| From the Charleston Mercury |
| |
| April 3, 1863 |
| |
| Meeting of the Northeastern Railroad Company |
| The Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of
the Northeastern Railroad Company was held at the Hall of the Bank of
Charleston on Wednesday, 1st April, 1863. |
| The meeting was organized by calling the
Hon. Charles Macbeth, Mayor, to the Chair, and the appointment of Mr. C.
Williman, jr., as Secretary. |
| The Reports of the President and
Directors, and of the Superintendent of the Company, were then read and,
on motion, adopted. |
| On motion, it was |
| Resolved, That an Election be held
for Officers for the ensuing year. |
| And Messrs. L. D. Mowry, Benj. Greig and
T. D. Porches, were appointed by the Chari for that purpose. They duly
reported that the following gentlemen were unanimously elected: |
|
President |
| A. F. Ravenel |
| Directors |
| Hon. Charles Macbeth |
Col. Allan Macfarlan |
| Robert N. Gourdin |
Daniel Ravenel |
| L. D. Mowry |
J. R. Dukes |
|
| The following tribute to the character and
services of the late John Ravenel and the Hon. Mitchell King was then
unanimously adopted: |
| This Company laments the loss of two of
its prominent Stockholders. Since its last annual meeting Mr. John
Ravenel and the Hon. Mitchell King, late members of the Board of
Directors, have been successively removed, by death, from among us. |
| To Mr. Ravenel, it may be truly said, this
community and the country are mainly indebted for the construction of
this Road. Though projected by others, Mr. Ravenel was at once impressed
with the necessity of connecting Charleston directly with the great
Railroad Lines of the Atlantic States, and became its earnest advocate
and steadfast friend. Few of our citizens at first appreciated the
importance of this enterprise, and it was commenced and conducted to its
completion unsustained by a general public sympathy, and without
adequate pecuniary aid. A Director from the organization of the Company
to the period of his death, Mr. Ravenel's services were not limited to
the counsels of the Board. Happily his relations with the gentlemen who
have successively presided over its affairs, enabled him, without
reserve, obtrusion or offence, to devote to the development of the Road
the various resources of which he was possessed -- the leisure of a life
untrammelled by the cares and obligations of business, a reputation and
a credit acquired in his relations with the commerce of our city, an
intelligence and experience in railroad affairs obtained in years gone
by, a patient yet persistent energy, despite of innumerable obstacles,
and above all, an abiding conviction of the usefulness of this Road to
the community from which he was passing -- all were devoted to render it
what it has become, one of the most prominent and valuable institutions
of our State. |
| The co-operation of Judge King in every
measure having for its object the diffusion of knowledge, or the
promotion of our material interests, is familiar to all. In 1854, at an
advanced age, when retirement from official cares is congenial to most
men, he accepted a seat at the Board of the Company. In 1856 he was
designated by our City Council the special representative of their
interests in the Road, and occupied that position up to the period of
his death. His zeal, tempered by age and wisdom, rendered him, at all
times, a valuable counselor. |
| The record of this tribute may pass away,
but the work with which these lamented gentlemen were so intimately
associated, will endure, -- a witness to their usefulness in their day
and generation. |
| On motion, it was |
| Resolved, That the Reports of the
officers of the Road, and the proceedings of this meeting, be published
in the daily papers, and in pamphlet form for distribution among the
Stockholders. |
| On motion, it was |
| Resolved, That the thanks of the
meeting be tendered the Bank of Charleston for the use of its Hall; and
also, to his Honor the Mayor, for the courteous manner in which he has
presided over it. |
| There being no further business, on motion
the meeting adjourned. |
| C Williman, Jr., Secretary |
|