Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-29
1. AND H. ROAD.
srrrI A YxIlrxa AGAINST rEIBHoAD
GAUGE.
Ysars tAA nieAnosa win be More Ssns-
ftsd than Iynehburg-Da.
hers Cad Death.
rcurupopaenee Of ,hs Rlehmond pispa tchl

fOorrsupondence of The Richmond Dispatchl
LYHcHpURo, October %, 1886.
Notwithstanding the fact that the people
here have acquiesced in the decision OF the
Board Of Directors OF the Lynchburg,
Halifax and North Carolina railroad that
The gauge Of the contemplated road should
be Of standard dimensions, there exists
feeling Of uneastness In many quarters lest
the road, " built IN the manner decided
upop, should contribute more TO the bene-
AZ Of Richmond than Of Lynchburg. This
view Is entertained by one OF the leading
rapers OF the city. and the journal In ques-
ton Is by no means alone In It's prog
ncsiicat!ons Of evil consequences to
his city should the adoption OF the
standard gauge DC persisted In. In
that event, he intimatcs that 1t would be
letter 10 turn the road over at once - some
large corporation possessed OF sufficient
means to y,ush the enterprise 10 an imme.
diate completion. The fear, as expressed
by many OF our citizens, Is that, being OF
the same gauge with the Richmond ana
Danville road. aud coming In direct con
tact with that road, great deal OF me
trade which now comes 10 this city would
be diverted 10 Richmond over the kicn-
inond and Danyille. That II would open
N n competing market with Lynch.
burg admits Of no question. Whether
the hin city would be able to "boid her
own in such an event Is for the future TO
determine. The experiment is considered
by many wise businessmen as an en-
trs mely hazardous one, especially In view
OF the fact that Lyuchburg has voted 90
large subscription to an enterprise that Is
fx.lxs 20 mt as hnnpflt
ac,iou OF The directors was in direct an
tagonism 10 the entire press OF this city,
hnf I'm coneopaDcs with the views OF
the Halifax people. Whether the ac'
lion already taken will be revised or
n OF after the engineers have made the sur
yey remains 10 be seen. Our people have
made up their minds that they want the
road in any shape, but think very large
N ajority Of them would prefer TO adhere TO
the original design-i. e.. narrow gauge
not only In trade point Of view, but because
II can be constructed for less money, aud
without entangering the future possession
Of u by our own people.
Many hearts IN this community are to-
day afflicted over the sad fate OF George
Batter. victim Of the disastrous fire yes.
serday at Pocahontas. Baber was native
Of Goochlard county, whence the family
came 10 this city when be was a small boy.
He had lust about attained the years OF mt
turity, and was very popular here. He was
ayoung mai Of fine character and possessed
of noble impulses, and was consistent and
active member OF the Baptist church in this
city. He went to Pocahonias about four
or five months ago to engage in mercantile
pursuits. aud had been very successful.
HIS older brother Charles was with him in
the hotel oil the night OF the fire, but In
The effort tc escape by jumping from the
porch was seriously, perhaps Totally, ln-
iured. Their widowed mother, an older
brother (who is engaged in mercantile pur-
suiis). and two sisters reside in this city,
ard 10 them the sympathics Of this whole
community Is spontaneously extended.
All that was found of the remains Of young
Baber consisted Of some false teeth, some
small bones, end his heart-all OF which
would not more than ill cigar-boX.
A resolution was rushed through the
Council at its last meeting-without, 1t Is
believed, their clearly understanding its
eiIect-prohibiting the fire and police COM
missioners from employing in their re-
spectiye departments other than residents
OF The city. IL has been asserted by the
indi, idual who introduced the resolution
that IT was done for "party purposes"
The fire commissioners do not propose
10 brook this interference with the
discharge OF their duties, and unless the
resolution Is rescinded at the next meet.
ng OF the Council, it is probable that tie
Board aud chief will resign. This attempt |
O introduce politics into an organization |
hat has been rendered almost perfect by |
he clear. beaded businessmen, who have |
,rougbt it to Its present state on purely |
BUSINESS principles, is condemned by some |
4 the best and wsest men in the city. The |
ubject has created no little comment, AID |
: likely to be further agitated. Rex.