Petersburg, Va., (arriving there about two hours ahead of the route via Washington,) where the two lines amalgamate; thence to Weldon and Wilmington, N. C., by railroads; thence by steamboats to Charleston, S. C.; and thence by the southern routes to New Orleans, and much the most pleasant, comfortable and shortest route to the south. Passengers to and from the lower parts of North Carolina are conveyed by the Portsmouth and Roanoke railroad to Franklin; thence by steamboat Fox, on the Black water, to the different points. Passengers for Richmond, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Lynchburg and to the west, will find this the most comfortable and cheapest route. Returning, leaves Norfolk daily, except Sundays, at 4 o'clock, P. M., arriving in Baltimore next morning in time for the eastern, western and southern routes. Fare still further reduced! Passage between Baltimore, Norfolk or Portsmouth, Va. Passage between Baltimore, City Point, Petersburg or Richmond, Va. Passage between Baltimore and Charleston, S. C. (through tickets,) [Meals included on bay and river boats.] 4.00 4.00 7.00 19 00 Travellers will be directed by our soliciting agent, and give your checks to him or our porter in the depot yard, (Norfolk Line on his hat,) who will conduct you and your baggage to the boat. Baltimore, June 17, 1846. T. SHEPPARD, Agent." I also enclose a handbill marked A, issued by the same "A. Davis," agent, at Charleston, in which the combined line profess "opposition to all monopoly," and state their fare to be fifteen dollars from Charleston to Baltimore, "via the Wilmington and Chesapeake bay line," as if the Petersburg company were in direct union with this line and constituted a part and parcel of it. If the Petersburg company do not unite in giving through tickets, how is it that these agents at both ends of the line advertise that tickets for the entire line will be given? If it is not done in this way directly, it must be done, or permitted, in some other way. However it is done, or permitted, the effect is the same; the traveller who buys the ticket of the bay agent at Charleston or Weldon, or at Baltimore, is committed to the bay route, and the temptation of a cheap through ticket is held out to induce him to take that route. The motive is obviously to force the companies on the inland route to give through tickets on any terms, no matter how disadvantageous, that the bay route may assent to, and thus produce a competition between the companies north of Petersburg, and the bay line, for the supposed benefit of the Petersburg company, which in either case obtains the traveller-to the prejudice of the interests of the state in the other companies. There is, in addition to all these lines, a line of steamers lately established between Charleston and New York, which, owing to the description of the through ticket by the Petersburg company, on the inland route, diverts a great deal of travel from that route. To prevent this diversion, and to force the companies north of Petersburg to reduce their rates, the Wilmington and Weldon railroad company, and the Petersburg railroad company, have agreed on the days before, and on those on which the "Palmetto" sails, (one of the boats of the Charleston and New York line,) to allow the agents of the bay line to sell tickets at Charleston, and south of Charleston, to Baltimore, by the bay line, for fifteen dollars, as is shewn by the handbill before referred to. What proportion is received by the bay line of this sum, we do not know, but we do know that the Petersburg company professes at all times to receive its full fare of three dollars, and that the Wilmington company charges to all passengers who do not take these tickets, twelve dollars as its portion. It is obvious, therefore, that this arrangement must throw the whole or nearly the whole of the travel on those days on the bay boats, without perhaps any profit to the bay line, but to the great injury of the companies north of Petersburg. This explains the fact that so many passengers on particular days are induced to take the bay route. Hence, too, we see frequently such paragraphs in the papers as the following, clipped from the Richmond Enquirer, viz: "The steamer Curtis Peck, Capt. John Davis, brought down the river yesterday, from City Point and Richmond, 165 passengers, 95 were put on board the boat for Baltimore, and the balance landed at Old Point and in this city, 78 of whom were from Charleston, S. C.-Norfolk Beacon, July 23." This hostile array on the part of the Petersburg company, which we believe exists, has occasioned measures on the part of the Richmond and Petersburg, and Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad companies, not to the injury of the Petersburg company, but to counteract the bay line in their efforts to gain the travel. In order to compete with the bay boats, these two companies have induced the formation of a company to run a line from Port Walthall on James river to Norfolk, to cripple as far as possible the James river boats, by taking off their local travel, thereby endeavouring to induce them to withdraw from their connection with the Chesapeake bay line, and under the belief that the cheapness of the route will induce a profitable travel from Norfolk and the adjoining country by this line through Richmond to Washington. They have also induced the Washington steamboat company, with which they are intimately connected, to run a boat from Aquia creek, via Piney Point, to Baltimore, taking the passengers as far as possible from the Chesapeake line in that direction, and bringing them over their line to Richmond. Under all the circumstances here detailed, I respectfully submit it to the Board of public works whether it would not be proper to recommend to the Petersburg company, and to instruct the state directors in that company not to allow through tickets to be sold, or advertised over the Petersburg railroad by the agents of the bay line, either at Baltimore or Charleston or Weldon, and to forbid tickets over the Petersburg railroad being sold by the ticket agents of the Petersburg company, either at Petersburg or Weldon, to the known agents of the bay line, that is to prevent directly or indirectly the sale of such through tickets between Weldon and Baltimore, and between points south of Weldon and Baltimore. From evidence derived from officers of the Fredericksburg company, I am induced to believe that the loss sustained by the state in the companies north of Petersburg by the diversion of through travel to the James river and bay boats, and by the daily line on the river, is not less for the last fourteen months than $25,000. How much greater must be the loss to individual stockholders. The Fredericksburg company and the Richmond and Petersburg company appear by their exhibits to be gradually increasing in their receipts, and it is confidently believed that their dividends will not be diminished in future-this prosperity however is derived mainly from their local travel. What it would be if this injurious state of things was terminated it is impossible to conjecture. In conclusion, I trust the Board of public works will be assured that this communication is made with no other object than to promote the interests of the state, and to benefit ultimately the individual stockholders. The fare this day, June 30th, from Charleston to Baltimore, via the Wilmington and Chesapeake bay line, will be $15 only. Ticket office at Charleston hotel. Charleston, June 30th, 1846. A. DAVIS, Agent. Copy of Letter of G. W. Munford to Governor Smith, 1st October 1846. WILLIAM SMITH, Esq. Governor of Virginia : SIR, OCTOBER 1st, 1846. I beg leave to lay before you the accompanying copies of a communication from James Ligon, treasurer of the Petersburg railroad company, to the treasurer of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, and a reply to the same. A perusal of this correspondence will, I think, satisfy you that it is of great moment, if the Board of public works design interfering to prevent a diversion of the through travel from the line of railroads on the inland route, that their action should be as early as practicable. The object of the Petersburg railroad company, in its present position, is evidently to keep up a competition by the James river and bay boats, with the railroads north of Petersburg, in order to compel these last to submit to a ruinously reduced rate on through passengers, for the supposed benefit of the Petersburg railroad, not perceiving that if the railroads north of Petersburg are deprived of the through travel, it will be to their interest as far as possible to throw the travel thus lost on the sea steamers, rather than to foster those who are competing with them. The companies on the inland route cannot of course be expected to enter into a ticket, by which they would receive less than a third of the rate per mile, which the Petersburg railroad company requires for itself. They must therefore allow the through travel to be diverted to the river and bay line by the reduced ticket, and will, I fear, resort to the measure indicated, which I deeply deprecate as resulting in still further injury to the interests of the state as well as the stockholders. If it should be the pleasure of the Board of public works to exert their power and influence to prevent through tickets from being given with the bay line, directly or indirectly, the Petersburg company would no doubt find it to its interest to propose to the other companies on the inland route, a through ticket on fair terms, but so long as the through ticket is permitted, with the Wilmington company on the one hand, and by the agency of the City Point railroad, with the river and bay line on the other, they have the power to extort conditions from the companies north of Petersburg, so unequal that they cannot be submitted to, and thus a large portion of the travel which the whole line of railroads would otherwise command, will be diverted. Such was the operation of the ticket, which, hitherto disclaimed, is now distinctly admitted in the letter of Mr. Ligon. He says: "It is proposed to issue tickets in New York and Charleston on the day the Southerner sails, (and the day before, if it should be found necessary,) to carry passengers between Baltimore and Charleston for $15, or less, if that is not sufficient to divert them from the steamboat." The mode of doing this is to interpose another company, and the City Point company is to do that which the Petersburg company do not do ; that is, that company "will bind themselves to carry the passengers from here to Baltimore for $3 43, if we will bring them from Weldon here at $2 57." This was the mode adopted when the Palmetto was running, and is the one now proposed to be renewed. I think it proper to bring these matters to your notice, believing it a duty I owe to the commonwealth. With sentiments of high respect, I am your ob't servant, GEORGE W. MUNFORD. Copied from the original filed in this office. Second Auditor's Office, 4th February 1846. DEAR SIR, J. BROWN, JR. Copy of Letter from "James Ligon, Treasurer," to "C. W. Macmurdo, Treasurer." PETERSBURG RAILROAD OFFICE, I am requested by Mr. Bird to say to you, that the steamer Southerner left New York several days ago with a large number of passengers, all, or nearly all of whom, he is of opinion, might have been induced to come over our roads by a reduced through ticket. When the Palmetto ran we tried the experiment for the few trips she made of reducing the fare to a low rate on the days she sailed, in connexion with the Wilmington company and the City Point railroad line, and the result was, that from over 100 passengers which she had on her first trip, she had only about 15 or 20 on her last. We propose to try this plan with the Southerner, but we do not wish to do it without inviting your company to participate in it, as we desire to assist you in every reasonable way to keep the travel on your road. It is proposed to issue tickets in New York and Charleston on the day the Southerner sails, (and the day before, if it should be found necessary,) to carry passengers between Baltimore and Charleston for $15, or less, if that is not sufficient to divert them from the steamboat. Of this $15, the Wilmington company is willing to take $9, provided the passengers are carried from Weldon to Baltimore for $6. The City Point company will bind themselves to carry the passengers from here to Baltimore for $3 43, if we will bring them from Weldon here at $ 2 57 cents-this we will agree to do, as this company is resolved to keep the travel on its road if possible. We would be glad to have your company unite with us in a similar ticket. Besides the effect which in our opinion it would have of giving you the greater part of the travel, it would probably have the important effect of bringing the companies north of you into the arrangement, provided your company agrees to it. The accession of these companies to this arrangement would no doubt pave the way to a general through ticket, which would perhaps put an end to all competition from steamboats on the entire line, as it would shew them what they would have to expect if put on to run against us. Very respectfully, yours, (Signed,) JAS. LIGON, Treas'r. DEAR SIR, Copy of Letter from "C. W. Macmurdo, Treasurer," to "James Ligon, Treasurer." RICHMOND, VA., SEPTEMBER 26, 1846. I am in receipt of yours of the 21st, conveying a proposition of Mr. Bird, that this company should unite in a through ticket between Charleston and Baltimore, on the days before and those on which the Southerner runs, at $15, the Wilmington company to receive $9 of the amount, and the Petersburg company $2 57 of the remaining $ 6, leaving $3 43 to be divided between the companies between Petersburg and Baltimore, or deducting $1 60, (the charge to all passengers on the Washington road,) leaving $1 83 to be divided among the railroad and steamboat companies between Petersburg and Washington; in other words, proposing that Mr. Bird should receive more than four cents per mile on the through ticket, whilst the companies between Petersburg and Washington should be content with one and a quarter cents per mile. Mr. Robinson arrived last evening, and your letter has been laid before him; he instructs me to acknowledge its receipt, and to say that the proposition contained in it cannot be even for a moment considered, and that there is no occasion for any further reply to it. Very respectfully, Your ob'dt serv't, (Signed,) C. W. MACMURDO, Tr. Copied from the paper enclosed in colonel Munford's communication of October 1, 1846, to governor Smith, on file in this office. J. BROWN, JR. Second Auditor's Office, Feb. 4, 1847. Questions by a Member of the Committee. Ques. 1. When the late president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company proposed to resign his office of president, did he not give the board of directors distinctly to understand that he would not resign unless some one of whom he approved was elected to that office? Ques. 2. Did not you, as a director, understand that his brother Edwin Robinson, Esq. was the person that the late president had in view as his successor, and that he would not resign unless the said brother was appointed his successor? Ans. I can answer both these questions together, by giving a simple narrative of the circumstances as they occurred, to the best of my recollection. Mr. Moncure Robinson called on me and stated that he desired to confer with me as a stockholder of the railroad company; that he had it in contemplation to resign his office of president if a suitable successor could be appointed. He stated that he had a very large interest in the company individually, and that he represented a larger interest of persons whom he had induced to subscribe to the road, and he desired to protect his and their interests. That he could not consent to resign unless some one could be found in whom he had confidence ; that he had mentioned the matter to Mr. Charles F. Osborne, and would have been pleased if he could have accepted it, but I understood him to say that Mr. Osborne could not devote his whole time to the business, and on that account had declined it. That he thought his brother Edwin would be a suitable person, and asked my opinion upon the subject. I told him that it was a subject that I had not reflected upon, that I was satisfied the appointment would not give general satisfaction from the fact of Edwin Robinson's connexion with himself. He requested me to confer with other stockholders in Richmond and to make up my mind. I did so confer with several, and after hearing their approval, and weighing all the reasons for and against the appointment, I thought it would be best to give my approval. I so told Mr. Robinson. He afterwards sent in a letter to the board resigning his office conditionally, which letter was referred to the committee of the board: they took the subject into consideration, and presented a report in favour of the appointment of Mr. E. Robinson. When that report was submitted to the board, it was opposed by one of the state directors, and it was laid upon the table until a subsequent day. In the mean time feeling that I was representing the interest of the commonwealth, and not my own views, I sought an interview with the members of the Board of public works, or most of them, and also wrote a letter to the governor or board asking their instruction upon the subject. They passed a resolution approving my course, and authorized me to give the vote that I had indicated to them my intention of giving. At the next meeting of the directors of the railroad company a paper was presented signed by most of the large stockholders in Philadelphia giving their approbation to the appointment of Mr. Edwin Robinson—and at that meeting before Mr. M. Robinson left the board (as he did that the subject might be acted upon when he was not present) he did state that he could not consent to resign unless some one was appointed in whom he had confidence, and it was my impression that his brother was the person meant, but I am not certain that he mentioned his name to the board. Ques. 3. Is the paper marked H, which purports to be a transcript of the proceedings of the board of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, a true transcript of the communications and orders entered on its minutes touching the resignation of Moncure Robinson and the election of Mr. E. Robinson? [ H. ] Proceedings of Meetings of Directors of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Company as to election of President. At a meeting of the president and directors of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, on the 17th November 1846: The president read to the board the following letter: To the Board of Directors of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Company. GENTLEMEN, I accepted in 1840 the presidency of the company at the instance of large stockholders in Philadelphia and Richmond, who had been induced on my recommendation to embark in the work, and whose claims I did not feel at liberty to disregard. I have continued in the service of the company since that time, at considerable sacrifice of comfort and interest, and am willing still to do so, if in the opinion of the board of directors it is of consequence to the interests of the stockholders that I should. But there are circumstances in the situation of my family at this time which make it very desirable to me if possible to be more with them than hitherto, and in the present prosperous condition of the company, I believe I may retire from the presidency without hazard of detriment to its affairs, if the board of directors can make a satisfactory selection of a successor. I would, therefore, be gratified if the members of the board would take the subject under consideration between this and the next meeting. I am, gentlemen, Your obedient serv't, (Signed,) MONCURE ROBINSON. Richmond, 17th November 1846. On motion the same was referred to a committee-consisting of Messrs. N. Mills, G. A. Myers and George W. Munford. A true copy from the minutes. C. W. MACMURDO, Treas. At a meeting of the directors of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, 21st Novem ber 1846: Present-Nicholas Mills, Jas. Bosher, G. A. Myers, Geo. W. Munford and James M. Wickham, directors. Mr. James Bosher was appointed president pro tempore. The committee appointed at the last meeting made the following report: The committee of the board of directors of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company to whom was referred the communication made by the president to the board at their last meeting, have had the same under consideration, and respectfully submit the following report: While the committee are sensible that the interests of the company have been greatly promoted by Mr. Robinson's acceptance of, and his continuance in the office of president to this time, it seems to them that in the present prosperous condition of the company, the board should yield to his desire to withdraw, if an arrangement can be made for obtaining the services of a successor of general business qualifications, who will have the benefit of the valuable counsel and aid which Mr. Robinson is able to give, and will carry out the course of policy which he has heretofore pursued. Entertaining these views the committee have enquired of Mr. Edwin Robinson whether he will be willing to accept the office of president. Knowing well his qualifications for business generally, and his particular aptness |