The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-08-31


a gauge on long line of Railway by substi-
tuting, on part of 1t, a. iee foot gauge suhfch
is a narror gauge, for a toar foot eightdnd a
halfinck gauge 1t is bad enough to break
gauge, but TO break it for so slight differ
ence ionly one inch and ahalf1 is without rea-
son and perfectly absurd. 1t was proposed
| to break the gauge ofthe Great Central Road
in this State, by making that part of the line
from the Ohio to Covington IRE feet, while
from the latter point to this city the estab-
lished gauge was four feet eight ana a cay
inches. This would be n break OF gauge
highly Injurious to the business ofthe Central
road and highly injurious to this city. This
proposed interruption was what we so ear
nestly opposed-while those whose interests
prompted them to desire this interruption, ar.
gued in favor oft. They endeavored to I'M
derrate the disadvantages of such q break
of gauge, while we endeavored to show the
full force of its injurious effects. This was
the simple contest. The true merits of broad
and narrolc gauges had nothing to do with
the question,yet there were persons whose in
terests or prejudices, or ignorance, led them
to represent that 1T was a war between the
broad and uarroao gauges.
With regard to the disadvantages of
breaking a gauge, we find in the Report of
President Cutler, of the Marietta and Cncin-
natl Railway, some opinions which sustain the
Dispatch. This report was submitted to the
stockholders at their annual meeting on the
18th inst. On the subject of gauge of the
road," president Cutler says:
''An important element, in the great question of
with other roads is found in the selection
of q suitable gauge.
while there Is much diversity of opinion prevail
ing TO the best width for railroad tracks, it is uni
versally conceded that continuity of the same
gauge between points, however distant, engaged in
railway traffic. is Of the greatest importance. 1t has
been estimated, BY experienced managers of these
roads, that break Of gauge, upon line of consider
able length results in disadvantage equivalent
loss of so miles in lneal distance However this NAV
be, 1t is quite manifest that main trunk line should
conform its gauge, so far as possible, to the lines
whose business will pass it. Fortunately for the
convenient adoption of this policy by company
the Pennsylvania Central the Baltimore and Ohio
and the Virginia Central, have all adopted the same
gauge, viz: four feet eight and half inches
1.-The Kentucky and Indiana and Illinois roads are
also OF the same In carrying the gauge by main
stem across Southern Ohio to Cincinnati that city is
connected by a uniform gauge with Philadelphia
Baltimore, Richmond and Norfolk. Original packa
ges OF foreign goods can thus be placed in Cincinnati
warerooms without handling, damage delay. Re-
turning, can place upon tide water the grain of
the West in bulk, and meats and vegetables can be
sent in the best possible condition to the market"
Our RAILROAD CONNECTIONS WITH ONO.
In few years we shall have several rail
road connections with the State of Ohio. BY
way of the Big Sandy and Maysville and
Maysville and Covington Railroads. we shall
be put in very close communication with all
the Ohio towns that lie upon the river from
Burlington to Cincinnati. President CUTLER
of the Marietta and Cincinnati Railway, in
his last annual report, speaks of connections
which he hopes to see between the Virginia
| Railroads and that of which he is Presi-
| dent:
| The Virginia Legislature has developed the policy
of that State, in regard her seaboard cities con-
nected with Western trade, by the pledge of 81, e00
600 to the extension of her Central road the Ohio
| river. Although it has been decided to locate the
| main line of that road to the Mouth of Big Sandy
with view to southern connexions, this will
doubtedly be followed by the construction of branch
| to the Mouth of the Big kanawha From that point
the Gallipos and Chillicothe railroad company are
prepared 20 supply the necessary link for connexion
with our road, at point about 80 miles East of Chill
| licothe.
While very direct line will thus be afforded from
Richmond and Norfolk to Cincinnati, those cities will
secure their most direct connexion with the Scioto
and Miami Valleys, and through them, with the
great Lakes and all the central and northern portions
of Indiana and Illinois.
| VENALITY OF THE NEW YORK PREss.-The New
York papers contain some rich disclosures relative
| to the treatment of Madame Sontag, by theatrical
agents, who are said to have charged her within the
past year some SIS 900 for putting her concerts in
| the newspapers. The Musical World makes the
charge Mr.. Ullman, Sontags business manager,
denies that any such sum has been paid, and
charges upon Mr.. Dyer of the Musical World an
attempt to get $1,000 out of him for putting, on Som
tags arrival in this country. He failed, and has
been prosecuting poor Sontag ever since. The He
raid Evening Post and Times out with an in
dignant denial that they have received far
thing for such unworthy service. The Press will
have to speak out generally, and Mr.. Ullman make
full statements, somebody will have to lay under
a very disgraceful imputation. There will no
doubt be full disclosures in the course of the week
We have no doubt that so far as the respectable
portion of the press concerned the Erening Post
has hit upon the right solution of the matter which
| Is us follows.
| AS we are expressly exempted fIona ooousa.ior,
we have perhaps no right to NEEDLE in the matter,
/ but cannot avoid expressing wish that the
newspapers involved would undertake an investiga-
ton OF the whole subject The result would be- we
think, the exposure of an impudent system of fraud
practised upon nearly all of the musical and theat-
rcal celebrities who arrive in this country not by
the press, however, nor any persons directly
nected with the press, but by set of chepaliers
| dindustrie, who impose themselves upon foreign
ers, in the capacity OF managers and agents They
| represent themselves gentlemen of great mpor-
| lance familiar with editors and others who are
supposed control public opinion, and in this way
get themselves employed, at large salaries coupled
with a chance for larger swindlings The Door
artists who employ them, when schedule OF ex-
penditures is presented, find frequent items of the
| account marked against the press' not one cent
of which has the press received but every cent of
which has gone into the pockets of these dishonest
| agents
The artists themselves deserve to lose some of
their money for conserving to make use of this ma.
| chinery OF clap-trap; bur as most of them are
strangers in this country ignorant of the language
and so eager for success that they will readily be-
ieve any story that is told Them it is no hard mat
| ter to make them dupes. But one thing they ought
to understand, namely, that respectable paper in
| this country-no paper capable of influencing the
| public mind-is in the habit of taking money for
Its opinions If any one approaches them with
proner OF the services of the press, they may be
| sure that he Is cheat
BRITISH DUPLIcITY.-A writer in Blackwood,
| discussing the refusal of English Government to
hsa