Ques. 12. In the testimony of Mr. J. M. Wickham it is stated: "I frequently reminded Mr. Robinson at the board of directors of the inconsistency of this arrangement, the fast boats being employed elsewhere, and the Powhatan, the slowest boat, and without any relay in case of accidents, being the only boat on the Potomac." Have you any recollection of any such remarks at the board?

Ans. I do not recollect Mr. Wickham's making the remarks stated in the interrogatory.
Ques. 13. Is not the question always taken on every subject submitted to the board?

Ans. The question is always taken on every subject submitted to the board.

Ques. 14. Was not the last dividend on the stock of the steamboat company declared by the president and directors, sitting as a board of directors of the steamboat company, without any additional order for the payment of the dividend being deemed necessary by the president and directors, sitting as a board of directors of the railroad company?

Ans. The record shews that the last dividend on the stock of the steamboat company was declared by the president and directors sitting as a board of directors of the steamboat company; and no additional order for the payment of the dividend was deemed necessary by the president and directors sitting as a board of directors of the railroad company.

Ques. 15. Is it not the duty of the monthly committee to examine the books of the company as well as the account of monthly receipts and expenditures so far as they deem necessary?

Ans. It certainly is the duty of the monthly committee to examine the books of the company as well as the monthly receipts and expenditures as far as they deem necessary.

Ques. 16. Has not Mr. M. Robinson's intercourse with the board of directors, as well as yourself, been always courteous and conciliatory?

Ans. I certainly have been impressed with that opinion.

Ques. 17. Has not any unpopularity of Mr. M. Robinson, as president of the company, been in your opinion mainly ascribable to his devotion to its interests?

Ans. I so think, and have very frequently expressed that belief.

GUSTAVUS A. MYERS.

Interrogatories propounded to C. W. Macmurdo.

Ques. 1. Are you an officer of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company? If so, what office do you hold, and how long have you held it?

Ans. I am the treasurer of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company. I was elected to that office 10th November 1840.

Ques. 2. State if you know the actual capital of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company at the time that stock was purchased by the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac company? If the stock was then $60,000, how it happened that the stock was of that value? Was it the original amount of subscription, or was the stock reduced to that amount; if the latter, for what reason was the reduction made?

Ans. The capital stock of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company was at the time of the purchase 1240 shares at one hundred dollars per share the par value. It is at present the same.

Ques. 3. What property did that company own at the time of the purchase aforesaid? what was its value? what amount of debt was then due to the company, and what amount due from it?

Ans. The company owned at the time of the purchase of the stock two steamboats, two omnibuses, and horses, &c. I do not know their value. The amount of debt then due to the company, and since paid, was $7615 17, and a suit then and now pending estimated at about $3000 more. The amount of debt due by the company and since paid was $ 10,281 55.

Ques. 4. Has the capital stock of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company been increased since the purchase aforesaid? If so, how and by whom?

Ans. The capital stock of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company has not been increased since the aforesaid purchase.

Ques. 5. What boats and other property are now owned by the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company? What amount has been expended by it in building or purchasing boats since the time referred to in the second interrogatory?

Ans. The boats now owned by the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company, are the Powhatan and Mount Vernon. The other property consists of the omnibuses, horses, mail wagons, &c., and seventy-five shares of stock in the Norfolk and Port Walthall steamboat association. The amount paid for the Mount Vernon, including the furniture, tackle, &c., was about $ 40,000.

Ques. 6. What amount of debts are now due from the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company? and on what account are they due? What amount of debts are now and on what account are they due? Ans. The debt due by the steamboat company is principally to the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, and was on the 1st January 1847, $10,298 89. There is very little, if any, due to any

one else. This debt is on account of advances on the Mount Vernon, and the final payment has since been made of about $12,000, making the whole debt about $22,000. These advances are of course chargeable with interest. Ques. 7. When the stock of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company was purchased by the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac company, was $31,000 the sum agreed to be given for that stock? Was the sum agreed to be given either assumed or paid by the railroad company? If so, were the sales to stockholders made on credit or cash? and have the sums constituting the item "bills receivable, invested this amount $7000," in the statement of 30th September last, (in 31st report Board of public works,) any connexion with this transaction? If so, how are they connected?

The sum agreed to be paid was $31,000, with interest from 1st April 1845. The above sum was assumed and paid by the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company. The sales of the stock to the stockholders of this company were in all instances for cash, with interest from 1st April 1845. The amount of $7000, embraced in the report of this company of 30th September 1846, under the head of "Bills Receivableinvested this amount, $ 7000," has no connexion with this transaction.

Ques. 8. Has the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac company made any loans or advancements to the stockholders of that company in connexion with the purchase of the stock of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company, or the Port Walthall association? If so, what amounts have been so advanced and under what contracts?

Ans. No loans have ever been made, except under the following resolution, bearing date 12th November 1844, which has been strictly complied with:

"Resolved, That the president be authorized, when he may deem it advisable to do so, temporarily to employ any funds in the hands of the treasurer, not exceeding $15,000, by loaning the same on paper payable on demand, or at short date, provided the same be secured by a deposit of stock or funded debt of this company. The loan, if on stock, to be for not more than fifty per cent. of the amount of old stock, or new stock fully paid in, and forty per cent. on the amount paid in on other new stock, and if on the company's bonds for not more than seventy-five per cent."

Under this resolution the company has made loans at different times to the amount of $16,996 63, all of which has been paid up, with the exception of $4000, payable on demand, and which can be commanded by the company at any time that it is desired.

To two stockholders, and two only, who had subscribed to the Port Walthall association and the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company, $3935 was loaned under the resolution, but the amount would have been equally loaned to the stockholders in question without reference to his being a stockholder in the steamboat lines.

Ques. 9. State all you know in relation to the purchase of the stock of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company, or the Port Walthall association, and the transactions of the Petersburg railroad company in relation to the two steamboat companies, and any thing you know of the objects and designs of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac company in raising up and running a line of steamboats on the river and bay?

Ans. All that I know I believe is contained in the several documents from this office, laid before the committee.

Additional Interrogatories to C. W. Macmurdo.

Ques. 1. You say in answer to the sixth interrogatory, that the whole debt due to the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac company is $22,000, and that it has been produced by advances for the Mount Vernon; be pleased to state at what time these advances were made, in what sums, and by whose authority they were made; if by an order or orders of the board of directors, be pleased to furnish copies of those orders?

Ans. The accounts between the railroad and steamboat companies shew a balance on the 30th day of June last of $4892 81, in favour of the steamboat company; since that date the monthly balances to the debit of the steamboat company have been as follows to the 1st January 1847:

Since the 1st of January the final payments have been made on account of the Mount Vernon, increasing the indebtedness of the steamboat company as before observed to about $22,000. In reply to the latter part of the ques

tion, I have to say that the payments on account of the Mount Vernon were made in conformity with the contract for this boat, (marked D,) ratified by the president and directors of this company, sitting as the president and directors of the steamboat company, on the 22d November 1845. The accounts for these payments have been regularly audited and passed by the monthly committee of accounts of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, to 1st November 1846, since which time I have not been able to prepare the statements for the committee in consequence of the press of business attendant on the close of the year.

[D.]

At a meeting of the president and directors of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company held at the office of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company in Richmond, on Saturday 22nd November 1845:

Present-Moncure Robinson, president, Nicholas Mills, James Bosher, Gus. A. Myers, James M. Wickham,

directors.

The president laid before the board a contract with Reaney, Neafie & Co. and John Birely & Son of the district of Kensington, near Philadelphia, for a new steamboat for the Potomac, which had been made by him under the resolution of the board adopted at its last meeting: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the said contract be and the same is hereby approved and confirmed.

CONTRACT.

Know all men by these presents, that we the undersigned, Reaney, Neafie & Co. and John Birely & Son, of the district of Kensington and state of Pennsylvania, contractors, do contract, covenant and agree, severally and jointly, with Moncure Robinson, president of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company (incorporated by the state of Maryland,) to construct and deliver to the said Moncure Robinson, president, on or before the 20th day of April next at the City of Washington or mouth of Acquia creek, as the said Moncure Robinson may prefer, for the use of the said steamboat company, (the said Moncure Robinson, president, to effect insurance of the boat before she leaves Philadelphia, and to pay the expense of the voyage to Washington or Acquia creek,) a steamboat of the following dimension and description, viz:

The said steamboat to be one hundred and eighty feet long, to have twenty-three feet breadth of beam, eight feet depth of hold, and a tonnage of about three hundred and twenty-six tons, to have a raking stem and stern and the guards to extend around the stern. The frame to be of the best white oak and cedar, to be planked on the bottom and as high on the sides and bow of the boat as may be desired, with two and a half and three inch white oak plank, and the remainder of the sides and bow with two and a half inch heart yellow pine plank, and the deck to be planked with three inch white pine plank. The boat to be braced with fore and aft diagonal bracing overhead, to be copper fastened to the load water line, and in all respects to be well fastened.

To have one sheet of flue iron from stem to stern at her water line, and her bow to be ironed with similar iron, to an extent sufficient to protect it effectually from ice; the iron on the sides of the boat to be one sixteenth and on the bow one eighth of an inch thick, and the whole boat to be made sufficiently strong to break through the ice on the Potomac river during the winter season.

The draft of the boat not to exceed four feet six inches, and her speed not to be less when running on her route than an average of sixteen and a half American miles of seventeen hundred and sixty yards per hour, or to be at this rate when going through still water with wind and tide neither in favour or against.

The joiner's work to be similar and equal in quality to that of the steamer Augusta, now running on the Potomac river, subject to such improvements as may be suggested by or in behalf of the said M. Robinson, president. The whole boat to have three coats of paint of the best quality.

The engine to be a beam engine of the following dimensions and description, to wit: The cylinder to be forty-three inches in diameter, and the stroke to be ten feet, with double balance valves, and such kind of cut off as may be deemed best adapted to the ordinary duty of the boat, having in view the object of breaking through ice in winter, to have large openings and side pipes and a wrought iron shaft. The beam shafts, connecting rods and cranks to be made extra strong, and to be sufficiently so to break through the ice on the Potomac river during the winter season.

The water wheels to be not less than twenty-four feet in diameter, with strong centre flanches. The iron rim or braces at end of arms to be extra strong and the arms at their ends and lower tier of paddles to be ironed sufficiently strong to protect them from ice.

The boiler to be a flue and tubular one, adapted to burning wood, to have ample steam room, and to be so constructed as to waste as little heat as possible, to be of the best Pennsylvania iron and to be well braced within. The shell of the boiler to be large quarter iron, the large flues to be scant quarter and the tubes one eighth, and any smaller flues of suitable thickness, between that of the large flues and tubes, and the boiler to be sufficient to generate steam enough with a load not exceeding thirty pounds per square inch on the safety valve, to propel the boat at the rate of speed above stipulated.

The whole boat to be of the best materials and workmanship, to be finished complete and ready for running with the exception of ground tackle, (viz: anchors, chain and hawsers, which are to be supplied by the said M. Robinson, president,) by the date above specified, without extra charge of any kind.

In consideration of the premises, the said Moncure Robinson, president, for and in behalf of the said steamboat company agrees to pay to the said Reaney, Neafie & Co. and John Birely & Son, the sum of thirty thousand dollars as follows, viz: the sum of ten thousand during and in proportion to the progress of the boat, a like sum on the delivery of the boat at Washington or Acquia creek, and a like sum at the expiration of six months after the delivery of the same, provided the amount shall then appear to be due under the provisions of this

contract.

But inasmuch as it is of great moment to the said steamboat company that the boat herein contracted for shall have the speed stipulated for in this contract, and in other respects conform to the provisions of the same, and its value to them would be greatly impaired if it should not, and it is also of importance that it should be delivered by the time herein stipulated, it is hereby expressly agreed and provided, that if the speed of the boat be less than herein stipulated, the said Moncure Robinson, president, shall deduct from the price herein agreed to be paid, at the rate of two thousand dollars per mile for each mile or portion of a mile that the speed of the boat per hour shall be less than that stipulated; and if in other respects it should not conform to the provisions of this contract, or if it should not be delivered by the date within named, and the company should sustain injury or inconvenience thereby, that then it shall be left to three disinterested umpires, one to be appointed by each party, and the third by the two others, to determine how far the company have sustained injury or inconvenience from the delay in the delivery of the boat, and how far its value to them has been impaired by its not conforming to the provisions of this contract, and the amount of such injury or inconvenience, and of such diminution in value, shall be deducted from the amount to be paid the said Reaney, Neafie & Co. and John Birely & Son.

On the other hand it is agreed by the said M. Robinson, president, acting on behalf of the said company, that if the average running speed of the boat on her route should be found to exceed an average of sixteen and a half American miles of 1760 yards per hour, an additional sum at the rate of two thousand dollars per mile shall be added to the last payment for the boat for each mile and portion of a mile that the average running speed of the boat shall be found to exceed the speed herein stipulated.

In testimony whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto affixed their signatures this 17th day of November 1845.

(Signed,)

REANEY, NEAFIE & CO.,
JOHN BIRELY & SON,
M. ROBINSON, President
Wash. and Fred'g S. B. Co.

Ques. 2. Do you know about what time the building of the Mount Vernon was completed, and where did she run from at the time of her being completed, and what was the fare charged passengers going in her to Baltimore from Richmond by the railroad route?

Ans. The Mount Vernon was completed early in July 1846, and was run from the time of her completion until the 24th October, between the mouth of Acquia creek and Baltimore. She has since been employed on the route between Acquia creek and Washington. The price charged for passengers between Richmond and Baltimore by the Mount Vernon was fixed at $4, the price charged by the river and bay boats at the time she commenced running.

Ques. 3. While the Mount Vernon was running from Acquia creek to Baltimore, did she make or lose money, and state if you please the profit or loss during that time?

Ans. The accounts of the running of the Mount Vernon between Acquia creek and Baltimore have not been yet closed, but as she was run under a resolution that the receipts on the freight and travel going to or coming from her should be divided in such proportions as might seem fair between the railroad and steamboat companies, and as the whole receipts from this trade and travel, (in addition to the receipts from local travel between points on the Potomac and Baltimore,) are more than sufficient to meet the expenses of the Mount Vernon, it is presumed she will be credited by such a proportion of them as will be equal to her expenses.

Questions to C. W. Macmurdo, Esq. Treasurer of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Company by Mr. Syme one of the Committee.

Ques. 1. What was the rate of fare on passengers from Richmond to Washington by your railroad line previous to your company becoming a purchaser of half the stock (or of a part of the stock) of the Fredericksburg and Washington steamboat company, and in what proportion was it divided between that company and yours?

Ans. The accompanying agreement shews the proportion in which the fare charged between Washington and Richmond on each description of travel was divided between the railroad and steamboat companies previous

to the purchase of stock in the steamboat company. The rates frequently varied by the reductions at Weldon, Baltimore, Richmond and Petersburg, during that time and since, and it would be a work of great labour and require a good deal of time to ascertain the precise sum paid on different descriptions of travel at various times between the date of the agreement in 1842 and the purchase of stock by this company in the steamboat company.

Accompanying Agreement.

The president laid before the board the following communication from M. N. Falls, president of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company:

I am requested by the board of directors of the steamboat company to make to you, for and in their behalf the following communication:

It is our design to provide immediately an effective iceboat to be in readiness by the time of the completion of the railroad to Acquia creek, equal to the duty of breaking through the ice on the Potomac river in the most severe winter, and well adapted to the comfortable accommodation of the travel during the winter, and to have such other swift, spacious and comfortable steamboats as may be necessary for its accommodation at other seasons of the year, and a sufficient number of omnibusses in Washington to convey passengers to and from the wharf to the railroad depot and principal hotels. It is our intention that our boats shall be kept in the neatest orderthat the fare on board of them shall be equal to that of any other boats in the country-that our line in short, shall be a first rate line, and that the wishes of the railroad company in regard to any matters of detail or regulation on board the same shall be complied with.

We agree if the railroad company should think fit, at the next letting of mail contracts, to offer proposals to carry the mail the whole distance between Richmond and Washington, and should the contract be allowed them, to convey it between Acquia creek and the post office and railroad depot in Washington so long as the connection between the two companies shall subsist at all seasons of the year, for three eighths of the rate paid by the post office department for the whole distance between Richmond and Washington; and further agree that in the event of the railroad company making a contract with the post office department for the transportation of the mail between Richmond and Washington for a long term of years or forever, in consideration of a given amount of government stock, that we will convey it between Acquia creek and the post office and railroad depot in Washington so long as the connection between the companies shall subsist, for a sum equal to three eighths of the interest which may accrue during such period on such proportion of the scrip as may appear to have been given in consideration of the transportation of the mail.

As to passengers we are willing that the charges to be made by the steamboat company from the time of the completion of the railroad to Acquia creek shall be as follows, viz:

On adult free persons either going to or coming from Fredericksburg one dollar and seventy-five cents. On passengers coming from or going to the Wilmington and Weldon railroad and having through tickets from Washington and Baltimore, at the rate per mile charged at the time by your railroad company.

On all other free adult passengers one dollar per passenger, except that if the railroad company should deem it judicious to reduce its regular rate from Richmond to Washington on such portion of the passengers passing between Richmond and Washington as may be bound north of Washington or south of Richmond, the steamboat company is to reduce its fare on the same passengers in the ratio of the reduction made by the railroad company: Provided, That whenever the railroad company shall charge its full fare on passengers taking through tickets from Richmond to Baltimore or Baltimore to Richmond, the steamboat company may charge fifty cents additional on passengers going to Richmond and coming only from Washington or going to Washington and coming only from Richmond.

On children and slaves or second class passengers the same pro rata reduction to be made by the steamboat as may be made by the railroad company.

The above charges to be exclusive of meals, which are not to exceed the ordinary rates of steamboat lines. On horses and carriages, packages, merchandize, and all other articles, half the rate per mile which may be charged by the railroad company.

As to expenses of agencies, advertising, &c. both for the through and other travel, we are willing to agree on behalf of the steamboat company, that it shall bear its pro rata proportion of any expense which the railroad company may deem it judicious to incur on this head-that it may be charged (should the railroad company take the mail between Richmond and Washington) with any fines incurred on account of delay or failure between Acquia creek and Washington and its fair proportion for baggage lost or any other claims for loss or damage