The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-23
RICHMOND. FRIDAY, MARCH 3d. 1866
LOCAL MATTERS.

THE RICHMOND AND DAEyILLE RAILROAD
CoMPAST-CoEDITIoN OF THE LINE AND ROLL
ISG STocK-THE RICHMOND BRIDGE.-During
that wearying war time which proved so de-
structiye to thousands, stultified many q
sta tesman, proved the falsity of many poll
tical prophet, and converted into lnconyeruble
paper many thousands of golden dollars and
hard working negroes-the railroads of the
South were not allowed to escape uninjured or
unmolested. Raiders cut their roads, burned
down their depots, and twisted their rails into
fantastic shapes, while fugitive Federals or
Confederates cut down their bridges and Gt
the same time the scarcity of every neces-
sary material prevented the injured cOmpa-
MES from repairing the damages which they
sustained. The different railroads were work
ing night and day, the engines became worn
out, or ran off the track, and either pastured
peacefully in yerdant meadows or reposed in
silence ut the bottom of muddy creeks while
irate and chilled Confederates ruthlessly sent
benches, window frames, and weather board
ing into the stoves which had been Valnly
seeking something TO devour. At the close Of
the war then, the Richmond and Danville
railroad was in condition that was neceSsa-
rily endured in war-times, but which could
not be submitted 10 in peace. The President
and officers knew what was required, but IL
was not until December 9, 1868, that their road
was turned over to them by the Federal au-
thoTitiCs. Work was commenced at once ;
men and money We're literally employed,
bridges We're rebuilt, hundreds OF tons OF bal
IastWere hauled and distributed on the line, en-
ginrs and ears were cleaned and repaired, new
ties were put down, and at this moment the
Danville railroad, in spite Of the difficulties
which it has had to contend with, Is in con-
dition that makes travelling upon il both safe
and comfortable. Every one remembers the
Piedmont road from Danville to Greensboro
in Confederate times. Who has forgotten the
iolting cars, the rails sinking out of sight in
the gravelly mud as the train passed over them,
the continual running off the track, and,
finally, that ''hotel' at the end of the line,
where ten dollars was gratefully paid for Il
snack of bacon and green's Now, Contede-
rate times are changed and confederate man
ners gone, The Piedmont railroad has been
Incorporated i'll the Danvile railroad, and
from Burkeville 10 Greensboro the entire
line will compare favorably with any railroad
between Richmond and New Orleans.
THE THRoUGH LINE AND ITS CONDITION.
It will be remembered that the guage of the
Danyille railroad from Richmond 10 DanYile
is five feet, while the Piedmont extension had
n guage of four feet eight and half inches.
In February last, permission was obtained
from the Legislature of North Carolina 10
change the guage and now freight and pas
senGers run through from this city TO Greens
boro' without change of cars. Throughout
its entire length the road is in excellent order,
the rolling stock is adequate to meet the pre-
sent requirements OF trade; additional cars
are being built in the company's shops, and
two new locomotives are expected to arrive III
about TWO months At Greensboro the ar
rargcments for the transhlpment and accom-.
mediation Of passengers and freight are still
incompctp but in a short time, Judging from
what has already been done, everything will
be as conveniently disposed as can be desired.
THE RICHMOND BRIDGE.
At the time of the evacuation of Richmond,
in April, 1868, the Danvillc Railroad bridge
across the James was fired, and one section OF
two spans, and another Of five spans, was en-
tirply DESTROYED. The Company expected TO
have had the bridge rebuilt by this time, but
their anticipatious through no fault OF their
own. were not realized. To the travelling
public. who are one and all tired of the un-
pleasant omnibus or hack ride TO Manchester,
II will now be welcome intelligence to learn,
officially that the DIuyillc cars will again run
into Richmond city III about six weeks -
Messrs. y. Placide L Co.. OF Baltimore, who
constructed tho Comp1ny's bridges across the
Staunton and lppOmattoN rivers substanil-
alIy and cxpcditOuSly, are also contractors for
the James River bridge. Most OF the tr">ile-
work is already MP, and all the req iurcd mate
rial is either already on hand or in process OF
shipmput from the North. There Is 40 doubt
hut that the bridge will be finished in the time
that we have stated, and there will then be Il
routinuous and uubrokpn line from the north
side of the James TO Greensboro, as, indeed,
there is now from the Manchester SIDE,
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY.
ibont ten miles of connection in the vicinity
of Columbia still requires to be completed,
but in Il short time we shall nave unln-
tcrrIlDtcd communication with Columbia,
Charleston, aud the South.
AIr Buf0rd the President, and Colonel Do
damead, the Superintendent OF tne DahFllc
railroad have been untiriug in their eXertlous
10 get the road in order, and, not content WIN
providing temporary accommodation Tor the
travel which they now receive, they propose
erecting such COmmOdiOuS ana subStan Iai
dppot buildings III this city viii aiiOrd ample
II hot
DEVELOPMENT of the South and the good man
agement and efficiency of their road VIII lnial
libby bring them. Nirginlans may be some
what slow i'll making beginning, but, "hei
fully awakened, they can display as l9ucl
rarIpstucss and activity rs our Northefl
ubrethren." and we do feel encouraged ant
cbeercd, amid all our disasters, when we SCI
either corporations or individuals resoIutels
casting away useless repinngs Ior the past
and resolving, by hard work ana lhdust tFy, u
pluck prosperity from the bosom OF the future
A L1QuOR CAsE-OPERATIoS or THE NE"
Law OF EvIpESCE.-Whllca candidate Tor IN
office of constable Of Henrico county, Mr.
w. Robinson ran up bill for whisky VIII
Pcasley, Brown X Co., amounting 10 nine
dollars and a half. The bill was small one
and Robinson was not elected. Geasley 70
obtained summons; and yesterday III
liuuor-dealers and the eX-constable appeared
before Justice Wade. After listening care
fuIlv TO the evidence of the complainant, } us
tice Wade swore both plaintiH and de1ehdth
under the new law of evidence permitting th'
hearing of the testimony Of interested parties
and then both had fair chance, which they
used TO the best advantage. The affair becain'
more and more complicated as more was SAT-
ON either side, and Justice Wade, after ponder
ing the matter, decided that the parues mus
split the difference, and issued Judgmeh
against Robinson for four dollars and seventy
five cents A part is not equal to the whole
and nine dollars is more than fonr dollars ant
saventy-fiye cents: but the evidence wa
Tnixed if the liuuor was straight, and oette
decision, under the circumstances, coulo ho
we'll have been made.
Rpr.cu OF PRIvILEGE-Our sense Of tht
pronpr respect due to the dignity Of Legislative
and executive bodies was very much shocRet
Yesterday by an outrage upon the dignity o.
The MAYORS Court, by the side OF when th'
firing OF pistols in the rotundl OF the Stat'
Capitol during the session OF the Ieglsiatur'
is cast completely in the shade The mayo
had disposed of all his criminal cases the de
linquents were on their way homewards OF t'
the cage. and there remained bat 4 lie" clVi
oases to be disposed of. All thus far had passeI
off uuietly and even most OF the reporters n;t'
gone away in despair of getting anything lur
ther worthy of public notice. But the qule
and order of the court room was destined 10 u
broken /; for
Suddenly there came a rushing,