The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-27
CsssraI Raiirsad CSlIislSs

-
CsssrsI Raiirsa1 CSlIis1sa. =
The following is thss enswss II ths msmbsrs o
Bosrd, nowin attendance, who wsrs present q
The meeting Of the Board, 70 which ~ papsr be
low refers: s
RICHMOND. Jan. 10th, 1857.
Mr. John H. Timberiake, having appeared be
fore the Board, In conformity with . reQuest mads
by him 10 writing. and responded to in the same
way, TO be heard on the subject Of his official re-,
lauous TO the Company ut the present, and for
some time past, stated that he desired them "a
answer some questions He esmmenced reading
from paper the questions to which he desired
answer, and as ke progressed, It was concluded
that the proper plan would be to answer in writ
ing.
!, although invited to remain, and especially for
tne purpose OF hearing the testimony of Mr.. Hun.
YET snd others touching bis agency in revising the
scneduie OF the 10th Dec, 1856, after il passed
from the hands of the President and As to ts dis
tribution, he left.
In response to the question propounded, the un-
dersigned members of the Board IT the meeting
neio IN the City OF Richmond, on the 9th aud 10Th
december last state that-Mr. TimberIake did
come before the Board at that meeting and ex.
pressed great dissatsaction at the contents of Sc
Vera letters addressed to him by Col Fontaine. in
regard to the running of the trains by schedule
aeqalring the meeting OF the mail trains first .,
IL.
tender bis resignation. That whilst Mr. Timberlake
did express bis disagreement with the President
as to the policy of the schedule his ssatisfaction
was placed solely on discourteous and unkind re-
MARKS which he thought were contained in Col
Fontaine correspondence, expressing no objection
TO any member of the Board at any time "A to
any the slightest danger from the schedule for
meeting at Melton's
The President, in the most unqualified manner.
dscaimed any intention of being unkinti or disre,
n yvhi boh h>1
out only meant to be earnest and decided. in claim
Ing that his authority should be respected In 4
matter where he considered it his duty to act.
The policy of reducing the speed Of running on
tne rosd was the origin OF these differences, con-
nected with the change of the place of meeting of
the trains De "
1t appeared from the Presidents statement. tha.
before deciding on the change, he consulted with
the superintendent about it; that the Superintan.
dent was understood BY the President to approve,
so far as the interests of this Company would be
affected by 1t, but apprehending some objections
from the Alexandria Company; that notice of the
change, to take effect on a particular dav had
been announced by letter to the President Of the
Alexandria Company, with the assurance given to
Mr.. Timberlake that the President and not the
Superintendent of this road was to assume the task
of satisfying the Alexandra Company if auy obs
jections should be made by them. 1t was the fail
ure on the part of the Superintendent to order the
change of meeting, which had been announced n
".
caused the President of this company to write the
letters to which the Superintendent took excep
tions.
The Board being entirely satisfied with Mr.
Timberlake's management of the road, up to that
time and being anxious to retain his services and
believing, after full examination of the CORES.
pondence, connected with the disclaimer of Col
Fontaine and the mutual profession of the most
kindly feelings from each to the other, that the
whole difficulty had arisen from misapprehension
used their best endeavors to produce reconcilia
tion-that after much conversation between al
parties, in which several members of the BOARD
expressed to Mr.. Timberlake the absolute necessi,
ty, of the most friendly and hearty CO operation
between the President and Superintendent, with
out which, they said to him, be ought at once tc
resgu:-each one of us came to the conclusion, ant
adjourned under the full belief that every Difficult
ty had been removed, and that Mr.. Timberlake
had become entirely satisfied and was perfectly
willing to continue as our Superintendent
The Board, in response to recommendation
from the Board of Public Works. in regard to ths
reduction of the speed on the railroads of thu
State, adopted several resolutions and on motion
of Mr.. VIM. OvertoD, one of the State Directors
the following was adopted
Resolved. That the President, one member of tn,
Board, and the Superintendent of Transportation b,
committee to examine the time tables both for tn.
freight and passenger trains, with view to grea
TT duction Of speed as practicable under existin
The Board also unanimously adopted a resolu
ton making Melons the passing place for tn,
mail trains.
Immediately after the adjournment of our Board
the whole committee, composed of the Superin
tendenf, President, and Mr.. Overton, met ant
unanimously adopted few general principles a
the basis of new schedule, to wit: making Mel
toms the place for the meeting of the mail trains
20 miles an hour the speed of the mail trains Yves
of Gordonsvile, and 10 miles an hour the speed O
the freight trains, instead of Is The committe
then adjourned leaving the details of the schedul
entirely to the Superintendent, or subject to hi
approval.
A sufficient reply to your enquiry in referenc
to the power of the Presiden. to dismiss the Su
perintendent will be found in the enclosed resolu
ton of the Board, which was passed today in th
following words, to wit:
Resolved, That the Board unanimo ously approx
the act of the President, in removing the suosrn
tendent, Mr.. John II. Timberlake, from ofice''
(Siened) FoNTAiNE, Prest.
VIM. OvERToN.
We concur in all the above, except what took plac
in the committee after the adjournment Of the Board
not being members of this committee and NO
being present, and of which we know nothing pei
sonally. (Signed) JACOB BAYLOR,
N B. HILL.
NoTE.-Col. Fonta.ne, the President, was present
but did not act as member of the Board in the de
cision to the approval of the Presidents removs
of Mr.. Timberlake from office.
true copy from the minutes.
G. J. r. NETHERLAND, Clerk.
Note By the President.
Mr.. Robertson does not sign the foregoing paper
being absent at the December meeting of the Board
but has LETT in my hands the copy Of letter to Nj
Timberlake referring to the period prior to bis r.
moval by the President, in which he expresses t
him his appreciation of his capacity, and the un
willingness he felt to lose his services
On the question of actual resignation, be agree
with the other Directors that up to the 2lst of De
cember, days before the collision. when they con
versed very freely, though he still complained G
the President, and talAed of res gning, he was no
understood to have then resigned. nor 0hough ap
prehensve that he woulD was he understood :
have determined to do 80 at any future time
On the question whether Mr.. Timberlake ha
given warning, that he apprehended danger fror
the schedule for meeting at Melton's, he ais
agrees with the other Directors, having converse
with Mr. T., about the meeting place, days befor
The collision. He says
II never expected or had hint from yourself o
any one else, until after the collision had take
place, that the safety of the trains could be endsr
gered, by changing the point for them to pass eac
other" Z. F.
GREENSBORO AND DANvILLE RAILROAD Bill
LOST This measure, one of the most impeItan
which has been before the North Csrolina Legsls
ture during the present session. authorizing connes
tion of the North Carolina Central Road, with tn
Richmond and Danville Road, was lost ON the St
Rna "A ~ -. i.