The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-17
EVENING sEssIoN-s o'cLoc

The Chairman called the meeting to order when
Col. GEORGE TowNEs, from the Committee to
whom the communication OF President CLIFFORD
had been referred and reported on and their report
had been re-committed with instructions offered
their first report amended with an additional re-
port made under Instructions, after four mem.
bers had been added
The Committee to whom was referred the report
of the President of the Richmond and Danville Rail-
road Company, have had the same under their con-
sderation, and beg leave respectfully to make the
following report: ~
To the suggestion made by the President, that in
convenience had been experienced in the mode of
appointing successor to fill vacancy in the office
of President by Board of Directors and that it
would be desirable if consistent with law accept
different mode by bylaw of the company, your
Committee Of the opinion that thu present mode
of selecting successor by Board of Directors is
regulated by the laws oil heland and that any
mode OF appointment inconsistent with it, would
be invalid, and that modification OF the present
mode can alone be made by the Legislature Of Vir-
ginia. IS
On the subject ofthe tolls, your committee are of
opinion that this is proper subject for the consd-
Grafton OF the Board of Directors they should adopt
proper tariff and revise the same from time to
time as they may deem expedient-that the stock
holders as body could not be accurately inform
ed on this subj ect the Board OF Directors; and
any interference of the stockholders, would, in a
great degree, remove the responsibility of the Di.
rectors, and greatly protract the deliberations of
body designed by law to assemble not more than
once in year. Your committee therefore taink
this subject OF tolls should be regulated alone by the
Directors, and that they should adopt such measures
as should secure for this road the travel and ton
mage of the country through which it is located
and give to the company a reasonable and just
compensation by way of tolls. ~
Your Committee concur with the President in thu
opinion that it is expedienr to authorize the Board
OF Directors to cause preliminary survey to be
made at convenient time through the counties of
Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick, as proposed by
a Al J~1s -.
branch ofthis road from the town of Danville .'1
Your committee likewise concur with the Presj.
dent in the opinion that 1t is eXpadient to appoint
committee to confer with the citizens of North Carr
DINA on the subject OF connection of this road
from Danvie to the Central road of that State and
to memorialize the Legislature of North Carolina
that subject and that the President and Directors
OF this Company should be charged with the duty of
carrying out this application, at such time and In
such manner as they deem proper.
Following this, Col TowNEs presented the spb
Joined report, which, on being read by the Score
tary, was warmly approved by the meeting Il
was prepared by Col. GEoRGE TowNEs, and Messrs.
James N. Smith, Thomas H. C. Grasty, John F.
Whey, Thomas r Atkinson, Thomas r. Giles and
DR.. Charles Mills 10
The Committee to whom the re-committed report
OF the President was referred with special instruc
tons, have had the same under consideration. and
now peg ieave TO make the following together with
the report heretofore made:
Your Committee were specially charged "to take
into consideration the statement by the President of
the financial condition of the Company That
statement was based on two estimates furnished to
the late President by your Chief Engineer and
which have been examined by your Committee the
one bearing date the 9th of April 1854 showing the
additional cost OF constructing and euuippine the
entire road to Danville beyond the estimate of 1852
and amounting to the sum of $500 600, the other
bearing the same date and shelving the cost OF relay
ing e. miles of plate rail already in use and amount.
ing to the sum OF 1886 000 making together the sum
of $842, 600, stated by the President Your Com
mtee are satisfied, however, that neither the late
President, nor the Chief Engineer, intended to
convey the idea that the sum required for relayinp
the plate rail, should be provided for before the
completion of the road to Danville On the con.
trary, they have been informed this day by letter
from the Chief Engineer, addressed to the Chair
man oil your Committee, that in saying, in his COM
municaion to the late President that the plate rail
must shortly be substituted by the heavy rail- he
only intended to express the opinion that soon al
ter the road was opened to Danville heavy track
should be substituted"
In relation to the present condition of the plate
rail, your Committee have ascertained that seven.
teen miles OF it have been 10 use only six month";
and forty miles OF 1t about one yearihat the whole
of the plate rai is unusually thick and heavy and
all the iron in good order Under these eircum.
stances, your Committee are Of opinion that it is
inexpedient az this time to make any provision for
relayng the track with the heavy rail. Your Com.
mtee are of opinion that before 1t will become ne.
cessary to relay thattrack the company will be en-.
abled to meet the expenses thereof by the accrung
revenues OF the road. -t s =
Your Committee, therefore, regard It as unneccs.
sary to consider at present the sum Of 1886 900 the
estimated cost of the substitution of the heavy for
the fat rail- at ell requisite to be provided for or
TO be regarded In contemplating the means which
may be wanted 10 complete the road # h
The amount really required for that purpose as
shown by the Presidents report, and the safakuents
OF tina Chief Eneineer on which il was based 10 the
sum OF s4306, 600. But this sum- ssfhe Chief Epgi,
necr hiss stated 10 his letter TO the Chairman before
referred to, IL to be lessened by the estimated net
profits ofthe road IRON the 30th day Of September
next, the 3Oth day Of June, 1856, the time when
e says the road viii be completed, II Oh the con-
tractors now employed on the work shsll comply
strictly with their coutracts These prots will, on
the best estimate OF them which your Committee
can make, on the information before them, win