North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-10-25
From the AsheviIIe News.
WESTERN TURNPIKE ROAD.


Mr.. EDITOR You will confer favor on the wri-
ter and all lovers of truth, by giving this commune
cation place in the columns of your paper.
The design of the writer is to prevent msrepresen-
tation going abroad concerning the sales of the Wes
tern Turnpike Road, the sales have been made by
the Agent of the State the editor of the Ashe-
vile Messenger heads an article in his paper Wes-
tern Turnpike Frauds and in the article blows both
cold and hot. Isuppose he heard thunder, but could
not tell from what quarter it came. To understand
exactly what he means. except BY the caption of his
article will require man of more sagacity than the
editor or any of his coadjutors in this matter. He
says most shameful and disreputable course has
been pursued by portion of the citizens west of
franklin. in combining and agreeing bid into each
others hands at the letting out of the Road and that
the lots were put up and knocked down in short
der, at the most enormous and unreasonable prices.
And, further, he states that it thought that
man from distance would be permitted to bid in
Cherokee at all. He may have thought so, but
suppose he is all the man who did, for l a close
observer of the whole transaction, and don't think
there was any such idea entertained by any ONE
The Road was lotted off pretty much in quarter and
half mile lots. The sales opened at 9 or 10
O'Clock in the morning-from three to five hundred
persons IN attendance, some from Georgia. from
Haywood and Burke counties, and great many from
Macon-most of the leading men from franklin be-
Ing present from the Georgia line to the end of the
sales. Pretty much all referred to being from a
distance, were bidders, and after of them had
bid off lots they conclud ed they had hard bargains,
and gave them up to others at the prices. And
some of them stated that they would make roads
any such prices. With a few exceptions, they
were such lots passed through farm yards and
corn fields, where much fencing was to reset.
was with the Agent of the State i'm letting out
this Road saw no combination heard Of any
from any source whatever, and call on any man to
say, with truth, the contrary. The sales were from
three to seven miles per day, and often took until
dark and bond and good security taken by the Agent
for the faithful performance of the work. Does the
editor of the Messenger think that the Agent of the
State would stand by and see combinations formed
and frauds practsed upon the State! If the editor
had known the character of the Agent he would not
have insinuated what he did, for a more honorable
and faithful Agent could not have been selected.
If the editor heard what he stated in his paper he
has been wrongly Informed. The sales of Bridges
sand dollars.
The letting out and making of this road is credit
to the State, and will secure immense advantage to
the travelling public. To say the least Of it, Chero-
kee county will become connected with the balance
of the State directly, and the citizens of this
county desire to the road completed to Asheville
good it is made in this county. Instead of COM
bining to shorten the Road. we have and will give
our aid to carry it through the State.
If the Messenger should hear it thunder again, he
would do well to look if there any clouds, before
he raises the alarm. The sales will 60 on in few
days again. and if the gentleman can't come over
HIMSELF he had better send of his friends to wit
the and then he will have the facts before
him. CHEROKEE OBSERVER.
Cherokee co., N. c., 1851.