Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-24
RICHMOND AND DANyILLE RAIL
ROAD.


We have seen by the Richmond papers that
the stockholders of this important improve
ment will assemble on the 18th of April, for
the purpose of electing a successor to the la
mented Whitmell p. Tunstall, the late able
and distinguished president of the road. Mr..
Tunstalfs death will be a most serious loss to
the company. His energy and enthusiasm
alone succeeded in exciting that degree Of in
terest in his favorite enterprise which insured
its success. His eloquence alone could have
overcome the indifference and apathy with
which the proposition to build railroad from
Richmond to Danvile was at first received.
But after the road was once agreed upon and
its Importance demonstrated to the people who
were to be benefited, particularly benefited by
it, Mr.. Tunstall received most valuable aid in
its construction and the management, of its
varied concerns in the services of the gentle
men who composed its board of directors, and
especially in the services of the able, efficient,
and energetic vice president of the board, A. F.
d. Clifford, esq.
To no one is the highly prosperous condi-
ton of this road at the present time more due
than to Mr. Clifford He has been selected by
the stockholders, at each annual meeting, as
one of the board of directors; and this board
has, until the present year, departing from
the custom usual in such bodies,) uniformly
elected him vice-president of the company.
At the last annual meeting the Office of vice.
president was abolished, at the motion of Mr..
Clifford himself, he conceiving that the organi-
cation Of the company did not authorize such
an office. The board, however, elected him,
during the absence Of Mr.. Tunstall, president
pro tenn; and, upon the death of Mr.. Tunstal
president.
He, therefore, is the present president of
the company, and stands prominently before
the stockholders as the successor in pernna-
nence to the Office.
Knowing Mr.. Clifford as we do and knowing as
We do the wants and interests Of the company,
we cannot refrain from expressing the hope
that it will be the pleasure of the stockholders,
as we are sure it is their duty to elect him to
the Office Of president at their next meeting.
He is already extensively known to the COM
munity as the executive officer of the company.
He is known to be Q man of decided talent, Of
great energy, great promptness and decision,
and of answering integrity.
His policy, with regard to the management
of the affairs of the company, has been amply
tested; and its correctness is proved by the
present prosperous condition of the road. He
has shown his devotion to the interests Of the
company, and to the interests of Virginia, by
the most unceasing and untiring devotion of
his time and talents to the building up and
sustaining this road for the last several years,
and this without fee or reward. We trust,
therefore, that the stockholders will be ready
to show their appreciation his services, at the
same time that they will best subserve The in
forests of their company, by placing Mr.. Clifford
in the presidency and that they will, in their
election, look to the interests Of the company
alone, and not be swayed by political or other
extraneous considerations.
We offer no apology to our readers for pre-
senting these views with regard to one OF the
most important improvements now in progress
in Virginia; for, though our residence is now
beyond the limits Of the good old Common
wealth, we have lost none of our interest in all
that affects her prosperity and welfare, and we
shall never permit to pass any occasion which
may offer to express that interest and to adj
vance, in our humble way, that prosperity and
welfare. ~.