a copy of the proceedings of our board on this subject, which you will please communicate to the Board of public works. I remain very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) H. D. BIRD, Pres't. At a meeting of the board of directors of the Petersburg railroad company, held August the 19th, 1846, the president laid before the board a communication from James Brown, Jr., Esq. second auditor, enclosing a copy of a preamble and resolutions passed by the Board of public works on the 3d instant, on the subject of the differences between the Petersburg railroad company and the Richmond and Petersburg, and Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad companies, and suggesting a mode of settling them; and also copies of certain resolutions passed by the boards of directors of the two last named companies on the 14th instant. After considering which, it was Resolved, That it is inexpedient, and this board respectfully declines to appoint arbitrators as suggested and recommended in the resolutions of the Board of public works. Resolved, That this board will cheerfully appoint a delegate or delegates, to confer with delegates from the railroad companies referred to in said resolutions as to matters affecting their common interest, who may make full enquiry as to any matter of complaint alleged by one against another, or as to any differences existing among them, and recommend to their respective boards such measures as may remove and adjust the same. A true copy from the minutes. (Signed,) H. D. BIRD, Pres't. The foregoing papers are true copies from the originals on file in this office. Second Auditor's Office, Feb. 11, 1847. THOMAS H. DE WITT, Clerk. Ques. 9. Did not the Board of public works on the 5th October 1846, adopt resolutions to counteract the diversion of the travel from the inland line, aimed at by the river and bay line of steamboats? If they did, please furnish copies of such resolutions. Ans. A copy of the resolutions alluded to in the interrogatory will be found in the 31st annual report of the Board of public works, page 460. Cross Interrogatories to John Williams by the Respondents. J. BROWN, JR. Ques. 1. If the boats of the two lines on James river were of equal speed, what would be the saving of time in the trip between Richmond and Norfolk by the Port Walthall route? Ans. I have often made enquiry of persons well acquainted with James river, as to the distances from Richmond to City Point by the two routes, and I have myself closely observed the time taken in travelling them both. My conclusion from the whole is, that the difference in distance between the routes is at least twenty miles; and that travellers taking the Port Walthall route, supposing the two boats to be equal in speed, are saved from one hour and a half to one hour and three quarters in time. Ques. 2. Has not the travel between Richmond and Norfolk, and Petersburg and Norfolk by the Port Walthall route steadily increased since the steamer Augusta was put on this route? Ans. The travel has greatly increased. On comparing the receipts during the last ten weeks from the 1st of December 1846, to the 11th February 1847, with the receipts of the ten weeks preceding the first of December, I find the increase to be at the rate of more than 250 per cent. Ques. 3. What would you say is the proportion, as far as you can learn, in which the travel between the above towns is now divided by the two lines on James river? Ans. I have been informed of late by persons who have good opportunities of observing the travel by the two routes, that the Port Walthall route now gets nearly three times as many passengers as the other: I cannot, of my own knowledge, state that this is the case. I feel confident, however, that the Walthall route gets nearly twice as many as the other. JNO. WILLIAMS. RICHMOND, FRED'G AND POT. R. OFFICE, JAMES BROWN, JR., Esq. Second Auditor. SIR, I am instructed to hand you a copy of the annexed resolutions, passed at a meeting of the president and directors of this company on yesterday afternoon. I am instructed also to say to you that the gentlemen selected by this company as delegates, have signified their willingness to act, and that they will be requested to meet any delegates who may be appointed by the other companies at the capitol on the 18th instant, or at such other time and place as may be agreed on. Enclosed I send you a copy of resolutions passed at a meeting of the board of directors of the Richmond and Petersburg railroad company, on the 14th instant. Very respectfully, Your obed't servant, (Signed,) WIRT ROBINSON. Pres't. At a meeting of the president and directors of the Richmond and Petersburg railroad company, held on the 14th of August 1846: The president submitted to the board a letter received by him from the second auditor, dated 4th August 1846, enclosing copies of resolutions adopted by the Board of public works on the 3d of the same month. On consideration whereof, Resolved, That in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of public works, Mr. Holden Rhodes and Dr. Joseph M. Sheppard be, and they are hereby appointed delegates on the part of this company to confer on the 18th instant at the capitol, or at such other time and place as may be agreed on, with such delegates as may be appointed by the directories of the Petersburg railroad company, and the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, concerning the differences existing between the Petersburg railroad company, and the railroad companies north of Petersburg in Virginia, with full powers on the part of this company to adjust and finally settle all such differences. Resolved, That this resolution be communicated to the directories of the railroad companies aforesaid, and to the Board of public works. A true copy from the minutes. JAMES BROWN, JR., Esq. Second Auditor. DEAR SIR, Owing to the absence of several of our directors, it was not until to-day that I was able to get a meeting of our board to consider the resolutions lately passed by the Board of public works. I give you below a copy of the proceedings of our board on this subject, which you will please communicate to the Board of pubI remain very respectfully, lic works. Your obedient servant, (Signed,) H. D. BIRD, Pres't. At a meeting of the board of directors of the Petersburg railroad company, held August the 19th, 1846, the president laid before the board a communication from James Brown, Jr., Esq. second auditor, enclosing a copy of a preamble and resolutions passed by the Board of public works on the 3d instant, on the subject of the differences between the Petersburg railroad company and the Richmond and Petersburg, and Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad companies, and suggesting a mode of settling them; and also copies of certain resolutions passed by the boards of directors of the two last named companies on the 14th instant. After considering which, it was Resolved, That it is inexpedient, and this board respectfully declines to appoint arbitrators as suggested and recommended in the resolutions of the Board of public works. Resolved, That this board will cheerfully appoint a delegate or delegates, to confer with delegates from the railroad companies referred to in said resolutions as to matters affecting their common interest, who may make full enquiry as to any matter of complaint alleged by one against another, or as to any differences existing among them, and recommend to their respective boards such measures as may remove and adjust the same. A true copy from the minutes. (Signed,) H. D. BIRD, Pres't. The foregoing papers are true copies from the originals on file in this office. Ques. 9. Did not the Board of public works ou the 5th October 1846, adopt resolutions to counteract the diversion of the travel from the inland line, aimed at by the river and bay line of steamboats? If they did, please furnish copies of such resolutions. Ans. A copy of the resolutions alluded to in the interrogatory will be found in the 31st annual report of the Board of public works, page 460. Cross Interrogatories to John Williams by the Respondents. J. BROWN, JR. Ques. 1. If the boats of the two lines on James river were of equal speed, what would be the saving of time in the trip between Richmond and Norfolk by the Port Walthall route? Ans. I have often made enquiry of persons well acquainted with James river, as to the distances from Richmond to City Point by the two routes, and I have myself closely observed the time taken in travelling them both. My conclusion from the whole is, that the difference in distance between the routes is at least twenty miles; and that travellers taking the Port Walthall route, supposing the two boats to be equal in speed, are saved from one hour and a half to one hour and three quarters in time. Ques. 2. Has not the travel between Richmond and Norfolk, and Petersburg and Norfolk by the Port Walthall route steadily increased since the steamer Augusta was put on this route? Ans. The travel has greatly increased. On comparing the receipts during the last ten weeks from the 1st of December 1846, to the 11th February 1847, with the receipts of the ten weeks preceding the first of December, I find the increase to be at the rate of more than 250 per cent. Ques. 3. What would you say is the proportion, as far as you can learn, in which the travel between the above towns is now divided by the two lines on James river? Ans. I have been informed of late by persons who have good opportunities of observing the travel by the two routes, that the Port Walthall route now gets nearly three times as many passengers as the other: I cannot, of my own knowledge, state that this is the case. I feel confident, however, that the Walthall route gets nearly twice as many as the other. JNO. WILLIAMS. Additional Interrogatories to 'Thomas Dodamead by the Respondents. Ques. 1. If the boats of the two lines were of equal speed, what would be the saving of time in the trip between Richmond and Norfolk by the Port Walthall route? Ans. As near as I can judge from the experience of the past nine months that the Port Walthall line has been running, the distance is about twenty miles less by the Port Walthall route than by the river from City Point to Richmond, and I have found the difference of the time of arrival of the two lines to vary from one hour to four in favour of the Port Walthall route. Under the most favourable circumstances for the line by the river, with boats of equal speed, I should suppose the difference in point of time would be about an hour and a half in favour of the Port Walthall route; but during some periods of the year the boats are frequently much delayed between City Point and Richmond by foggy mornings, and at other times they are retarded by freshets in coming up, neither of which causes operate to the same extent below City Point, making the time of the arrival by the Port Walthall route more uniform than by the river. Ques. 2. Has not the travel between Richmond and Petersburg and Norfolk by the Port Walthall route steadily increased since the steamer Augusta was put on this route? Ans. The travel has increased largely since the line started. I have not taken the trouble to examine the books to see the exact amount of the increase, but we are now compelled to use three passenger cars regularly for the accommodation of that travel for which one was ordinarily more than sufficient for some time after the starting of the line. Ques. 3. What would you say is the proportion, as far as you can learn, in which the travel between the above towns is divided by the two lines on James river? Ans. As far as I can learn from the reports of various persons who have opportunities of making the comparison, I should think that from two to three to one in favour of the Port Walthall route would be a very safe estimate to make in regard to the proportion going by the two routes. February 15th, 1847. THOS. DODAMEAD. SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1847. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. The clerk, who had been for several evenings previously engaged in taking down in writing the answers of Mr. James M. Wickham, to questions propounded by the counsel for the memorialists Ro. A. Mayo and others and to questions propounded by members of the joint committee, as well as to cross interrogatories on the part of the counsel for the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, completed the same, which were afterwards read and signed by the witness, received by the committee and ordered to be printed. The committee then adjourned till Tuesday evening next at 4 o'clock. Interrogatories propounded by the Memorialists to James M. Wickham, Esq. Ques. 1. Are you an officer of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company? If so, what office in that company do you hold, and how long have you held it? Ans. I am a director of that company, appointed by the Board of public works, and in the third year of my service. Ques. 2. Do you know of any connexion between the said railroad company and any steamboat line? And if so, at what time and under what circumstances was such connexion formed? And any fact you may know in relation to its formation and progress? Ans. The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company are holders of the stock of the Potomac steamboat company to the amount of $23,000. As well as I recollect, this stock was taken at a valuation considerably below par. Having determined to take no part in the prosecution or whatever else it may be called, for I am at a loss to know how to denominate it, I have abstained from verifying my recollections so as to render them accurate upon the subject, as well as others of a similar character, but as well as I recollect, when the arrangement was made between the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company and the Potomac steamboat company, the par value of the steamboat company's stock was $120,000; it was agreed by the railroad company that the railroad company or its stockholders should take one half the stock of the steamboat company, at a valuation of either 60 or 70 dollars in the hundred, that is to say, that this was the result of the negotiation between the two companies. The amount taken by the railroad company itself being $23,000 or thereabouts. The di It will be perceived, that the number of shares in the steamboat company would be considerably more than the amount which would be represented by $23,000 at par. I believe that the amount sold by the railroad company is something more than one third of all the shares of the steamboat company. Exact knowledge however, upon the subject may be obtained by application to the officers of the company, who have possession of the books. The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company, after the union of the steamboat company and the railroad company became stockholders in the Port Walthall association to the amount of $12,500, and as directors of the steamboat company, the directors of the railroad company subscribed $7500 to the Port Walthall association, making a subscription in the whole of $20,000 to this association, from these two sources. rectors of the Potomac steamboat company, who are also the directors of the railroad company, sold the steamboat Augusta or authorized the president to sell her to the Port Walthall association for the sum of $22,000, as well as I remember. Thus it will be perceived that the Port Walthall association were enabled to pay for the boat Augusta by the proceeds of the subscription of the two companies, minus $ 2000, and that no money need be advanced for making that purchase, except the $2000 beyond the amount of their subscription. Whether that amount of $2000 has been paid or not, or in what mode it has been paid I am wholly ignorant. The amounts advanced by the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company towards this purchase, to wit, $12,500, has been in a manner refunded to the railroad company by their purchase being taken off their hands, by the stockholders of the company itself, and in part, I believe, by stockholders of the steamboat company, the board of directors of the railroad company having passed a resolution authorizing the president to sell this stock in the Port Walthall association to stockholders of the steamboat or railroad company upon time, taking as security pledges of stock of the railroad or steamboat company. No money I believe has been advanced by any of the stockholders on this account. The railroad company is therefore no longer interested directly as a holder of stock in the Port Walthall association, but it is interested as holding more than one third of the Potomac steamboat stock, because the $7500, vested by the steamboat company in the Port Walthall association is still unwithdrawn. As for dates, amounts and details of written contracts, I cannot pretend to be precise and accurate for the reasons above given. Ques. 3. Have you any knowledge of the circumstances under which the purchase or sale of any steamboat belonging to such line was made by and on the part of the railroad company or the steamboat company ? and if yea, be pleased to state all that you know on that subject. Ans. I can add but little in direct answer to this interrogatory beyond what will be found in my answer to the preceding interrogatory. The credit upon which the boat Augusta, as I learn from Mr. Moncure Robinson, president of the railroad and steamboat company, was sold to the Port Walthall association, was to this effect, that the payments for the purchase should be made from time to time as the payments should fall due upon the building of the Mount Vernon, which the steamboat company was then building in Philadelphia, so that the payments for the Augusta should enable the Potomac steamboat company to meet the payments for the Mount Vernon, as they fell due-this was the only intelligence upon this subject that was ever communicated to the board of directors so far as my knowledge goes. I understand that the stock of the Port Walthall association amounts to a little upwards of $30,000. Whether any portion of the stock subscribed for by individuals has been paid for I know not, but the stock subscribed for by the two companies has been paid for to the extent of $20,000 by the transfer of the Augusta-whether the other $2000 for the Augusta has been paid I know not, but as I understand that a loss of $6000 has been sustained by the Port Walthall association, I presume that some advances has been made by the private stockholders in that association upon their stock to meet this loss of $6000 and the $2000 in the purchase of the Augusta beyond the amount of the subscription of the two companies. Ques. 4. Do you know any thing in regard to the purchase or contract for building the steamer Mount Vernon in the service of and running under the direction of the Washington and Fredericksburg steamboat company? Was the purchase or contract for the building that boat sanctioned or approved by the board of directors of the steamboat company? or was any money, funds, means or credit of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company advanced or pledged to aid in the purchase or building of that boat? State if you please fully all that you know in relation to the subject matter of this interrogatory, and if any funds of the railroad company have been advanced for this purchase? Was such advance made by order of the directors prior to such advance being made? Ans. Since I have been a member of the board of directors, all orders, with the most trivial exceptions, have been made upon the motion of Mr. Moncure Robinson, president of the company. A resolution for the building of the Mount Vernon was submitted by him to the directors of the steamboat company and was adopted very soon after the arrangement was made between the steamboat and railroad company. According to his proposition as I remember it, the Augusta was to be sold, not being a good ice boat for winter, and a new boat was to be built of superior quality, which would answer their purposes better-as well as I remember the order was made late in the fall of 1845, and as the boat could not be completed for that winter's service, and as it was understood that the Augusta would bring from 20 to $25,000, and a long period of the working of the steamboats on the Potomac would occur before the Mount Vernon (the new steamboat) would be completed, no dif |