| From the Richmond Dispatch |
| |
| April 2, 1861 |
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| City Gas Works |
| The annual election, as usual,
brings out one or more new candidates for the Superintendency of this
Institution, and each succeeding year they present new qualifications,
which are to eclipse all those claimed for the unfortunate possessor
of this much envied berth. The latest novelty, however, throws all
others in the shade. Mr. Thos. R. Sharp has been called out by a card
from several gentlemen, whose occupations and experience have
evidently enabled them to speak positively, when they assert that,
"knowing you to be a Mechanical and Civil Engineer. "
"and well qualified in every respect to fill the office of
Superintendent of the Gas Works," they wish these valuable
qualities to be no longer hid in obscurity, but to develop themselves
in lighting the city. But the beauty of this nomination is yet to be
told. The principal ground upon which he is called out is that of
being "a strong secessionist. " Can any one doubt that this
is the qualification which induced the nomination? Or is it possible
to doubt that this is the quality which will make him the most fit and
proper person to fill the post in a satisfactory manner? |
| With the works already built
and in successful operation, there can be no need of a
"Mechanical and Civil Engineer." These valuable qualities
can find no proper field for their development and exercise in the
management of our Gas Works. This has been abundantly demonstrated by
the experience of the past two years, during which time, without being
under the control of a Mechanical and Civil Engineer, they have, by
the judicious and economical administration of the present incumbent,
given the most gratifying results, and yielded a large income to the
city. And there can be no doubt that, in their present condition, the
Works only need a judicious administration of affairs, which can only
be secured by familiarity with, and experience in, the mode of
operations, and an acquaintance with the operatives now employed
therein. And, we may add, that in the absence of any well founded
complaints against the present management, it is at least unwise to
make a change. And further, we would ask what security have the
citizens, that if the gentleman who is now recommended so highly is
elected, that there will be such an economical management as is to be
desired? So far as we know of him he is a gentleman, and all who come
in contact with him are favorably impressed. His reputation is
unblemished, and his manners are affable and prepossessing, and we
disclaim any intention to intimate aught against him. We have a right
to know if a candidate for a place as this possesses, besides all the
desirable qualities above named, the less showy, but not less useful
qualification, of capacity for administration, and the talent for
economical expenditure and management of finances. How far has the
experience of those who have had their affairs administered by this
gentleman, justified them in recommending him to the confidence of the
people as one who can judiciously purchase for, and prudently attend
to, the outlays for such an establishment? For without these valuable,
but too much neglected qualities, the best Mechanical and Civil
Engineer would make but a poor substitute for the gentleman who now
quietly and modestly, but safely and prudently, manages this important
department of our city's service. |
| We presume, however, that the
principal object of the gentlemen who have brought out Mr. Sharp, had
less reference to his capacity as a manager than to his peculiar
political principles, and their object is, doubtless, to unite upon
him (if possible) the strength of those who favor the secession of
Virginia. In this they have reckoned without their host. Although we
have not taken sides with this party, and are not ashamed to say that
we are willing to wait a little farther the developments of Lincoln's
administration before we favor this move, yet we are free to admit,
that the party now in our city who do favor prompt action on this
subject at present numbers many of those who are most deeply
interested in the welfare of our city, and who sincerely seek her best
interests; and we are farther satisfied that they know, while the
election of Mr. Sharp, as the secession candidate, would show their
strength, and, all other things being equal, would be a triumph of
which they would be proud, yet they are not willing to sacrifice the
pecuniary interests of the city for such a triumph; and we know that
many of them regard this as a most unsuitable occasion upon which to
propose a test of their strength in this city. We are willing,
however, to admit, that if there is to be a test, that no more
suitable person could be selected as the standard-bearer of a
secession party than this gentleman; and we honestly ask, if there is
no fear among those who have nominated him that they have too much of
a good thing? or, in other words, may he not be too much of a
secessionist? If we have been correctly informed, the history of Mr.
Sharp will confirm the statement that he has been a secessionist all
his life. He first seceded from a Northern State, at an early age, and
came to this city. He next seceded to two Northern shops, in two
Northern States, while serving a short apprenticeship; after which he
seceded to Lynchburg, and again to one of the Southern States, where
he had charge of a railroad, from which
he seceded, leaving the company oblivious as to the cause or his
intentions. Then, again, he came to this city, where he had charge of
the {Richmond &} York River Railroad, from which he
seceded without making known his purposes until, the patience of the
Directory being exhausted, they elected his successor. With such
precedents, we would like to know what sort of security can be given
that he would not, if elected, secede from the Gas Works before the
end of the first year, and leave the citizens in doubt whether they
had a Superintendent of the Gas Works or not? If we may judge of the
future by the past, this question is worthy of the consideration of
our citizens, and we candidly ask those who are interested in the
welfare of the city, of what use will it be to turn out a good officer
and put in one whose precedents do not too highly recommend him for
the post? |
| The folly of testing the
strength of the Secession and Union parties at the municipal election
will, we are satisfied, meet with no approval from the citizens at
large; and for this important position we hope the citizens will
rally, as one man, to sustain a native-born Virginian, of whose
loyalty to the State there can be no question, against the pretensions
of one of Northern blood, and birth, and lineage, whose claims are but
a newly-fledged admiration of a party which is evidently in the
ascendant, for the purpose of getting assistance to step into a
comfortable situation. |
| A Tax-Payer and Gas Consumer |
|