The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-01
Virgins, and as such In charge Of the uume.'

SolI. AL HI.
y,rginis, and as such 10 charge Of the uuens.'
rous works Of interns! Improvement then Ia
progress. The de, 9ased became On as
sistant engineer under Cotonel Crozef,
and was employed on the James River
aud kauawha canal and in the construction
OF the State turupikes In the Valley and
western portions OF the Stnte. HIS frss wife
was the daughter Of Mr.. James Bros VINO
was the earliest incumbent Of the once OK
Second Auditor Of the State, and who wes
the Srst 10 put in use the present system Of
checks aud balances. and was sometimes
called "thc Father OF Figures" LeavingShe
business of engineering after his marriage,
d .cessed became chief clerk 10 the Office OF
Mr. Brown. The Second Auditor was nomi-
nally The secretary Of the Board OF Public
Works, but Chief.Clerk Dewitt really did
tbc work until the Office OF Secretary OF
the Beard OF Public Works was created
distinct and separate from the Office
Of Sc ,oud Auditor, and was filled BY the
election Of Colonel W. Z. Dr,nkard. Upon
the appointment Of Governor Floyd as Secre.
chief clerk, and Colonel DeWitt was elected
~ IDG uulCC VI CySiCtaIN w ING OOoAN W
Public Works. In this position be remained,
drawing the greater part OF his modest in-
come for clerical duties performed 10 the
Second Auditors Office until October, 1871,
when Colonel W. y. Coleman was elected
Secretary of the Board of Public Works and
Secretary Of the Board Of Commissioner rs OF
the Sinking Fund 10 his stead. he, bow.
ever, continued dischargiug his clerical du.
ties In the Second Auditors office, and after
! the detalcation Of Colonel Coleman was lon
| 0 February, 1S74,) restored to che secreta-
ryships.
Last summer he was for several months
laboriousIy engaged with Mr.. John o. Steger
| In the examination Of the books and accounts
| Of the basement offices. HIS services here
| were invaluable.
OTHER TRAITS.
No man knew more about the public debt
or internal improvements Of the Common
! wealth, and no one had q more reteDttve
! memory, and few had larger store OF gene.
raj Inform uion. He remembered almost
every notable occurrence 10 The capitol, or
even In the State, within the past thirty or
thirty-fve years, aud was consulted almost
! daily by officers aud employe, OF the various
| departments.
Ccleuel Dewitt had slso given much at
tentloa to the study. OF natural history, and
was continually experimenting and inyes
| tigating with a microscope which he re-
| garded as one OF the largest and finest-and
| 1t was ono Of the costliest--in the state.
Some weeks ago Colonel Dewitt remarked
| to gentIem IN 1T the capitol: Il have lived
too long" This be repeated Ga numerous
! occasions lie at other times said: w ben
- ,E sn, ,ph; n ia snnrt pf
/ on .dc hcau' Way, rpaUaa ra.eG /.
! friend, s'therc is no sense in tnat, and II
there were you are Sot six'y-fYe." mo,
not siyty-tive, but close TO II" he responded.
| Sucn were iht gluuuipess or bis thoughts.
| His mind was gradually leaving Its moorings
| and drifting out upon shoreless sea. His
family, seeing his condition, begged him to
90 to the country aud rest FOR few weeks,
| hoping that fresh air and country scenery, q
restored appetite, aud cessation from labor
| would relieve him. Tickets had actually
| been secured, and were s'ou to have been
| used bad not it been for the lamentable oc-
currence Of Yesterday.
His last official act was done on Monday,
| when, with much difficulty, owing to the
weakness Of bis mind, he made an entry
concerning some sterling bonds funded or
exchanged for K. FL. Maury g. Co.
| Colonel Dewitt was sober and quiet in
| disposition; was attentive to business, though
! not very active, aud was careful Of the feel
ings and regulations Of others. But few Of
his most intimate acquaintances can say they
ever heard him speak unkindiy or disparag
| ingly of any one. He leaves widow
| daughter Of the late Colonel Edmond Fon'
taiDe, Of the Central rallroad,) and three
childrep-one sor and two daughters and
a reputation unstained by the breath of sus.
picion.
/ TIE FUNERAL.
The funeral services will take place at St
Puurs church this morning at $50 o'clock
and the remains will he inferred at Holly
wood cemetery. The knights Templar. ol
which be was high officer, and Lodge No
So, A. F. and A. d., of which he was Pas
Master, and members of other lodges Of Ma
sons, will act as the funeral escort.
| THE CAPITOL OFFICERS.
The officers and employees of the State
Government, amongst whom Colonel De.
| Witt spent over thirty years of bis life, will
hold meeting to-day to pass resolutions ex
pressive of their regret at his death.
4 ---
| Corn ExCHANGE.-Am meeting Of the Boart
| or T>;rootorS of tho rnrn on1 Elnnr Ey