The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-22

". have on eoveral occasions in the past
called attention to O disposition on the parto
Tho authorities OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway Company 10 change the names OF
noints on their line, which were originally
given on account Of their historic or personal
associations. and the appropriateness and sig
nifcance Of which arc only fully appreciated
bv individuals who arc familiar with the local
or general traditions Of the State.fs
Instances of this character which will be
remembered by all are the conversion OF New
ports News into Newport News an alteration
probably suggested by tho greater facility
with which the latter can be pronounced ana
the institution Of Towano for Burnt
Ordinary. IL the instance OF Newports News
the rhetorical reasons which led 10 the name
are partiallv overlooked and in tho instance
Of Burnt Ordinary. q landmark Of great age.
and therefore one identified with local his
tory for generations. is 30 far as the name IS
concerned. which under the circumstances IL
all important. completely erased from tne
map. the spigit Of iconoclasm noteyen content
inc itself with mutilstion like that noted IL
Eewport's News.
No doubt there haye been other changes OF
local names Of quito as much significance as
those which we have mentioned.
Itisa source Of much regret to Us 70 hear
that the authorities Of tho same road now
propose to drop the name Of Crozet for the
Albemarle station which has always borne
that designation. and substitute for It tho
name of Miller. Crozet was named IN honor
Of tho distinguished engineer who was so
closely identified before the war With the
greatest public improvements Of the state.
No history Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road would be complete which omitted from
its pages Mandatory reference TO the work
which he performed in the construction Of It's
Eastern sdivision, the tunnel through the
Blue Ridge being monument to bis pro
fessional skill.
So far us we know tho only spot on
the present line of the Chesapeake and Ohio
whore an effort nos been made TO perpetuate
the name Of Colonel Crozet has been the sta
ton which it is proposed now to rechristen as
Miller on account Of its proximity to the Mil
Ter Manual Labor School. The company IL
probably influenced in the proposed change
by the belief that the convenience of tho
public viii be subserved as the Miller School
is tho most important community in the
neighborhood and the point sought by the
larger number Of those who get of ut Crozes,
but this convenience viii be too slight 10 con-
stitute a sufficient reason for an alteration
which involves the erasure from the map Of a
name which is entitled to special honor in tho
general locality where it now constitutes an
important local designation.
While great advantages accrue to the State
| from the fact that our principal railway sys-
tens are controlled by powerful and enter
prising corporations of Northern capitalists,
yet for sentimental reasons that fact is TO be
regretted whenever il leads to an alteration.in
our local nomenclature. wherever the latter
is interwoven In the affections of the natives
of the soil by the ties Of tradition and mem
DRY, OF by the honor done TO names entitled
TO the grateful circumference of the people Of
the State Among such names, that Of Crozet
must be certainly included. To erase IT from
the map Of Albemsrle, the county IN which
so much Of his greatest work for the State was
performed would seem to be especially map
propriate and upjustflable. We cannot be
lieve that this will be done if the sentiment Of
the citizens IS opposed 70 it. In Difference TO
this sentiment, if the company has fully Do
oided to mike hechange, we hope that it will
| reconsider its determination.