The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-22
rHE UH4saE eRsaAUaE auEsT1ol
hEET1NsATAssENBLYHALbIAsr NIGHT
PFceesdanEs Cosninaneed, but sud
denly Terminated ON Account
y Gaslasr .sof the Fire., ~ at.,sr!

denly Terminated ON Account
y faslasTf sof the Fire. ~ z,-;sEs
4at-,t t.s.s 8 .-----., ...,s L. ~. as it.E sri
A considerable number Of eur business
men. and citizens generally gathered at As
sembly HalI last night TO, consider the pro.
posed change Of gauge Of the railroad from
Richmond to DanvilIe. - r.,
The meeting was called 10 order at half
past 8 o'clock by General Peyton Wise, on
whose motion hr. Lewis d. Crenshaw was
Upon assuming the chair Nr. Crenshaw
hoped that the courtesy and order which
usually characterizes 'Richmond audience
would supply the deficiency he labored
under as presiding officer. They had
met to consider the proposed change
Of the gauge Of the Richmond and
Danville railroads. very important
question to the city and to the State. Like
most others he came there, seeking light. It
seemed to him that there was less prosperity
in Richmond than there was thirty or thir-
ty-fYe years ago. He did not believe there
were as many goods sold here now as there
was then. He did not want to see more Of
her trade lost, aud how to prevent that was
what this meeting should consider. BE an
nouuced himself ready to receive business
propositions: - 80
Mr. T. W. HcCance,, president OF the
Board Of Directors of the Richmond Cham.
Der OF Commerce, stated what had been
done ct the late meeting of the
Board to consider this subject, and the
effort that had been made then to Sc
cure full attendance and fair discussion.
He should not trouble this meeting
hr1f fo,-o ot,or hat n
been made In communication to the Wing
10 effect that the meeting of the Board was
called without due notice, and that its pro-
ceedings were summary. II the author OF
that was there he must have seen that the
proceedings were deliberate, and that the
chairman hesitated putting the question
He thought it due to! himself as the presi.
say this much In its vindicstion. -.
General Peyton Wise said he would take
this early opportunity to declare that as he
understood the purposes Of this meeting,
they were not to condemn or criticize the
action Of the Chamber Of Commerce, but
rather to give the subject fuller discussion,
Mr.. James II. Wise said he was the author
ofthe article in the Whig signed 81. NJ. W.
He did not get to the meeting Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce until it was half over; he
heard no invitation to outsiders to speak, and
he did not know when the question was put,
and was not aware that it had been put until
he saw gentlemen rising to 60 out. He had
| nothing of what he had said in that commu-
nication to retract, but disclaimed any rehec-
| tion upon Mr.. McCance-for him he had the
highest respect. ...e @s:c..-.
| After the lapse Of few minutes the chair
man stated that it had been suggested that
| General John D. Imboden and Colonel Will
liam P. BurWell were present, and he had no
doubt the meeting would be glad to hear
| from them. ....~.
Mr.. William F. Drinkard proposed that
Colonel A. S. Buford, the president Of the
Danville Railroad Company, should first be
tpermitted to explain the purposes of his
company in seeking the change of gauge,
| General Wise consented to this arrange
ment, and it was ratified by vote of the
meeting. ..
| General Wise, however, thought as there
were many gentlemen who would like to bt
! heard, speeches should be limited to twenty
minutes.
Mr.. John Lyon opposed the last proposi
tion, and approved OF Mr.. Drinkard's me
tion that Colonel Buford be first heard.
| Colonel Buford declined to open the pro
ceedings, but was ready to afford all the in
formation in his possession; though whe
| the time came for him to do SO he hoped b
| would have more than twenty minutes.
Colonel W: P. BurWell offered the follow
ing resolutions:
"Resolued, That in the opinion Of thi
meeting the change Of gauge of the Ricf
mond and Danville road would be injuriou
to the interests of this city. 1a
"Rssolced, For the protection Of the trad
| Of this and other Virginia cities, that dec
siye steps should be taken by the Legislator
at its present session to prevent combin:
| tions between foreign corporations; and tha
| in the opinion Of this meeting Senate bill t
repeal the 5th section Of chapter 81 of tn
| Code Of 1873, in relation to branch roads, O
lateral works, should be promptly passed.
"Resoioed, That our senators and dele
gates be requested to use their best diligenc
in carrying out the will Of this meeting"
| Mr. John Lyon hoped that one Of the sec
retaries who possessed good lungs would
| read the resolutions over again. -
Mr.. John Greene said that the secretaries
| elected were reportoraly engaged, and there
fore a new secretary had probably better be
| chosen.
| General Wise insisted that as Mr.. Johr
| Lyon had given proof Of the strength OF hi!
lungs, be shouldbe made secretary. Laugh
| ter - er
This motion was put and carried.
Mr.. Lyon thereupon took the stand a.
| secretary. BE declared that he had nc
thought of having this distinguished honol
| conferred upon him, but he accepted, no
| meaning to be bluned.
The resolutions were read second time
On motion of Mr.. Dooley, Colonel Bu
ford, Colonel Burwell, and all other gentle
| men proposing to address the meeting, Wer'
invited to occupy seats uponthe stage.
| ..s COLONEL P. BURwELL
preceeded to speak in behalf Of the resolu
tions and in opposition. to the proposed
change of gauge. He depicted the prostra
tion of business in Richmond and in th'
| other cities of the Commonwealth, and at
| tributed it In great measure to the mistaken
railroad legislation of Virginia. The propo
| stion 10 allow the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
| road Company to march to our rear and Gu
off the valuable trade coming to us from Tn
| Carolinas, he regarded as the most danger
GUS of ali. He thought the matter wa
within the sovereign power OF the Legtsla
ture, and that by repeating the law allowing
| railroad companies to construct latela
branches of ten miles the remedy could b.
applied. = .ho h.,
| At this point some person IN the hal
stated the mills of Haxall, CrenShaW q 20
were on fire; the crowd commenced leaving
1 in great haste.
Ir. Crenshaw put a motion to adjourn
| until O'Clock tonight, and it was carried
4
Coussy JUDGE NoN1NArED-A caucus
| Conservative members Of the General as
sembiy. which took place IN the hall OF IN