The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-07-27
Tho Rabun Gap Railroad,


this subject. IF VIC are not at fault in on
surm'ses at the authors real name, he is .
gentleman whose opportunities for acqui
ring k"owedge of facts in the premise.
are abundant, (he having been at the seen,
OF action FOR fifteen months, as sub-con
| tractor,) and whose statements are to h
relied urau:
te!'sve my last promise was, 10 say
sometil"::: about the Blue Ridge Road, An
son Bants d. Co, DC, and promises are Sc
often broken, | suppose they ought to be
regarded As Of the nature of wills, and the
last one IL to be executed. I have been
much amused at the wild spcculations, bold
assertion, and stark falschoods which have
been made, spoken and written, in relation
to tins Great work since It's commencement
say "onausca," for ] have not been sur
priscd at all. Had it been commenced.
progressed and finished without all these
things, Ii would have been the; first project
since A'4am, that was worth anything, that
cScare' persecution and abuse. In fact, it
may he aid down rs q pretty good general
rule, thrt project or scheme is valuable
and ns".ul in proportion 10 the amount,
rancour and maignity Of the opposition
with which 1t meets.
Th"t his Road encounters serious diff
cultles and opposition is not denicl, nor
could else be expected from the number. of
disappointed schcmiss, contractors. &C.,
which work Of such magnitude and i'm
rortance would likely create. But like.the
opposition to the Erie Canal, Georria
State Eailroad and all other works Of great
public utility, It will ali soon die away and
its opponents be buried in oblivion.
Wit: all the difficulties and opposition it
has encountered, I venture 10 say, that con-
sidcrinIr the extraordinary pressure in the
money market, which we have experienced
within The last twelve months, and through
the gloom Of which we are just beginning
tos see tie dawn Of a brighter day, no r. r.
IN the South has ever progressed with more
rapId'ty and less real difficulty than this.
Wh'l" The matters in dispute between Mcssrs.
h"sof bahg5 & Co., tie original con-
onctors, and the Blue Ridge Railroad Com
pany, may be serious as between tho,n, and
may result in great loss to one or the other
OF the high contracting powers, yet they
have not retarded for one moment the prog
ross of the work, nor affected, in any way
the rights and interests Of the
sn3contractors have not the least doubt,
and speak adviscdly, that the difficulty
wFlichsthc Blue Ridge Company has expe-
r:cHc"d in raising the cash to pay the
monthly estimates, (Which has been eotirc-
ly owing to, the pressure in the money mar
kct.l has been the only real cause of delay
in the work.
:he idea that the present members of the
iirm OF "Anson Bangs & Co.." (thc Bangs
having sold out their intercst,) are irrespon-
slble, dishonest Yankees, not worthy to be
trusted, unable and never intend to finish
the contract, is all CANNON; and is an idea
gotten up and kept going by men really of
that stamp themselves, or disappointed spec
u!ators, who expected to make their jack
9ut Of these Yankees, by showing them a
Yankee trick "donc up' down South-a
so.: nncongenial to the growth Of such ex-
otics. q,
make no hesitation in saying, that if the
original contract be carried out in GOOD
faith by the Blue Ridge Company, which
have no doubt they will do when money
matters get easier, the present firm of Arson
Gangs 4 Go. will fulfil their part of it, be-
cause h,ey will be compelled to do so, or
suffer immense loss-and return to the
North with "ots of Southern tin" fairly and
honestly made, whiIe the Blue Ridge Rail
road will be the cheapest road to the stock
bolders ever built South of Mason & Dix
on's limo.
While strenuous efforts have been made
to lay all the blame, of the difficulties and
delay on Anson Ba9gs & Co., they have
taken no pains tofssist them; but il is
contrary to reason and to all experience, to
suppose that a parcel of Huc Yankees
like the market woman's fish, with "eyes
wide open" to their own interests, as they
always are-would come down South n
Trfongs strangers and enemies almost, to car
ryFotit aoritsR contract in our midst
knowing, as men Of Acknowledgement must
know, the disadvantages they would labor
under in Southern Court with Southern
nIen-would take any position or attempt
to put any construction upon the contract,
not tenable, or in relation to which they
had not obtained the best counsel that
could be had. The presumption bears the
impress OF falsehood upon its veryfacc.
In conclusion, | think I may safely say,
Sand Isoyit botdly,"' without fear, malice
or affection, and am ready to sustain It by
proof, thatif there is any serious difficulty
in the way Of the progress of this great
work, it. is owing to one or all Of three
shiags, yis: q The pressure in the money
g maskst sa The iihsllit ihsl cheney o fhe Chief