The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-16

walked over to the hotel steps, where
large crowd soon gathered.
Mr.. French, addressing the assembly,
said 1t was his duty merely TO announce
the formal opening OF the road. He was
sorry to have to say that the only shade
In the glitter Of the day was the absence
Of the Chief Engineer, Major r. II. Tenn
pie. Mr. French was desirous, he said,
that the audience should see the man under
whose great skin this difficult work had
been accomplished so acceptably and so
speedily. Mr.. French then read the certi-
ficate Of Mr.. Whteomb Of the completion
of the Lexington branch and the fulfil
ment Of the contract with the James River
and Kanawha Company.
OTHER SPEAKERS.
Mr.. Massey, Auditor Of Public Accounts
and member OF the Board OF Public
Works, received from Mr.. French the eer-
tificate and addressed the audience, deelsr-
ing the road formally opened. II gave him
great pleasure to do so. The contract had
been complied with considerably before the
time required, and il gave him pleasure to
recognize the efficiency, zeal, and fine tact
shown by the company. He referred TO
the deposit Of S500,000 made by the CON-
pany aud the fact that il would be now all
released to them. He spoke very pleasantly
Of the many visitors from other States who
were present, OF the fact that though Virginia
had been behind her sister States, yet she
would in time be side by side with them
in progress and enterprise. In closing
he referred TO the fact that Virginia is
to-day celebrating two such interesting
events as the Yorktown Centennial and the
opening OF this road. He then introduced
as the honored guest OF the company to-day
the Governor Of the Empire State.
GOVERNOR CORNELL.
Governor Cornell, of New York, went
upon the steps and was greeted with cheers.
He said, very pleasantly, that he did not
come down here in q public capacity, nor
as the Governor of New York, but simply
as citizen and stockholder Of the Rich
niOnd and Allegheny railroad to be present
at the opening OF the road. lie had trav-
elled, lie said, across the State by the Vir-
ginia Midland, Chesapeake and Ohio,
and over the entire line OF the
Richmond and Allegheny, and it gave him
great pleasure. New York, through her
public men, had utilized the great water
way 10 the West, and she had rcaped the
benefits. Now, Virginia, after struggle
Of one hundred years, had abandoned the
old ideas and adopted the more modern
means OF transportation aud travel. She
could now look forward to an era of great
prosperity, and il would not be long before
she would be side by side, as Mr.. Massey
had said, with her sister States who had
oUtstripped heA He congratulated the
people OF the State upon the fuliment OF
this great enterprise.
Calls were made for Mr.. II. G. Parsons,
yice-president, but he said he would not
make a speech, and would merely read q
paper. He then read the order Of Messrs.
Massey and Reynolds, members OF the
Board Of Public Works, for the surrender
OF the last instalment OF $4,000 held by
the Board.
Calls were made for speeches from Mr..
Eells, president OF the Ohio Central and
/ General Ewing, OF Ohio, but these gentle
men did not respond.
The train left Hiowardsyille coming east
few minutes before O'Clock, and arrived
| in Richmond between and O'Clock. The
westward-bound train left few minutes
later, carrying back the guests from Will
liamson's, Lynchburg, Lexington, Natural
Bridge, &c.
COMPLIMENTARY RESOLUTIONS.
When the train stopped at Bremo, Judge
| Lay called TO order the guests from Rich
mOnd and the lower James River Valley
and said that resolution would he offered.
! On motion Judge Il. G.. Minor was in
yited to preside.
| Colonel Randolph Harrison offered the
/ following, which were unanimously agreed
| to:
| Resolved, That it is the sense OF those
who have participated in the pleasant fes-
tivities Of this day by invitation Of the Off
cials Of the road in celebration Of the for
NAL opening Of the Richmond and Ale
ghany railroad, that our thanks and the
thanks Of the people OF the James-Riyer
Valley, and, indeed, OF the whole
State, are due TO the president and
directors, and general manager Of the road
for the energy, enterprise, and ability with
which they have prosecuted this great work,
giving earnest ofa speedy accomplishment Of
the grand conception Of Washington-an
outlet through Virginia for the rich pro-
ducts OF the West.
Resolved, That we recognize a singular
appropriateness in the condolences Of this
celebration with the Centennial at York
town-in double sense we rejoice in the
"French" alliance.