The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-22
westw,ard, Ho!

4
RoAD--A PLEASANT PARTY AND A SUCCESS
| FUL TRIP-THE GREAT ENTERPRISE FULLY
1YAUGURkTED--PERsos &C., &C.
The first regular passenger train over the
Richmond and Allegheny railroad between
Richmond and Maiden's-Adventnre dam,
tweuty-eigbt miles west from this city, left
here yesterday at 1:35 p. NJ, having on
board a number OF prominent officials,
businessmen. representatives OF the press,
and others, and returned at 6:45 p. NJ.
The trip was purely official. designed to
show the businessmen OF Richmond and
all others interested 10 what is destined TO
become one OF the most important railroad
lines to this city that the Richmond and Al
Ieghany railroad is fixed fact.
The afternoon was clear and not uncom-
fortably warm, and the run was as success
| fuI as the most ardent friends OF the line
could have desired. The party were the
guests OF the Vice. President, and expressed
themselves az not only highly delighted
with what they saw and beard OF the pros
poets OF the company, but also with their
hosDitable entertainment.
Among the officials who went up upon
Mr.. Parsons's invitation were his Excel
lency Governor f. w. NJ. Holiday {; Presi-
I dent Scott, Of the Richmond and Peters
burg railroad; President Buiord, OF the
Richmond and Danville railroad; Major Il.
T. ID. Myers, engineer and superintendent
OF the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac railroad; Judge Meredith. president
OF the Board OF Aldermen, and Maxwell
L. Clarke, Esq, president OF the Common
| Council; Alderman Todd, chairman OF the
Committee on Streets; Judge Ould, presi-
dent OF the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac railroad; Mr.. II. d. Wbitcomb,
consulting engineer OF the Richmond and
Allegheny railroad Franklin StearDs, Esq,
lifelong friend OF the great enterprise (;
Charles Campbell, Esq, late a member OF
the City Council; Hon. T.. NJ. Reynolds,
Treasurer OF the State OF Virginia (;
Charles L. Wortbam, Esq, director OF
the Richmond and Allegheny railroad in
Virginia; r. NJ Manly, Esq, late men,
ber of the Board OF Aldermen; o. II. Rus
sell, Esq, collector Of internal revenue (;
Claiborne Watkins, Esq, vice-president Of
the Chamber OF Commerce Thomas w.
McCance, Esq, and Captain Philip Haxall,
OF the Corn and Flour Exchange; Major
Robert Archer, OF the Tredegar Works; j.
III. Montague, Ed, treasurer Of the Cham
Der OF Commerce; Frank A. Burr, OF the
/ Philadelphia Press; Colonel j. l.. CARING
ton, OF the Exchange; Richard lrby, Esq.,
Commissioner Of immigration OF Virginia
Rev. j. e. Armstrong; w. q. Taylor, ESQ.,,
president OF the Bank Of Commerce; John
p. Branch, Esq of Thomas Branch Il
Sons; j. Y. Ellyson, Esq. chairman OF the
Council Finance Committee; Charles o..
Williams, Esq. Mr.. A. l.. Boulware John
| Purcell, Esq, of the Chamber OF Com
merce; Mr.. L. ID. Christian, president OF
| ,.f,
pany, and many others.
The favored ladies Of the party were
Misses Katie Parsons, daughter OF Vice
! President Parsons; Alice Whitcomb,
daughter OF Mr.. II. d. Whtteomb; and
Elise Williams, daughter OF Mr. Charles U.
| Williams. Miss Katie Parsons rode on the
engine, and, under the direction OF the en-
gineer. started the frst regular passenger
train on It's way to the great West.
CT the officers CT the company, besides
Vice President Parsons, who has been la
boring so many years for this great enter
prise, there were present Mr.. Decatur Ak
tell, the popular general manager; Trea-
surcr HOmans ; Divsion-EDgineer Bolton |;
General X. l.. Walker, master OF roadway,
and Others. The train was in charge OF
Conductor 4. w. Smith, with Mr.. George
Fisher as engineer.
The train elided along smoothly over the
new road, leaving the depot near the foot OF
CANDLES Hill at 1875 and reaching the point
OF destination at $3.50 Z. NJ, where the party
at O'Clock enjoyed well-prepared lunch.
On the way UP halt was made at
BoscObel, station opposite the residence OF
Dr.. w. II. Walker, and that gentleman
being invited on board, accompanied the
excursionists to the dam. A train OF freight
cars was standing upon the Side-track
awaiting 10 receive the freight from The
boats now ready TO discharge their cargoes.
Mr.. wilkinson, whose connection with The
road has heretofore been mentioned, and
who has charge OF the Office at the end
Cf the track, welcomed the party and eX-
planned hi, method OF transfer.
At 515 Z. NJ. the train returned TO Rich
mond, being brought down by Engineer
Bryant, the pioneer locomotive engineer OF
the line. The return was made In lite
over an hour. and the whole party was sur
pri,ed, as we have stated, and delighted,
too, at the smooth and even track.
The rails are OF steel, bound with double
fanged fish-plates. The ties are OF white.
oak, OF Unusual size The road.bed Is an
old embankment laid IN puddled clay,
beaten for nearly half a century by the feet
of the mules and horses, and is as solid as q
rock. The grades are so light that the eye
can scarcely detect them.
As the train neared Richmond the sun
went down. 1t was a gorgeous sunset
one OF the most beautiful we have ever
seen. The cars glided along on the
homeward run, and soon the lights OF
the Tredegar furnaces were in full
view. 1t was grand sight. Behind
us the rich lints OF The sky presented one
OF natures most beautiful pictures. while
in front the glare OF the great blazing fur
naces lighted up what will eventually
nay, soon-become q grr at manufacturing
city. 1t was most interesting occasion.
There is something in fact accomplish.
ed For generation this community has
| looked for this gate to the West 10 open. We
have had railroads in the air and on paper,
contracts and deposits to guarantee,
and have heard OF men at work. and seen
rails passing through the city; but to-day
The trains 90! From this day, forever.
whatever changes may come TO great cor
poratiops or to men, trains VIII come and
20 through the James. River Valley. Stead
liy and rapidly this steel road will reach out
towards the West until its ultimate connec-
tions are made and it takes its rightful
place among the great trunk lines OF the
continent.
The der OF is now at the upper end oil the
CITY (near CANDLES HilO, but the time VIII
soon be when it will be broughtinto the mag.
nifcept property of the company-twelve
hundred feet long and three hundred ftet
wide-in the very heart Of the city, where
the other roads will join it. Success 10 the