The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-10-21
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER u. 1855.
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD.

A letter addressed 20 a gentleman In Augusta
county, from Col FoSrAIsE, on the subject of the
dissatisfaction which IL said to exist there on
account OF the administration of the affairs
OF the Central Railroad appears in the Staun-
ton Spectator of this week After regretting the
mischief that has been created under the infu-
ence of discord and dssenson the letter proceeds
to notice the complaints which have been made,
one of which is the 'tardiness with which the work
approaches the county This is accounted for by
stating that 1t was arrested Il miles from Waynes-
borough by the unfinished condition of the Blue
Ridge Railroad Although unable to use the road
from Waynesborough to Stauntou, the Central
company has 3e miles West of Staunton ready for
the rails; all this has been done when the Treasu
ry was almost without funds, and when not only
the credit OF the Company was strained to raise
the deficiency, bui the private resources of the
members of the Board were called into requiston.
The letter proceeds to say that although the prom
ise to reach Staunton in July failed, it was made
under the expectation that the Blue Ridge Road
would have been finished to the Little Tunnel at
that time. The laying of the track was delayed by
the failure of contractors in the county to furnish
ties; but if it had been finished, it would have
been of little use, while the Central was blocked
up at Mechums river, by reason of unexpected
difficulties in completing that work. Relative to
the portage over the mountain, the letter says the
object was to get the rails to Staunton soon as
the Blue Ridge Road was so far finished to leave
only few miles between the railroad on the east
and west side; accordingly contracts were made for
hauling the iron and also for laying the rails by
the lst of July. Subsequently, the 18th of Ju-
ly, it was ascertained that temporary track could
be laid over the top of the mountain, and now the
company is censured for incurring the expense of
wagoning iron over the mountain. Regarding this
Col. F. remarks
1t Is forgotten that this was measure, when de-
termined on, that indispensable for reaching
Staunton at early day. To say nothing of the
existing contract requiring US to continue wagon
IN. the iron, suppose we had to begin hauling the
iron for the Waynesborough and Staunton section
after the temporary track is completed, would we
not be more Justly liable to thecensure of udicious
men! That course would inevitably have post
poned the opening of the road 10 Stauuton until
the Spring az the work of collecting and distribu
ting ties and iron, and laying the track would have
occupied the remainder Of the Winter after the
temporary track IS finished. Our plan now is (ihe
ROAD oelng completed to Staunton) to eudevor du-
ring the Winter to lay the rails to Buffalo Gap.
lhere were also complaints that the interests OF
me company had suffered from the incompetency
OF suoengineers, referring to which Col F. quotes
letter from Mr.. Elicit who states that there was
one slight error in setting the pegs for the track
layer, committed by very worthy young man;
but the matter too insignificant to merit expa-
nation He also denies the allegation that the
corps INDUCED in habits of dissipation The letter
concludes as follows:
have wished the facts to be known because the
repu,atlon OF worthy young men is implicated, and
beheVe moreover that these dissensions may
AFFECT the enterprise for which we have labored
with common zeal
letter from Mr.. Elicit accompanies the fore
going denying the various charges made against
the company. He takes the responsibility of the
delay in laying the track from Waynes5orough to
Staunton, and says:
My aim has been, you are aware, to complete
the temporary track across the mountain as speedi
ly as possible, and have not wished to take force
that Is needed there, and which is scarce every
where, to hasten the laying down of track that
viii be completed sooner than ii can possibly be
wanted
We ehave given this synopsis in order that justice
might done Charges of a serious nature have
been made, and we are glad to see them refuted