The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-08-31
From the Charleston Courier.
To the Hon. Edward G.. Palmer.

To the Hon. Edward G. Palmer.
A few days ago received the Soutl
Cdrolinicn Of August 5tFl. in which is pub
lislied letter from you to Mr. NV. Gar,
on the subject Of The Blue Ridge Rail Road
1t was copied from the Elg' field Adverti
ser, and, | presume, will have Il rapid cir
culalion i'll the District papers.
In that letter vou assert that the cost o.
tie road i'll South Carolina and Georgia
up TO the first OF December, 1859, had TX
ceeded the estimate To the amount of 5000.
900. You also charge the officers of the
Company with having grossly violated the
conditions of their chartsr,,s aud of havn Q
acted in bad faith
Though I am most averse to personal
controversy, | am constrained to appear in
defence of the officers Of the company.
L do not intenl to present an official
statement of tliAseost of the road in South
Carolina and .Gaosgia. THIS cannot do
Without the assistance of the Treasurer and
Chief Engineer, who are not in the city
Besides. it would take a long time to dis
sect and npportioHthe many accounts com.
prisiug tile expenditure Of two and bali
millions of dollars. so AS to make an accu-
rate statement of the, cost Of the road in
each ofthe States through, which it passes.
Your letter appears in the midst of the
canvass for the election of members to the
Legislature. in order TO counteract its
effect upon the elections, il is necessary that
my reply should be prompt. Want oftime
and needful assistance for an accurate state.
ment Of the cost Of the road in South Car
olina and Georgia, must conGne me to "a
strict reply. ~
Y"n assume $685. O34 70 be the esti-
mated cost Of completing the roaa;ih South
Carolina and Georgia on the first Of. No
vemhcr 1856. For the rreseft pur, osc l
will take that TO be correct. From the
report Of the Treasurer, antinesian assump
,i"ns and calculations of youl own, you
attain to the conclusion Of all 'ercess ofcost
ouer the estimate up to December, 1850
tofthe amount Of 100000.
Twill examine your statement in the sense
in which nine persons ont of ten will un-
"erstand il. viz: That tho actual cost of
constructing the road in South Carolina
and Georgia, to December 1859, exceeded
the estirpated cost tothe amount $4,000. 600
An Engineers estimate Of cost il made up
by calculation Of the several kinds OF
work and material necessary to make a
rail road completed or only half finished,
rs lie may lie directed, and the quantities
and prices Of each, hy which he oblains the
total Of The cost. When you compare the
actual cost with tho estimated cost. you
must restrict the comparison to the subject
OF cost in the estimate. If you charge, rs
actual cost. interest and discount on bounds
the expenses Of law suits and the like, OF
course, the act; q! cost, must exceed the
estimated cost. for none Of those contingent
sysHges are comprised in tile estimate.
think can show in your statementsoi
the 'exccss of cost over the estimate errors
to an amount executing 100000.
1t Is necessary, in order TO make plain
your errors and mis- statements, that
should present the T.easurer's account oi
expenditures in his report Of 1850, Ind
also your statement hys~hich you al,aiinssa
result az surprising.
1t may be proper Tn premise for persons
not acquainted with Book lcetping that the
Treasurer's books are kept in tile usual
form. In hS report he; has. Headed the
Debtor side of the account 'Receip,s' and
and the Creditor side 'Expenailures.' All
tue entries in the two columns are not .ac.
tlal receipts aud expenditures, but some are
made las is necessary9 20 explain. the true
state of the recount, and exhibit the cor
rect balance Of tho transactions which are
entered:
. . sHxppvhrruppa,
For csAstruetiSn. .............;,9S.07s .07s.820. II
lion. III. :........,...s l0l ,230. OF
Easspsss.lssie; Printing. Is. LOO 'eS' 40
: gal Advice, Suit o. Bangs Co. .70; $50 1s
'keal Estate for Dep6tsSaec. 81. pa. OF
Right Of way ip 50. c.. .s4.8a6.oo
Right of waysih Go. s.7z5.oo
Right Of way Id ~ 20 .: i.eaooo. .v.0s
Right of way in, Tenn. =. .8,85S.5O a.
-. s.e ~ -. 2-.--~-- 9,988.5
Interest on sioft. Bonds s4aTo5.ss
Loss on sails spf bonds ~.
and st0ck,ssEs sa7,seo.ol
Due by Anson Bangs Alco.. 30
Due ny sdndfy coiiti aStofb. q. -. 1911,
Transportation expenses..... f02 go
Repair ssof Road wsy, .5s
Su9dry opsa accounts. x0i$. .96
~ s. t'sssais.ss
- Tbs following your slate meat: ~;
'"by the Report OF the Trsasgrar, up to the lat
,ef NoySpbsss sa8so. there WAS s&<,y...g,..
x..9 ,504 600. 90
ND 4&A, ,Fas reserved IN Cssh. q. 2 % %
y Botsds sy 3. ook Tor tie Spnpis- ,1G..S
90