The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-16

THE OFFICE OF CITY ESGISEER-To THE Ar
POINTING PowEE.-As 1t is understood that be-
sides theold I'm cumbcnt there arc several new az
prants for this Office, armed with recommended
tions. some OF which written by parties who
could not be supposed TO be Judges whereof they
speak we. the writer's Of this article. friends Of
Mr. WASHINGTON GILL and With an eye single to
the interests Of the city Of Richmond, have re-
solved ourselves into q committee to suggest TO
your honorable body the eminent propricty o. re-
appointing wcil-tried officer, who. during the
long period Of sixteen years. service to the city
In the capacity In which he now seeks reappoint-
mcnt, has areraged "gooi,'1 and who retains
from his opportunities nought TO enrich him save
an honorable record. -". #. +. .'..
Some of your applicants VIII no aoubs ne
ralded as brilliant men, Have care, Measrs.
Councilmen, that you do not furnish tigh for
these brilliant gems 10 sparkle IN. ''Mr. GILL
auoth they "is too sl0w-he Is m cid fogy,'' &C.
Thus, in our hearing. modestly loquitur one OF
thsse gents. who is himself m active candidate
for The Office. "
The ancients, though FOR the most part big foois'
once in while made pretty fair remarks: res
tina teaie. We frogs might do well TO bear ID
mind the fable Of King Log and King stork.
There Is no particular demand In the Richmond
City Engiuerr's ONCE for the practice of the
science Of astronomy, or the calculation oil neu-
tral axes OF Imaginary bridges, or the solution Oh
cubic logaritInc equation. involving, rs iar rs
Enc city OF Richmond is concerned, impracticabie
aDsurdities. not 10 say an impossible concatena-
tion of circumstances and conditions.
Scientific requirements not to be dcrided,
bEt there Is golden mean to be preserved between
practical requirements and theorellc knn"icdSe
and display. We apprehcnd that Mr.. GILL knows
toy this time what good brick is or piece ofstone
IL.
amount of this class OF knowledge. ns regards
present value to the city OF Richmond, aga!ns;
the ability to calculate the distance to the moon
nothing being given 10 start with.
"Geutlcmcn of the jury" sada western orator
In reply to his opponent, who was classical scho-
lar,nnd who had perforated muchly- "gentlcmcn OF
Inc jury, my learned friend has soaked with old
Socrates. has purrcd witl old Pertc'es, has Ripped
With Ripidcs, and damned with old Damocles
bur. gentlemen OF the jury, how the - does that
prove his client didn't steal that hogy'
Mr.. WASnlNGroS Gill is In possession OF Il
vast amount OF nnwrittcn necessarily sol infor-
| nation absolutely requisite to the proper filing
Of the office Of City Engineer, and we Gnhcsitd-
tingly affirm that If the great Sir isaac himself, or
| the phlosophic and laborious humboldt, was,
either of them, to rise from his grave and accept
| the Office Of City Engineer, the city treasure,
would pay for teaching him this knowledge which
| his unsuccessful opponent, Mr. Gill would
already possess. IN this supposablc case, how
! ever, our city would be somewhat compcnsa ted
| for pccunlary cost by the vanity of the posses.
| sion Of such man for public servant. You
may possibly have applicants, Messrs. Council
men, that. If bras. were hraius, might be tn,
| equals of the worthless Ia dust above mentioned
but as things are, perhaps 1t would hc well enough
To divide their pretcnsions 10y two, aud confer th
oicc upon The man who best understands the d,i
ties thereof and viii, IN all probability, procur
;hc greatest average good to the city at the lcas
average cost. SEVERAL OLD CITIZENS.