The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-15

doubted hiscapacity but they did not soc
for all this that he should be placed over
tho virginia and Tennessee railroad, which
Tho great body Of tho private stockholders
reusr,led, as q trunk-linc terminating at
Ivnchburr. where several competing lines
oiisrcd TO convey, and competed for, the
freicht there delivered by Il.
Somewhat disturbed at the boldness ana
pertinacity with which It was asserted that
tho management of tho Virginia and Ten
nesse road should be surrendered to the
same man who controlled the two roads
leading from Lynchburg to Norfolk, and
beinr besides irritated at the idea that
thew were to be Ignored and overslaughea
by the vote Of the State, the great ma
ior;ty Of the stockholders were very much
excited and in no very good humor. No
man was sure that the vote Of the State
would be cast in favor Of consolidation, SO
called; but the universal suspicion was
that 1t would be 80 cast. Mr.. John U.
Gogsin, Of Lynchburg, one Of the State
proxies, was known to be an out-and out
consolidationist; and Mr.. Gordon Kent,
another of the proxies, was supposed to be
one. He was certainly very much opposed
to the present management of the Virgil
mia and Tennessee railroad, and that sem
timcnt was used by the advocates Of Gene
raj Malone and consolidation with great
effect in behalf of their cause. Mr.. Wynd-
ham Robertson, the third and last member
of the triumviratc representing the lnte-
rest of the State, was generally regarded
as uncommitted in any manner; but with
possibly some degree Of self.complacency
as to the Justice Of their view of the ques.
ton, as well as great confidence IN the
good Judgment of Mr.. Robertson, they an
ticipated that he would ultimately sustain
their views.
The vote of the State in proceedings OF
such companies being given always as o
unit-the majority Of taco members deciding
how it shall be cast-and that vote bearing
the relation of t,co-Mirds to the number OF
priyate stockholders in meeting assembled,
| Il is matter next to impossible for the
nriyate stockholders to gain victory over
the State in any question upon which these
stockholders are mainly in opposition
to those who represent the State. Thus
the course of those representatives was 0
subject of the deepest interest. While, as
| have said, the apprehensions of the
private stockholders were strong, there
were still some hopes that Mr.. Kent
might be influenced by discussion and re-
monstrance, and that the issue would be
terminated easily and agreeably to them
selves, None ever counted on Mr.. Cog
gin: whatever may have been the opinion
ofthe Board of Public Works withrefcrcnce
to his views, the people in Lynchburg
knew them we'll enough, and no man who
could look at Mr.. Goggin's face for once
would imagine him capable of yielding or
compromising any ground he might plant
himself upon.
Matters standing thus, hope and fear, by
turns, predominatcd on both sides. Mr., Kent
was reported to-day to be against General
Malone and consolidation-to-morrow was
Individually for it-and the two parties
felt citation and dependency In succession.
An element of great effect in the strug-
gle was the Complaint Us to the manage
ment of the Virginia and Tennessee rail-
road. Colonel Owen, the president of
that road, was the object of attack of those
who thus complained. 1t was generally
thought that this discomfort was so far un-
appeaseable that nothing short Of his evic-
ton and sacrifice would be tolerated.
Colonel Owen out of the way, the coast
seemed clear for General Malone and con-
solidation. Many persons took the gound
that the question was between General
Malone and Colonel Owen, and that
they preferred the former to the latter;
while others of the discontinued de-
MED that such was the issue, contend
ing that all administrative ability ana
wisdom would not die with General
Malone. and that southwestern Virginia
afforded quite enough talent and energy
for the management of the affairs of their
railroad; that there was no necessity for
calling in the services Of men from dis
lance and that the poverty of personal
ability amongst themselves did not warrant
the intrusion of those who came from afar
to offer to take charge Of their affairs.
A railroad president is not unlike quar-
termaster at some times. His road has
embarrassments and troubles which cripple
the means for public accommodation and
affect its tariffs In a manner to create dis
satisfaction. The discomfort which fol-
lows always falls upon the president:
the directors not being thought of: Not
withstanding tho wonderful activity dis
PLAYED by Colonel Owen in repairing his
road, 80 often cut up in different places by
the invading armies during the war-not-
withstanding the exhibition in higher de-
gree of the same qualities since the war
in the restoration of his road, which was
completely broken down at the end OF hos
tilities-all his bridges and dep6ts being
burned and an immense length of track
being torn up-little or no allowance was
made He must be turned out. Upon
this capital of dissatisfaction with the ma
nagcmcnt of the Virginia and Tennessee
road the consolidationists traded indeed,
it was the strongest card in their hands.
Even the contract for through freights en-.
tered into by General Malone, Colonel
Owen, and other presidents, was sought
to be buckled on Colonel Owens back /;
General Malone becoming the bitter as
sailant of that contract, and thus taking
advantage of his own act-an act which,
whether concurred in reluctantly or not,
,oas his act. That contract for through
freight, contrasted with the local freights,
presented a condition of affairs disastrous
TO local interests; and holding up this fact
as horrible, the indignation of the world
was invoked upon it and its agents, the
stream of indignation, however, being con-
Quoted chiefly upon Colonel Owen through
disclaimers put in for General Malone.
Thus perplexed and divided between the
questions of men, of consolidation and
discrimination, together with the addition
of the irritation at the idea Of the over