| Office of the Norfolk & Petersburg Rail
Road Co. |
| Petersburg Va Feby 3rd, 1862
{Correct date was 1863} |
| |
| In accordance with a resolution of the
Stockholders at their last meeting they met at this place this day |
| Present: Messrs J. J. Kindreau
& J. H. Claiborne alternate proxies on behalf of the state.
On Motion of Mr Kindred J. H. Claiborne was approved President, and J.
B. Chee Esq Secretary, wherebefore the report of the President and
tabular statistics on behalf of the Directory were read and adopted. |
| On Motion of Mr J. J. Kindred,
the following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted: |
| Whereas - the City of Norfolk in her
corporate capacity, and her citizens individually are shareholders in
this work to the Extent of some six hundred thousand Dollars and with
the exceptions of a few individuals compose the active stock interest of
the Company, other than that held by the State, and by whose proper
representatives this meeting is organized and its proceedings enacted:
and whereas this interest of the City of Norfolk, and her citizens
cannot be represented, on this occasion by reason of their separation
homes in the state of war which exists, therefore, Resolved: |
| I -- That we deem it but respectfully
considerate of these great interests the more carefully the view our
acts, and so far as we have authority to deliberate for every interest
of the Company as of one party. |
| II -- That we congratulate the Stockholders
of the Road upon the bright conditions of its affairs as exhibited b the
Statements we have examined upon the unparalleled low cost and ratio of
expenses to receipts at which the Road has been worked during the past
Fiscal Year and that too while but one third of the Road for four months
of the period was operated, owing to the invasion of the country by the
Public Enemy, and we congratulate them upon the system under which the
Road had been managed and upon the system under which was displayed in
constructing a thorough work, which the developments of time have show
in the results we have referred to now begin to rear up to the most
attractive view in support of the loss, and which mark the peculiarities
of this Road |
| III -- That we have heard with great
surprise and profound solicitude of a contemplation on the part of the
Government to take up and appropriate for Gun Boats and for other Roads
a part of the Rails on this Road -- not as loyal citizens representing
an interest true to the cause of the South do we consider for a moment
where the promotion at this cause calls for pecuniary sacrifice -- the
simple question of the abstract value of the property proposed to be
taken, or its bearing merely upon the whole or any part of the specific
work; but we conceive that there is a higher and graver interest to be
effected by the execution of a purpose or contemplation of this
character in connection with the Norfolk Road. This work may be regarded
in the light of a sovereign institution, it belongs in fact, fee simple
almost exclusively to the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the outlet
link of the courteous class of Rail Roads from Memphis to Norfolk,
protected by the State in conjunction with Tennessee, for the purpose of
concentrating at Norfolk the necessary commodities in sufficient bulk to
establish direct trade with Europe and thereby alleviate our dependence
upon the North and secure for our own people the political and
commercial benefits ??dent to such relations. By means of this main
chain and its Extended Collateral system of loads, penetrating every
part of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana and
western North Carolina, the hope was entertained by all, and fondly
indulged by Virginia, that, at Norfolk we should soon be able even while
yet in the Federal Union to make that Port our Commercial Enterprise.
Twenty Three hundred miles of Rail Road look to this point as a depot
for Foreign Trade of the Country which they command, and with this view
were all constructed of the same guage in order that every facility and
economy might be given to transportation. Looking mainly to this result
as a source of great benefit to the various benefits of the Commonwealth
everywhere and not local the State has given to this work every
encouragement and pecuniary means required to carry it through. The City
of Norfolk and her people have taxed their resources to the utmost to
furnish means for this work. They have really spent their last dollar
and staked their last hope on its consummation and success. The
possibility of the Southside and Tennessee Roads where the State is
interested to the extent of millions of money, the prosperity of the
network of Roads built with influence to this Memphis & Norfolk Trunk
Line, are essentially dependent upon this link, in the great chain which
bind together the Mississippi at Memphis and the Atlantic at Norfolk.
The interest of these works and especially those of our own State; the
development of her internal resources, and prospects of commercial
enterprise and greatness under the new government eminently conspicuous
and no longer a problematical, the fortunes and just expectations of the
Citizens of Norfolk a loyal and generous people to every interest of our
Southern Cause, a loyalty which has proudly resisted unrepulsed every
test of oppression, whose trade and property have been devastated by the
Common Enemy, whose manhood has furnished a creditable share in our army
separating themselves from family and friends and surrendering all of
their material fortunes to the mercy of our relentless foe, are all
vitally concerned in having the free and immediate facilities of
intercommunication only to be had by means of the Norfolk Road with the
honor of the Commonwealth and the wide Expanse of country whose centre
has been, and must hereafter be Memphis, upon the establishment of
peace. Any delay or interruption in the reopening of this trunk channel
of Rail Communication upon the first dawn of peace would result in
serious injuries to all these several interests if not fatally to the
welfare of Norfolk and her people. Trade upon the advent of peace will
irresistibly seek the Seaboard by whatever means of transportation may
then be available and when once directed in any channel it is a well
established law of Experience that to divert it becomes a matter of
time, effort and persuasion, even where greater advantages are to be
found in one route over that which may be already enjoying the benefits
accruing from the current. |
| IV -- That the Delegates in the Legislature
and the members of Congress whose respective Districts are interested in
the protection of these interests and especially those of their
immediate locale are requested to use their efforts with the Government
to prevent any such interference with the Norfolk Road as we have
referred to and besides the more direct and loftier considerations which
we have presented the fact that there are many other works covering
miles of Railway of a purely local relation, from which the Rails could
be as easily obtained for the purposes of the Government without
inflicting any of the injuries which would be entailed in our case may
well be stated |
| V -- That the Board of Public Works are
respectfully requested to remonstrate with the Government against any
destruction or interruption of the Road |
| VI -- That we fully approve and concur in
the propriety and equity of the demand made by the President of the
Company as indicated in his report, upon the Government for ??? on
account of the property and works of the Road destroyed by the Military
Authorities under direction of Major Genl Holmes or any representatives
in the Legislature and in Congress are requested to conferee with the
President of the Company in ??? proper reparation and indemnity in the
pre?? |
| |
| On motion it was resolved that
the President & Directors of the Company are requested to continue in
their present positions until the next annual meeting and that this
meeting is now adjourned. |
|