The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-28
R., F. & p. Allowed to
Carry P People in
Stage Coaches.
NJ U ST STOP ITS
TRAINS ANYWHERE
Passengers May Demand Service
in Ficlds-Road May Charge
Eight Cents the Mile, and
May Take Any Land and
Material for Any
Object.

when the General Assembly Of viz
eliia rran,od TO tho luchmond Fred
ericksburs ana Potomac Railroad
Company tho charter under which 1T
stin does business. and which mas been
iie prolific cause OF litigation. mis-
understanding. LEGISLATION and strife,
!, evidantiy did not think 1, practic-
able TO conduct a steam railroad be-
tween the cities Of kichmond and
\, oshingtpn. Kailrondinr in 1924 was
ira It's veriest infancy. and tho OK
pertinent Was not successful in the
general eye.
SO 1t was that the original charter
made provision Tor probable failure in
this respect. hy permitting tho pur-
chase Of teams. wagons. cartridges and
Fuch apparatus. so that passengers
and freight might be transferred be-
tween the cities In stage coaches and
wagons.
Rates Fixed by Law.
Tho railroad Vas 70 b. allowed TO
charge cents per mile "a passengers.
with 4 minimum fare ~ 81 cents. and
10 cents per ton PEE NIL. tor freight.
with storage charges sNtra Bat the
dividends We're limited 10 IS per CT T..
and X was required that the transpor-
taticn rates be lowerei II the proats
cxceeded that percentage.
Besides. the property OF the "a J.
road Of every sort. incluiinE machines.
teams. wagons. coaches. right Of way
and rolling stock, was declared 10 he
personal property ana forever exempt
from al public charge Ad tax Of every
description.
stop Trnin. on Demnnd.
In exchange FOR all ~ these valnabis
privileges. which the state vas onl~
too glad 10 extend 10 SCI railroad IN
1884. the Richmord. Frederir ksourg and
Potomac is required 10 stop at any
spot along its line for passengers and
freight that the patron may select for
his own convenience. Tho middle oi
ncld may be thus chosen and tnc trains
of tho company under rs charter. must
stop. under heavy penalties.
Both the state and the railroad long
since realized that these charter pro
visions We're impracticahle in latter
days The road has numerous stations.
scattered along a an average distance
OF a mile and a fraction apart. ut which
its accommodation trains stop This Is
intended 10 give the pubic the service
contemplated As TO the rates the
railroad conforms TO the charges made
by the state Corporation Commission.
In the months to come. pending tho
result or the attempts 10 compromise
the differences between the State and
OF the greatest interest
beginning of Road.
It passed the Legislature on Feb
ruary 25 1881 The ACT names as com
missioners empowered to open sub
scription books FOR contributions to
the capital stock John II. Eustace
Fleming Jamcs. Lewis Webb. John A
Lancaster. James Bosher Richard c
Wortham. Conway Robinson Wilson
1rH
ford, John l. Marye. John Dickerson
and Joseph VI. Sheppard The capital
Is placed at 500. 900. in shares OF 500
each. payable , per cent. In cash. tho
remainder to be paid In at the option
OF the directors. The money was to
he used to build railroad from some
point within the corporation OF Rich
mond 10 some point within the corpo-
ration of the town OF Fredericks burg.
and for the purpose OF extending the
same should the company. a the com
mencement OF the work. or at any time
afterwards. deem II advisable TO do SO.
from its point OF termination within
the town Of Frederlcksbu to tho
Po'owmac River or some creek thereof
This spelling Of Potomac with w"
occurs throughout the act
Take ANY Property.
Among tho rights given the railroad
was to enter upon and acquire all lands
and teremcnts through which II desired
10 run the line. saving only that no
dwelling house might be invaded with
out the owners consent Not only as
TO the right OF way. but as to larger
property for yards. station sites. ma
chine shops. was this right given. Be
sides. the directors were allowed to
enter any adjacent property and help
themselves to wood stone. gravel and
earih Wherever they might find It. OK
copt that they could not. without the
consent OF the owner. cut down fruit
or ornamental trees or take any mate
rial constituting -a-; Of fence or
building. OF course. all property taken
VAS to be paid for.
Having in view the possible failure
OF steam carrying power tho directors
were empowered to purchase with
company funds all machines. wagons.
vehicles carriages and teams Of any
description whatever which they may
deem necessary or proper for the pur-
poses of transportation"
Exempted Forever.
Following is the exemption clause.
which has caused endless trouble.
auarreling and i'll feeling: "All ma
chimes. wagons. vehicles and carriages.
purchased as aforesaid with the funds
OF tho company. and all their works
constructed under tho author. = OF this
act. and all PROFITS which sh | accrue
from the same shall he vest in tho
respective shareholders OF the company
forever. in proportion to their respec-
tive shares. and the sam. shall be
deemed personal estate and shall be
exempt from any public charge or tax
whatsoever.