
to the Washington-Virginia Railway
Company management are G. 2. King,
Of Philadelphia, president; w. ii.
Hawton, OF Philadelphia, treasurer;
J, B. HOLMAN, of Washington, secre-
tary. and NJ. f. Church, of Falls
Church, Gardiner Boothe, OF Alexan-
dris. Frederick Mertens, OF Washing
ton. and Mr.. Warfeld, OF Alexandria,
forming the new board Of directors.
According to a prominent Virginia
stakeholder in the company no new
issue of stock or bonds is TO be made,
but this will not prevent considerable
improvements in equipment and the
double tracking of the Falls Church d.
vision, which have been decided upon.
Such Improvements upon the former
financial arrangement of lease OF
one road to the other could not salts
factorily be made.
This is the extent OF the improve
ments contemplated. The officers OF
the company will remain at Mount
Vernon and the executive office at
Twelfth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue., Washington. 1t was said today
that the plans OF the Goulds have not
entered into the financial reorganization
OF the local lines.
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