Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-02-13


Feb. q. 1854. ID. T. {. PETERS.
Progress of the RailIoad--Colnplaints agains
the Chief Engineer.
An article in the Republican of Thursday
defends Col, Garnett. very successfully, agains
certain ill-natured and unfounded complaints an'
imputations of the Abingdon Democrat. W.
extract those portions which relate more partic
ularly TO the charges and defence;
The whole pist of his several articles rejecting
directly. or indirectly, upon Col. Ggnett resolve
themselves into complaints because OF delays IN
the construction of the noad. If these delay
have been unavoidable, or if they originated from
causes beyond the direction of the Chief Engi-
neer. il is clear that the censnre Of Col Garnett
therefore j. unjust and should be Withdrawn. Col.
Garnetf like all others holding public positions
recognizes his amenabilty TO that public, and
unless we are mistaken ia our estimate Of the
man, he shrinks not from the accountability. Both
he and the public have right to require that
these attacks should not be hasiy and made upon
partial investigstiontba all the facts should be
considered in the judgement sought, aud not an
exceptional one occurring here, or there. And
looking at all the facts IN the present case--the
necessary and unavoidable dependence upon con-
tractors-the accidents likely 10 occur and which
without blame Justly attributed to any one, have
actu llv occurred--the unexpected delays IN get
ting the rails last summer-we do not think that
any impartial person can join the Abingdon DE
mocrat in its wholesale and hasty prescription 81
Col. Garnett. In making Railroads. a. IN all
other large operations in which agents and labo-
res to a large number have 10 be employed. there
are a thousand difficulties which may occur, but
which could not properly enter into an estimate
Every sensible man knows this, and we venture
the assertion that there never was any large work
4 A.. ..t -
friends expected. The mere fact of delay there
fore proves nothing, and unless the cause of that
delay can be traced 10 some particular source, II
is wrong aud unjust To throw the bnrthen and re-
sponsibility Of it upon any particular person.
Let US look therefore at some of the main facts.
We leave TO the Abingdon Democrat piddling
estimate of the sums paid for Engineering. Col.
Garrett gets specific salary of s3,6D, and II IL
not pretended that he has got, could have got
ten any more. This calculation Of ninety-two
thousand dollars puid for Engineering by the De
moerat has consequently about mnch Ia do
with Col. Garrett as IL has to do with tie Editor
of the Democrat or ourself. Let rs thcn look at
facts.
AT the close of the year ls52 all the rails which
the company then had were laid, extending to Sa-
lem. Owing 10 "A want of funds in hand "a large
amount of rails. as would have been desirable,
had not been purchased at that time As soon
as additional rails procured the track was
laid to Big Spring, and ut this point, believe,
complaints of delay begin. II is not pretended
that improper delays existed before, and we must
looh at il then from Big Spring a starting point.
Looking at IL then from this point, what do we
see Big Spring is the point at which the steep
ascent of the Allegheny begins. From this point
the greatest difficulties Of The road arise and the
greatest delays would have naturally been expect
ed. Since that time several slides have taken
place between Big Spring aud Ghrlstiansburg,
which have prevented the laying of the track
II Col Garnett is responsible for these slides
then the censurc of the Abingdon Democrat it
just. But if he is not, then that censure is nm
just The question then resolves itself into this
is Col. Gnrnett responsible for these accidents
of slides between Big Spring and Christansburgl
We answer that he is not These slides have
resulted from the character OF the soil and tho
rock formations, and could not have been pre-
vented by the adoption of any proper means on
the part of the Chief Engineer. In fact, the wi
denng of the cuts 10 extent sufficient 10 pre-
vent these slides would have cost twenty or tbr-
ty times much as the removal of them will cost
Since the track was laid 10 Big Spring the Edi-
tor of tie Democrat himself passed over this
route and unless we are mistaken fully acknowl-
edged IN his paper these difficulties. 1t is thus
seen that the delays of which the Democrat com
plains are not attributable to Col. Garnet. and
could not have been obviated by him.
We have thus Yindieated Col. Garnett from
these assaults--not that we care particularly
about him, for our personal relations have never
reached TINT of confidence and intimacy, but as
an act of plain justice We are not in the habit
OF pulling either men things. but we are OF
opinion that there is probably no road in the
State upon which there has been as little mis-
management as upon the Va. and Tenn. road
The company has been peculiarly fortunate in
the selection Of its officers. In conclusion. we
learn that the company is pushing forward with
energy. and that the future progress of the road
will be as rapid as the warmest friends of it could
desire.