The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-16
Ranort. Of president ] johnston

OF the Clifton Forge anu bueiaeuO"
road Company Is before u.s. we are gra'r,
fed to see that Major JOHNSTON means ous'-
ness. ;
with three hundred and TWENTY-FIVE p ,s1:..
sent,ary convicta, work ON this road was
begun on the LIST OF last July. The fles,-
dent reports that, exclusive o. tue WoiA
heretofore done on the route bY the James
river and Kanawha Company, the WORK Oh
graduation. as to the cost thereof. Is no"
hal, done. Including the old work for the
canal. the whole graduation completed may
be estimated, as to the cost thereof, as Two
thirds finished. And, including tue ma
sonry new and oidb tsthe work, as to. the
cost thereof, may be said to be three Joart"S
DONE"
II Is estimated that with moderately
OMEN winter the whole work OF graduation
and masonry VIII be completed by June J.
1873.
From the chief engineers report 1t APP
pears that the length of this road is thirty
three miles. The maximum grade coming
east is twenty-one feet, and going west
twenty-one feet. y.
The maximum grade Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad between Clifton Forge
and Huntingdon is, going west' s'A's iee''
and coming east thirty feet. -.
On the Chesapeake and Ohio road the
heavy grades are this side OF Clifton Forge.
Going west the maximum grade between
Richmond and Charlottesville is sixty feet;
between Charlottesville and Staunton, seven
ty-fve feet; and between Staunton aho
Clifton Forge cighty.three feet. Coming
east on this road the maximum graoes are
Between Charlottesville and Richmond
fifty feet; between Staunton and Charlottes-
Vile, seventy-ive feet; between Clifton
Forge and Stanton, seventy-five feet. And
it is remarkable fact that the grade Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio road, on the very first
mile this side of Clifton Forge Coming
east), approximates seventy feet. e,. 49,.
| On the Baltimore and Ohio railroad there
are grades as high as 116 feet each way
The PENNSYLVANIA road has ffty-three feet
coming east, and ninety feet going west.
The Erie road has grades OF sixty to
seventy-tive feet. ...... ...... .....
The maximum Of the New York Central Is
thirty feet.
We believe that Major JOHNSTON is doing
great work, and If he puts this road
through he will deserve the thanks of the
whole State from the head OF the James TO
Richmond and Chesapeake bay.
Indeed we frankly say that Major JOHN
sroS has displayed degree of administra-
tive ability united with practical sense and
energy that is very remarkable. We have
not seen an instance, all things considered,
of such efficiency and generalship in the
history OF internal improvements in Viz
einia. In considering the achievements OF
the Major thus far, we are reminded OF a
little anecdote which, "with permission Of
the COURT we will relate.
Long years ago gentleman OF this city
! known as hotel-manager, and quite dlstin-
ruished as liberal caterer and superb host,
who never made any money, and who iran
through several watering-places and ho-
tells, leased the old Swan tavern, OF honored
fame, and we may say Of classical history,
and there opened very agreeable establish
| mept. A fine conversationalist, well posted
in polite learning, and especially familiar
with Virginia traditional lore, he was one
OF the most entertaining men that ever kept
entertainment" ....i...... p.
| This gentleman-we may as we'll name
him as JACK TAYLOR, one OF the best OF
"good fellows" and one Of the kindest and
most obliging OF gentlemen-was fain to
give "blow-out" at the starting OF the
| Swan. So he spread table most bounti-
fully, consisting Of such savory and palata-
BILE yisnds as were never dreamed Of by the
"Wealthy Camacho." That dinner has
never for intrinsic excellence been surpassed
I in Richmond, as we can testify. 1t was
placed before the very jewels OF good-fel-
lowship; and such night as they had was
VOL OF the best times and most loyal and
superb company. JACK was grand fellow,
and as he surveyed his company, in the full
ness of bis pride and joy, no prince on earth
could appear more lordly and happy.
The fun, the humor, and the wit abound
ed, and the hours flew by on t'.wings of
pIeasure.' But we should not extend this
history. The point which we wish to bring
out is this: Towards the conclusion Of the
banquet all eyes were directed to the fine
specimen Of man and gentleman, the
host, who seemed like, helmsman guiding
the feast through the gale Of boisterous iol-
! lifcation. This was done by the commanding
voice Of once wellknown lawyer scholar,
Eaud satirist in this city, the Late JAMES n.
lWICKHAN. With a neat introduction he
toasted the glorious landlord as "The
"Prince OF Hotel-Keepers, who kept the
/" best hotel and spead the richest table,
"without money and without credit" We
need not add that it met the hearty response
OF the. entire company, who applauded it
to the very echo .still that did, applaud
again" 49,. .,..'.s..5t -, -. .-.,.s A.
| We think this story is good; and that it
Iapplies admirably to the wonderful tact and
energy Of Major JOHNSTON, who has push
ed the Improvement under his charges far
that its completion is certain. And this he
has done as nearly without money and with
out credit as ever did president OF pub.
lie work.
Silver. ;.8
We trust that all debaters on the silver