The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-09

growing more healthful.
The fire companies are making prepara
tons TO have grand parade ana ceieo =,
ton on Monday. The presentation OF the
new hook and ladder apparatus IS 10 take
nIsce ON that day with some ceremony,
connany having been spccially ORGANIZED
for the purpose Of working 1T. Ii IS Q
snlend;d niece of workmanship, the cost OF
which was thousand dollars. 1t is De
lieved that the Fire Brigade of PETERSBURG
will now be rs efficient rs that of any other
e;tv ofstbe same size. The several compa,,
MES coalesce with entire unanimity, ana
n common spirit appears to ANIMATE the
whole. = ~ Co.,
Atam meeting of the Division OF the Sons
or Temperance night or two ago all the
members of the city police were INITIATED
except four. The applications OF theSs
fonr we're sent in at the same time. ana
thew viii be admitted at the next meeting.
,r,a shesaDcasse and Ohio Railroad.
The following article on the subject OF
the Presidency of the Chesapeake and ONO
railroad is from the pen of one of the most
prominent citizens of the State, whose ex-
perience and public services entltle MS
opinions to the most respectful attention
He. moreover, occupies political position
which entirely relieves him from all Sus-
picion Of party feeling in this discussion
, Communicated
uTbere is strong reason to believe that
systematic effort is being made to displace
Colonel Fontaine from the management OF
the Central, or, as it is now fondly, and We
hone prophetically, called, the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad. If this, unfortunately,
be true, ne must say that q great wrong and
rrievous outrage is meditated.
alt would be ungrateful to the last de-
gree TO turn out an officer who has. spent
his life, as we may say, II earnest and I'M
firing de-otion 70 the cause or internal
improvement, and whose name deserves to
be classed with the chief benefactors OF
Richmond. We doubt, indeed, if any man
in our day and generation has done more
for the trade and prosperity Of our city
than Colonel Fontaine. When he assumed
the control of the Louisa railroad-as 1t
was then called-it was but small local
concern; simply feeder TO the Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railroad. In the face OF
the most violent opposition, and with
limited means-pledging for large amounts
his own private fortune-by untiring zeal,
earnest entreaty, and courageous constancy,
he built first the eastern connection, which
brought the terminus Of the road in close
contiguity with the docks, and afterwards
projected the western extension, including
the great tunnel, with the fair prospect OF
ultimately reaching the Ohio river.
"And this brings us to speak Of the
great wrong TO which we alluded in the
beginning Of this article. Discarding all
personal granting that IN
business matters we have no right to ex-
ipect mere sentimental gratitude-we are
yet profoundly impressed with the convic-
ton that the prompt construction Of the
road to the Ohio depends upon the contlnu-
ance Of Colonel Fontaine in his present po-
sition. 1t is well known that the numerous
subscriptions which have been made to this
work in the various counties along the line
are nearly entirely due to his great per-
,sonal exertions. Day after day, week after
week, month after month, he labored in
this great work by speeches, by pamphlets,
by social intercourse, he demonstrated the
vital necessity for building this road; and
even il we were willing to strip him in the
hour of triumph OF these well-earned
laurels, we should first satisfy ourselves
that we are assured of the rich fruits he
has collected. Many, if. not indeed the
most, of these subscriptions were granted
on his personal applioation-pledged to
him, as it were, rather than to q
corporation-and we may well fear that
If he is now thrown aside that q large por-
ton of. these promises win never be real
lied. Again, he is now so completely iden'
tilted with all the financial schemes, &c
thoroughly posted in allthe plans for rails
ing the vast sums necessary for the work
that much valuable time-if not, indeed
the golden moment-may be lost before an
other president could acquire that rich ex'
perience which is the result of quarter O.
a century s intimate acquaintance with al
that pertains to railroad interests. The
capitalists who are expected to embark THEN
funds in this scheme are full suspicious
nov, and it viii not diminish their timidity
to see the whole administration Of the road
subyerted, and raw, inexperienced hands
capriciously substituted for the cool, saga
cfous head which has calmly considered
comprehended, and provided for all the diff
ficulties of the situation. Indeed, we have
the very best authority for saying that
Colonel Fontaine is daily expecting from
London favorable proposition for the pur'
chase of the ENTIRE LOAN OF EIGHT MIL
LIONS OF DoLLARs-the correspondent Of the
company having given him assurance te
that effect. CaniweI expect with any Ger
sgtainty that this proposition will be made tt
new and inexperienced president And
can we afford to put to hazard SO favorable
an opportunity Of completing our grand
work, and securing to Virginia not only tn;
great trade of the West, but in all proba
bility q large portion of that boundless com
merce which the completion of the Pacific
railway viii attract to our shores
6 II we may be allowed a congenial illus
tration, We would say that fuel IS TOT
scarce, the curves too sharp, the grade
too heavy, and the night too dark, to JUS
tify US in even the thought Of pulling
down the old engineer, brave but careful
and putting in his place the young driver
more intent on speed than safety, who
rushing on with more zeal than discretion
would, in all probability, soon put ns, o
well as himself, of the track with Grip
pied locomotive and . shattered train.
sisginia has no time now to waste, no
capitalists funds to risk, on fancy 11o'heatons
!" PIEDMONT"