Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-08

ed III the ScnOOlS or Ills nliiNC count
he attended lectures at the Univcrsii.
of Virginia for three years. and gradu
ating in the school of law ia 1912 cn
tered Immediately upon the practice 0
his profession. A few years later, il
1917, he became member OF the hous
of delegates of Virginia. He was re
elected in 1919, and served altogethe
in this capacity for four consecutiv
sessions.
In 1851 his capacity for business wa
recognized in his election by q we'll
nigh unanimous vote of the stock iinl;l
ers to the position of president Of In
Orange and Alexandria Railroad Com
pany, ali organization chartered {,
build a railroad from Alexandria L
Gordonsville-a distance Of IS mics
It was in this occupation that ne fpun'
his life work. Under his administra
ton the railroad was not only built ao
cording to its early projection, but w.
extended across the Commonwealth t
the North Carolina line, and from
time to time various lateral branches @
nearly 500 miles of aggregate lengtl
were constructed and he continued toI
thirty-three years, until December tht
Goth, 1884, the president of the com
pany of which he we'll might be called
the father.
Resigning the railroad service in
1854, he received from all who haG
been associated with him in his labor;
testimonials of the utmost respect and
appreciation, The directors Of the
company entertained him at a dinner
at the Union League Club in NeW
York and presented him with silver
service, accompanied with q beautifully
engrossed series Of resolutions testify
ing their regret at his retirement. What
seemed to be more touching to his feel
ings was the tribute paid him by the
employees of the company who con-
tributed one days wages to purchase
for him q handsome watch. His part
ing with the officials and employees
was characterized by every incident
tending to mark the afIectionatc regard
in which lie was held by them all, and
we may well believe that he spoke the
simple truth when he said to them
If the tongue fail in responsive eloqucncc
my heart is full of appreciation. | would re-
member with grateful feelings the constant
kindness with which | have always been
treated. and 1 will ever keep this token rs 4
memorial Of my connection with you. Ny
railroad life is my pride. While l have re-
ccivcd other honors. while have enjoyed the
confidence of my fcllow-citizens in counties
and districts in various ways in my past c:I-
reer take most pleasure and satisfaction in
the hours | spent i'll the business connection
with you, to which | have devoted the best
years of my past. In these years of service |
have formed associations with the men in the
service of the company which / shall never
forget. In this work and i'll this company /
have always done my duty first. | hope also
that in doing it | have always had regard TO
the feelings and interests of the men aSso-
ciated with me in the operations Of the conf
pany. | regard the time of my connection
with them as the most pleasant Of my life.
l was recently the recipient from the COM
panv that had lately scrrcd of 4 service of
silver. which l fully appreciated, but
on this OCCASION this token Of resa d
from you has far higher value. L ac-
cept the gift with the deepest sonsibil-
ity of which l am capable. 1t will al
ways remind me of the useful and pleasant
associations with the men ofthc Virginia Mid
land Railway.
Many of you were associated with INC in
the infancy of the Virginia Midland Railway,
and now when it has grown and is fully ca.
pable of standing on its feet, can but regard
this watch as an emblem of the best memorial
of the work which has been done in accom-
pishing this object. | have only to thank
YOU in all the sincerity Of my nature for your
respect and esteem.
Looking on this as one of the most pleasant
incidents of my life, your valued gift must
ever remind me Of my past association with
railroad men. Railro ID men have an i'm
portant duty to perform. Some Of the high
est interests Of the community are i'll their
keeping. That duty has always been so
thoroughly performed as to give them the
confidence of the community in which they
live, and am glad TO feel that | have been
so long and pleasantly associated with it..
Again thank you, gentlemen, and will de-
tain you 20 longer.
No strike amongst the employees of
the company occurred during the
thirty three years of his service. The
people of the communities served by
the company as we'll as its employees
entertained for Mr.. Barbour the high
est sentiments of confidence and re-
spect. It is rare indeed-it is almost
without a precedent-that an office
should have been conducted, SO varied
and perplexing in its duties, and in
which such diverse interests must be
consulted, with such tact and justice as
to elicit golden opinions from all sorts OF
people, and this one fact speaks more
for his ability and for his worth than a
volume of culogy.
In 1850 the Hon. Eppa Hunton, who
had represented the Eighth district OF
Virginia for four successive terms in
Congress, retired from candidacy, and
the democratic convention assembled to
nominate his successor was for awhile
unable to reach q conclusion. Without
Mr.. Barbour being candidate or seek
ing the position, his name served as q
resolvent of difficulties, and upon its
suggestion his nomination followed.
He was elected in due course a mem
Der of the Forty-seventh, Forty eighth,
and Forty ninth Congresses, and was
succeeded by the Hon. W. H. f. Lee,
whose death he himself announced in
this chamber but a brief time before we
were cllled upon to mourn his own.
In 1883 political excitement in Vir-
ginia ran high and the opponents of the
democratic party were in complete as
tendency. The contentious as to men
o,,I bot on6 Earoo anA