The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-23
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 90, 1874
The WEATHER To-DAY.-From our re-
ports his morning The probabilities are that
the peothcr today ,oill be partly cloudy.
LOCAL MATTERS.
Richmond and Trans-AIleghany Mar
roH-Gnuse RAtlrOad.

was held yesterday evening in the rooms OF
the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, MIR.
John Enders in the chair.
Mr.. Euders said that up to this time he
had not deemed it eXpedienC to call meet
ing of the committee, because the friends of
the scheme were anxious to lay before the
committee some important information
that information he thought the committee
had procured.
-GenerEl Imboden, temporary president of
the Richmond and Trans-Alleghany Mar
Gauge railroad. addressed the commit
Zee, and introduced Mr.. Moore, who has
been engaged in building q narrow-gauge
road for the Baltimore and Ohio Company.
Mr. Moore addressed the company upon
the advantages Of the narrow-gauge road
over the broad. gauge. He said that the cost
Of ties, iron, ETC., was far less; that the cost
of construction would be far less; forty per
cent. in construction and fifty per cent. in
iron can be saved. The cost OF the South
Branch road, which he has been building,
has been about $4,000 per mile for sixteen
miles. There was no doubt in his mind as
to what the southern country needs-vlZ,
cheap lines of transportation; and he be-
levod that the narro w-yauge system would
supply the need.
SeQtIal llIuOQcL uCAl auuicsScu GuC Soih-
mittee, and explained at some length the
benefits TO be derived to Richmond from the
building of this road, and the probable tu-
ture of the road aud its western connections
if the road is ever built. He contended that
this road, if built. will be the shortest posi-
BILE line from kentucky, Tennessee, and the
West to tide water and Richmond, and near
er to Cincinnati by about thirty miles than
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. He as
sured the committee that the people of the
southwest along the line of this road were de-
termined not 10 remain locked up much
longer, and if Richmond don't make move TO
build this road the people are determined to
seek aid from sources which will insure the
early completion Of this road. They are de-
termined to have an outlet somewhere. They
will compel the Legislature to give them a
charter next winter. and the result will be
that the Valley road, which is branch Of
the Baltimore and Ohio road, will extend its
line through the Clinch Valley, and not only
drain all of the ten counties through which the
Traus.AlIeghany road is proposed to be built,
but will be tributary to the great western
roads, and take the great freights of
the West to Baltimore which Richmond
should have. He thought that the commit
tee ought to recommend to the Council to
subscribe one million dollars to this road.
The people OF the West are willing that Rich
mond shall tie the hands of the company
thev are anxious that the road shall come TO
Richmond they don't want to go anywhere
else, but if Richmond don't make move
they will seek aid elsewhere. He thought 1t
Il matter Of great importance that corps ot
engineers should be put upon the line at once,
and that this committee ought to apply to
the City Council for four or five thousand
dollars 10 aid in tins survey.
The effect would be magical. 1t would
enable lis next winter to resist any attack
that may be made. 4 corps Of engineers
should be put 10 work in the mountains. He
felt satisfied. too. in saying that if five thou
sand u mile is subscribed for the building Of
the road, English contractors will undertake
to build the road at once, furnishing the adj
ditional capital required.
At the conclusion Of General ImbOden's
remarks Mr.. w. Z. BurWell presented Il re-
solution providing for the appointment OF a
committee of three from the general com.
mittee to draw up Il suitable memorial to the
City Council setting forth the advantages OF
the Richmond and Iraus-Allcghany Narrow
Gauge railroad; and that the Council be re-
quested to appropriate sum not exceeding
s., 900 to dcfray the expenses OF survey
and for other purposes incident thereto I'M
mediately; and If said survey shall be favor
able, then is recommended the submission
on the part of the City Council OF propo-
sition to the people to votea subscription, IN
conjunction with the twelve counties, to aid
in the construction Of this road.
Mr. Burwell addressed the committee
very earnestly in favor OF the resolution.
General Jos. r. Anderson said he thought
the question of building this road was a very
important one, and one which should be
considered very carefully before the commit
tee acts. If the city approprlates the money
asked for she at once commits herseii 10 the
building of the road. He did not tnlnk tnat
the building of another trunk line from Tue
CITY west should be recommended at THIS lime,
as we have already two roads TO the west.
He thought that if a road OF Tbs character
is built il should be constructed 10 be
feeder to General Mahone's line. Or Dulld
the road from the west to Buchanan anu
there strike the canal and bring the treight
to Richmond that way. lie thought that we
ought first, however, to sustain the roaos
already in existence.
General Imboden replied to General An
derson, and expressed surprise at the posi-
tion which he occupied in reference to this
matter.
The matter was further discussed by Gene
raj Anderson, Mr.. William Z. BurWell, Mr..
Isaac Davenport, and Colonel II. Z. Caoell;
when, at 9:15, General Anderson presented
the following substitute:
Resolced, That the committee do not feei
disposed to recommend to the City Council
to contribute aid TO the Richmond ana
Trans Alleghary Narrow Gauge railroad at
present.
AT 9:20, on motion, the meeting adjourned
until Tuesday night next at L. VI.
4 DECISION IN THE CASE OF Mr.. L. L.
BRcocEs.-Judge Bond has forwarded 10 the
Clerk of the United States Circuit Court here
an order overruling the demnrrers 10 the
indictment against Mr.. T. L. Brooks, late
president of the Merchants National Bank OF
Petersburg. Dir. Broocks's counsel, In their
argument last June, held that the indictment
was not good because Of Il misu0mer, ID
yhich he was called Thomas T. instead Of
Travis II. Brooks, and because the grand
iury which found the indictment had not
been summoned in manner conlOrmabe TO
the practice in the State courts Of Virginia.
Chief Justice Waite sat with Judge Bond In
the hearing of this question. and both agreed
in the decision which has been made. The
case of MIR. Brooks will be called for trial ut
the October term of the court.
THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS LEASED
The White Sulphur Springs property, ID
Greenbricr county, w. Va, has been leased
to Colonel j. l.. Darlington, OF this city, ior
q term of seven years. The lease has to be
.o,G,,,od Ly tho conrt in which the suit