The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-07-01
From the GAINESVILLE Cazc,,e

From the GAINESVILLE Gazette.
, MEssRs EDrToRs.-A charge which hai
taken place, within few days past, bavin,
made some talk, and given rise to good dea
ofmsapPrehension, a plain and unvarnishet
statement of the facts mght.prove acceptable,
! to the public.
The post Of Superintendent OF the WORKING
operations Of Railroad, is one requirig suci
peculiar quaifca,ions-so much of patien
watchfulness-so much Of system combined
with liberal and extended business quail.
hcations--eommercial experience and the
faculty Of managing men Of various grades
and duties, that more difficulty is experienced
by Railroad Companies in obtaining the ser.
vices ofthe right kind Of men for This Office than
for any other post. As some evidence of the
value Of such mems servises, am Informed
that the Superintendent of the Columbus and
Cleveland Railroad has salary $4,000
the Superintendent of the Bait. and Ohio, a
salary OF $4,000 per year; and there are some
others probably still higher. The Central
Ohio Road, when extended, will, doubtless
become of sufficient Importance to justify
the employment of the largest ability; but if,
| in its infancy the Directors had made en-
gagements with salaries anything like those
we have named, the whole community must
have been down upon them with the charge
Of senseless axtravagence.
Mr.. Macleod, the late Chief Engineer and
the first Superintendent Of the Central Road
had too many duties 10 admit Of his giving his
personal attention to the Superintendency,
and accordingly, an Assistant to him was ap-
pointed. This Assistant proved to be better
Engineer than Superintendent, ard it was
thought advisable TO transfer him to the En-
gineer service Of the Eastern Division. In
| the meantime pains had been taken, by letter
! and otherwise, to obtain the services of an ex-
perienced and competent man for the post,
but without avail. Mr.. Chase, who had come
from New England we'll recommended as an
| office clerk. but who had no experience as a
! Superintendent, was believed to possess a
| sufficient general knowledge of the workings
Of Railroads to enable him take charge of, at
least, the commercial part of the Superinten-
dency, whilst the Engineering branch, under
the very able supervision OF Mr.. Medbcry,
would be properly taken care Of The pro-
visional appointment of Mr.. Chase was ac-
cordingly made, as an experiment and for tenn
Porary service only, with the expectation,
however, that he would be retained in service
if he gave satisfaction to the Company.
With Mr.. Chase's Office services the Execu-
tive Committee were well satisfied; but he
took such high ground on the question of ap-
pointments g. discharges, that the Committee
were compelled, in very decisive manner, to
assert the control which the Board were bound,
of course, to reserve TO themselves, over the
entire management of the Road. This in
duced the resignation of Mr. Chase.
Upon the representation of one of the now
retired members Of the Board, that the Com
mittee had not given Mr.. Chase ample oppor-
tunities for the explanation Of his views, and
therefore did not properly understand him, the
Board allowed him to withdraw his resignation
so as to admit Of the explanations desired in
which movement the Executive Committee
Cheerfuy co-operated. After the explana-
tions and after the explanation Of belief upon
the part of some of Mr.. Chase's friends that
there would be no difficulty in harmonizing his
views with those of the Executive Committee,
the Board agreed to re-appoiht him. As soon
as this was done, Mr.. Chase began to stipu-
late for concessions to him; which readily con-
vinced tlftzR oard that once more in authority,
he would be quite as tenacious as ever, of the
views he entertai ned as TOW hat constituted the
powers of Superintendent.
He was requested to place in writing what
he expected. AS explanatory OF one feature Of
the following letter, which was given in reply
to the demand of the Board, it is well TO pre-
mise that the Bylaws require the Pay
an Office OF large responsibility, TO be elected by
the Board. For this service, Mr.. U. p. Bennet.
OF this city, had been selected and required to
give bond and security for the faithful discharge
of the trust. By the reference in thefolowing
to the appointment of Paymaster, Mr.. Chase
was understood to mean decapitation of the prer
ent incumbent.
"Superintendents' office Central O. R. r.
Zanesvlle, June 9th 1853.
To the BoarI of Directors Cent'l. Ohio r. R.
Gentlemen,
1t is understood that if again
take charge of the working operations OF the
road, it is with this understanding. That
am TO have the entire control of the working
operations Oh tne roau' ihat an " Sohsui'
with the President but am to have the power
of appointing all the subordinate officers.
And also, as the Paymaster is to be my as
sstant, that have the selection of the man
for that position, and that he be under my
control. On these conditions will accept
the situation of Superintendent your Road.
And if these propositions are not accepted |
must respectfully tender you my resignation,
to take effect this day.
Very respectfully yours
G. l.. CHASE"
1t is worth while to pause moment, over
this rather singular document
The present Receipts of the Western Di-
vision of the Road, are at the rate of about
one hundred and t,Oenty thousand dollars per
annu,n; and the disbursements upon that Di.