Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-01-12
AlfaaEGrIa 6azetIs
MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY
LOCAL MATTERS.

LUCAL nal
For the Middle Atlantic States generally cold
ar clearing weather. preceded by light local rains
suihyesterly shifting to colder northwesterly
Winds, rising preceded on the coast by falling
b .rometer Decidedly colder weather will pre-
vail to morrow
Mr. BARBoUR's BANouET.-As stated in
Saturdae's GAZETTE MIR. Barbour while In
New York, last week, was handsomely
banoueted by the directors of the Virginia
Midland Railway, who met in that city on
Friday. The New York Times gives the
following account of the banquet "A ban
nuet was given Hon. John S. Barbour, re-
f;rnq president Of the Virginia Midland
Railroad, by some of the New York share.
holders The entertainment took place at
the Union League Club. Mr.. Barbour was
presented with solid silver dinner service
ofupioue beauty Among those who were pre-
sent were G. F. Baker president ofthe First
National Bank; +. ID. shepherd, v'ce-presi-
dent of the American Bank Note Company
W.P.Cl,de, H. G. Fahnestock, Calvin Brice
George |. Seney aud other we'll known rail-
way and financial magnates. About hfly
New Workers and a sprinkling of Virginans
were present. A plumber of brief speeches
we're made, and the silver service and some
handsomely framed resolutions were ex.
pressed to Mrs. Barbour at her home in Viz
ginia. "The ex-ralway president" adds
the Times. "is now a cheftain of the demo
cratic party in his State, and is about enter
ing on his third term in Congress. Three
yeats ago he was selected by his party to
lead them in their fight against Malone.
This wear a SUCCESSOR to Malone IL to be
chosen by the Legislature, which meets 10
December next Should his party hold the
State his friends claim there will be hardly
any opposition TO his election as Senator ID
place of Gen. Malone"
The following extract is taken from the
minutes Of the meeting Of the stockholders
of the Virginia Midland Railway Company,
held in this city on the Goth day OF last De-
cember, being the report of the committee
appointed to prepare suitable resolutions
upon the retirement of Mr.. Barbour from
the presidency Of the company, and which
were presented to him in New York on Fri
day:
Railway Company, in parting with the Hon.
John 8. Barbour as President of the corpo
ration, desire to express not only their re
yret at the severance of connection of such
long duration, but to bear witness to the
grest value of his services, bis stainless
character, and that uniform courtesy and
kindness which have always rendered ass0-
citation with him so agreeable.
Mr.. Barbour was connected from It's be-
ginning with the organization from which
the Virginia Midland has descended.
When called thirty-two years ago to the
head of the parent company, he found 1t an
unimportant local road in the forests OF
Fairfax, with no higher hope than to ex-
reud, with aid from the State, to some I'M
certain connection with the Virginia Cen
trail road. He leaves it traversing the State
and associated at one extremity with the
great roads Of the North, and at the other
linked with one of the great systems of the
g South
Under his wise management tributary
roads have been constructed and gaps TILED,
until now It's traius roll over its own un-
broken line from Carolina to Mary land. Not
content with developing the road over
which he presided, with wise precision and
public spirit, he took up and rebuilt the
abandoned Manassas Railroad aud gave 10
one of the finest regions of Virginia renew
ed access to market and the world.
Through his agency, too, the State OF Vir
pipia has been repaid the limited aid WHICH
she gave to the company.
When the force of the war to which great
stakes had succumbed, prostated the for
tunes Of the old company, the courts OF the
land, recognizing the integrity and wisdom
of Mr.. Barbour, continued him as their
manager and agent, and when it emerged
from the wreck, he was the chief agent OF
reconstruction, and by unanimous vote OF
creditors and stockholders, with the cordial
approval of the court, he was the sole agent
for its sale.
Thus from its inception, to the hour of his
resignation, the Virginia Midland road has
had no history that was not of his making.
Through all the vicissitudes ofpeace, war
and reconstruction, its fate and its finances
have been in his hands, and through all,
his Judgment has been commended and his
integrity admired.
The retirement Of such a man is an event
of such Importance to this company that
those who are interested in its success feel
that they cannot permit it to occur without
recording their esteem for the man, their
gratitude for his services, and their regret
at his separation. Therefore be it
Resoired by the Stockholders of the Vir
yinia Midland Railway Company, that the
foregoing is Just but inadequate express
sion Of their feelings in parting from the
Hon John 2. Barbour as president OF their
company, aud their respect for his ability
and gratitude for his services.
Resolved, That the officers be directed to
procure. and present to Mr.. Barbour SER
vice of silver, with suitable inscription, as a
slight token of our regard.
Resolred, That the secretary of this meet
ing transmit an engrossed copy of these
proceedings to Hon. John s. Barbour, and
that the same be entered upon the records
of the company.
The eugrossed copy Of the above is one
Of the fuest specimens of the art preserv-
alive that We ever saw.
DEATH OF Mr. FoLGER.-Mr. Charles W.
Folger, the only son of the late Secretary OF
the Treasury, died of consumption yester-
day morning in Geneva, n. Y. He had
been afflicted for two years with weakness
of rho Irnos from which comnlaint his