Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-12
Virginia and Kentucky Railroad.

/
We have received the .:i,eports Of tho President
Directors and Chief Engineer of the Virginia anc
X ,ntucky Railroad Company to tho stockhoIi
ers:" printed in very neat style, at the office o.
the Abingdon virginian. We have given these
various reports q careful perusal. and learn from
that Of the Chief Engineer. that The work exc
euted by the contractors. up to tho 9th OF January
1859. when it was suspended, extends over dis
lance Of about 10 miles. beginning one mile east
of Morrison Store in the Poor Valley, and ending
| west Of the Summit Ridge.
| IL il known that there has been adecided con-
t,oyersv between the towns Of Bristol and Ablng-
don, respecting the question Of terminus; the Tor
mer contending that Bristol is tho proper point,
whilst the latter maintain that tho road should
| tan the Virginia and Tennessee Mt Abingdon.
From all the information VIC have been able to
CLEAN heretofore We had concluded that the claims
Of Bristol were better sustained than these VI
Abingdon; or rather, that the road could be con-
struote1 to that point at less expense, and secure
10 the State. which is largo Stakeholder in the
Virginia and Tennessee road. the benefit OF some
Is miles Of transportation ON the last mentioned
road. We confess, however. that strong array
OF evidence is adduced in favor Of Abingdon, and
the statement Of Col. Gyynn of S C., tho consult
ing engineer. seems to be conclusive
Respecting the controversy between the Board
of Directors and the Board Of Public Works rcln-
tive 10 the contract made with Hawkins Co. wo
EXPRESS no opinion, other than that case il pretty
clearly madc out on both sides The Board Of
Directors seem to have acted in good faith, and
maintain tina. the Board Of Public Works have
ratified similar contracts with tina, entered Int"hy
the former, with Hawkins i Co. who agreed Ia
take stock for two-ffths Of their contract; thus
agreeing to build tho road for tho three t'ths paid
by tho State. and whatever could DO realized on
tho sale or transfer of their two tilths Of stock, -
On the other hand. the Board of Public Works
contend that the contract Was loosely entcrc into"
without any public advertisement for bids or
proposals without any estimate by the Engineer,
Of the classification, amounted aud probable cost
Of the work, and without my definite location Of
the line Of the road that the Company, in point
of fact had not tho means of knowing even prox-
imatsly, what would be iair price, per mile, for
the construction Of tho road" And further. "that
the price allowed by tho contract must DO exuava
gan.ly high, and that tho practical effect of prose
cutting the work under it, will be to cause the road
to be constructed and equipped chiefly by the
State, or at loast, in much larger proportion by
the State, than was authorized by the Charter
We shall no, pretend 70 decide between the very
respectable parties To this coatr5vsr.y, hu; viii
express our deep regre, tina, sb,s impar,anr work
has been delayed; believing with Col. GSgnn. tao
consulting Engineer, 'tha. no Rs lr1ad MD b."
projected within the lint. Ut the Satr, vh.cE ~
o. greatly add 10 i.s revenues aai r,s3uraes