The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-05-08

VA. Tenn. RAILROAD Co.,,
Lynchburg, April %, 1868.
60 The Editors efthe Viryinian:
DEAR S1Rs My attention has been called
70 an editorial in your paper of the 24th inst,
in which my name occurs, and whilst ! dis
like notoriety of any kind, deem it proper,
In justice to myself, that I should make some
reply. =
In the first place, you have been misinform-
ed as to the facts I have never refused to
permit any trains sent to Bristol from the
State of Georgia to proceed to Saltville, but,
on the contrary, have passed some twenty
trains from chat State over our road, between
Bristol and Saltyille, although attended with
considerable. embarrassment to our business.
There are many and valid reasons why it is
inexpedient to permit trains from other roads
TO pass over this road between Bristol and
Saltville, yet during the heavy press Of busi-
ness last fall, and in consequence Of the great
demand for salt, WAVED these objections, and
permitted all the trains sent from the State of
Georgia to 60 to Saltville.
Il In the first place, it is not necessary for
them to do so. AS the distance between Salt.
vile and Bristol is short, this Company has
at all times, since the great demand for salt
commenced, been able to transport the article
to Bristol with greater rapidity than it could
be taken West from that place, consequently
any surplus power or cars that can be spared
from the State of Georgia or other States
South, would be better employed in removing
the salt from Bristol westwardly, than they
could be by being run through to Saltville,
and thereby multiplying the number Of trains
on the branch road, which has only single
track and inadequate turnout accommodations
for the engines that this Company keeps en-
ploysd upon il. s. .9 q -
The number Of carloads Of freight at Bris-
tol awaiting transportation westwardly be-
tween the Ist day Of November last and the
Goth Of the present month, has varied from 4O
to l35-never less than the former num-
Der, and ranging as high as the latter. Dur
ing this period, freight has remained at
Bristol for months, in consequence OF having
been placed III the Depots first. and thus be-
coming inaccessible, owing to the constant
fresh additions in front Of it, which, from be-
ing more convenient was taken out first, and
its place supplied with, later arrivals. The
consequence was, we were compelled to dis
continue the transportation of private freight
to Bristol for some time past, to enable the
Depots to be cleared. sae i,5qtI slst ,s4as
On Wednesday, the 22d inst, we succeeded
| in getting off westwardly the last of the accu-
INFLATED freight from that point, some Of which
T had remained there since the month Of Sep
tember last ) By Saturday night, the 25th,
only three days, we had delivered 50 carloads
Of freight 43 Of which were salt for the State
Of Georgia. 459,. S. y, l sas =.
will now state some Of the objections to
the running of trains from, one road on an
Eother, and particularly over the road between
Bristol and Saltyille. Z. ..,.s.s; ..t.yss.33
r. Eirst,-It is of the, utmost importance, as
regards safety, that the Enginemen and Con-
ducters in. charge Of trains should be familiar
with the grades and peculiarities Of the road
over which they may be running, So impor-
tantais' this deemed by Railroad Managers,
that in all cases where me n are employed. Ell
ther as Conductors or Engineers, no matter
what their experience may have been lons any
Iiother road, they are irstrequired to pass over
/ the road number of times with the trains il,
charge of men acquainted with the road, be-
fore an engine or train is entrusted to them.
AS a matter of course, trains coming from
other roads are under the charge Of men I'M
| acquainted with this road. and the rules by
whichtra are run, and consequently there
arises great liability to serious accidents.
Second TM grades on this road are very
| heavy, particularly on the Saltworks Branch,
while the gradeson the roads in Georgia are
! very light, in consequence of which the cars
! used on the Georgia roads are not supplied
with the necessary brakes toprevent accidents
on such heavy grades. One or two accidents