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

THE OFFICE OF CRY ESGrSEER-TO THE Az.
POINTING PowEH.-As It is understood that be-
sides the'old incumbent there are several new as-
pIrants for this Office, armed with recommended
tons, some Of which are written by parties who
could not be supposed to be judges whereof they
speak the writer's Of this article, friends Of
Mr.. WASHINGTON GILL and with eye single to
the interests OF the city OF Richmond, hive re-
solved ourselves into committee to suggest TO
your honorable body the eminent propriety Of re-
appointing wcll-tried officer. who. during the
long period Of sixteen yc1rs' service to the city
In the capacity in which he now seeks rearpoint-
ment has arern1ed "gooi,'' and who retains
| from his opportunities nought to enrich him save
an honorable record. ~-- 1t.e.a b.. II. ...-
Some Of your applicants will no doubt be he
ralded as brilliant men," Have care, Messr5.
Councilmen. that you do not furnish light for
these brilliant gems to sparkle IN. ''Mr. GILL;
quoth they. "is too siow-he Is an cid fogy,' &C.
Thus in our hearing. modestly loquitur one Of
thsse gents, who is himself active candidate
for the office. .-.. s. ="
The ancients though for the most part big fools,
| once In while made pretty fair remarks: FeS.
tina tente. We frogs might do we'll TO bear IN
mind the fable Of King Log and King Stork.
There Is no particular demand In the Richmond
CITY Enginecr's Once for the practice OF the
science OF astronomy, or the calculation oi nea-
irai axes or imaginary bridges, the solution OK
cubic logarlthmic equation, involving, as far as
the city Of Richmond Is concerned, impracticahc
aosurdities. not to say all impossible concatena-
ti0n OF circumstances and conditions.
Scientific requirements are not to be tcrided,
but there Is golden mean to be preserved between
practical requirements and theorctlc kno"ichsc
and display. We apprehcnd that Mr.. GILL knows
by this time what good brick is or piece ofstJne
| or wood is, and VIC will unhcstatingly pit this
amount of this class Of knowledge, regards
present value to the city Of Richmond, against
the ability to calculate the distance to the noon-
| nothing being given to start with.
"GentlcIncn of the jury" said u western orator
Ill reply to his opponent, who was classical scho-
| and who had perora led muchly "gentlcmcn OF
fhr jury, my learned friend has soaked with old
socrates. has purred With old Peric'es, has ripped
with Ripidcs, and damned with old Damocles,
but. gentlemen of the jury, how the does that
| prove his client didn't steal that hog2'
| MIR. WASHINGTON Gill is In possession OF II
| vast amount of nDwrittcn necessarily sol infor-
| nation absolutely requisite to the proper filing
| Of the Office of City Engineer, and We unhcsita-
tingly affirm that If the great Sir Isaac himself, or
| the philosophic and laborious Humboldt, was,
either of them, to rise from his grave and accept
the Office Of City Engineer, the city treasure,
| WOHld pay Tor teacntnR Dlm tnls hnOWie!Be Will'n
| his unsuccessful opponent, Mr. GILL would
already possess. In this supp0sahle case, how.
ever, cur city would he somewhat compensated
for pccunIary cost by the vanity OF the posses.
| sion Of such n man for Il public servant. You
may possibly have applicants, Messrs. Council
| men. thai, If brass were brains. might be thu
| equals Of tue worthless Ia dust above mentioned,
but rs things are perhaps 1t would hc well enough
10 divide their prctenstons by two, and confer tht
Office upon The man who best understands the du
ties thereof and will, in all probability, procure
the greatest average good to the city 1t the lcas
average cost. SEVERAL OLD CITIZENS.