North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-10-14
For the Dubuque Times.

For the Dubuque Times.
Letter from Gen. Vandever.
Mr.. EDITOR Il am constrained to as
your indulgence for the correction of al
error that appears in Mr.. Plat; Smith
letter, published in yesterday morning
Times.
Mr.. Smith says. "Ten thousand dollar
of stock was transferred by he to Mr.
Nandeyer, who held it for several months
but fer some reason declined to pay, an,
elsc." In reply l have to say that neve
saw any of the stock Of the Sioux City 4
Pacific Railroad Company, nor did dol
lar of it ever touch my fingers. The tru,
statement of the case is, that about two
years ago, | cannot fix the time accurately
Mr.. Smith disclosed to me, as he did t.
many others, scheme for building the
Sioux. City branch. Up to that time
had never read the provisions of the law
respecting it. The whole matter wa:
represented in flatter;ng light, and Mr.
Allison was said to be in it. The value Of
the land grant and the subsidy was csti
mated at seventy, FIVE thousand dollars pei
mile, while the cost of construction was
estimated ut not to exceed sixteen thousand
dollars per mile. If nv recollection serves
me right, q statement Of Mr.. Blair to that
effect was produced. Mr.. Smith repre-.
scented that he had one hundred thousand
dollars of an interest in the enterprise,
that Mr.. Allison had the same, and that
they were authorized to distribute limit.
ed portion to such persons in northern
Iowa as desired to become interested.
Judge Hubbard, Of Sioux City, and the
Hon. James I. Wilson were also repre-.
sentcd as interested. The understanding
was that little or no money would be re-
quired to perfect the enterprise. agreed
to come in on these terms. Ten thousand
dollars of an interest was assigned me,
and a memorandum to that effect made,
which Mr.. Smith retained. Not the
scratch of a pen was given me, nor any
thing else, to show that was interested.
now, for the first time, went to work
to look up the law, and examine tbs sub
.ject. | soon became satisfied that the
Sioux City & Pacific railroad connection
with the Cedar Rapids road, would efiec-
tually destroy the chance of uniting the
railroads of northern Iowa, with the main
| line of the Union Pacific in westerly
direction, and so expressed myself strongly
to Mr.. Smith and also to Mr.. Allison upon
his return from Washington. After this
| there were heavy assessments made upon
the interest assigned to me, which could
| not pay, and an opportunity being offered
gladly rclinquished. The whole amount
of assessments that was called upon to
pay, was between three and four thousand
dollars. l never asked or received the
least compensation for my REIMBURSEMENT.
| presume such is the history of the con-
nection of many others with this railroad
scheme.
The ninth section Of the amended Pa
cific Railroad act of 1864, removes the
restriction which required the Sioux City
branch to connect east of the Tooth
meridian ard allows that, and oil other
branches to connect with the main line
at any point they may select west of that
meridian or initial point. This change in
the law opened the way for short and
easy connection of the railroads ef northern
Iowa and Minnesota with the main line of
the Union Pacific, in westerly direction,
and if carried out would have secured US
a competing branch entirely disconnected
from the Cedar Rapids ard Omaha road
and would also have given us the entire
upper Missouri river trade. Ny investiga-
tons satisfied inc that the construction of
the Sioux City and Pacific railroad down
the Missouri river bottom, so as to connect
with the Cedar Rapids road would be
diversion of the Sioux City branch in
contravcntion Of law, calculated to work
incalcnlablc injury to the material interests
of all northern Iowa. The connection so
much talked of, down the Maple Valley to
Onawa, does not remedy the evil in the
least, but only agsravates it.
Under these circumstances, and mas
much as it was desirable to have none
connected with the scheme who were not
in full sympathy with its objects, it became
expcdient for me to retire. If, in mention
ing my name in connection with the affairs
Of the Sioux City & Pacific railroad
company, Mi. Smith designs it as
reproach, how much greater in the estima-
ton of an impartial public. must be the
condemnation Of those who have plundsed
in so deeply, in utter disregard of any
interest but their own.
Mr.. Smith in his letter refers to 'snu-
merous other individuals in Dubuque and
northern Iowa. who having stock assigned
to them, failed to pay. lie says sit is
unnecessary to mention their nam:s."
Pray do, Mr.. Smith? Let the public
know who these numerous individuals are.
Add to the list also, if you please, the
names of all the parties interested here or
elsewhere in private or public life.
In my past communications on railroad
matters, | have not alluded to Mr.. Smith,
for whom have always entertained a high
degree Of regard have purposely
avoided bringing his name into the con
and do not now wish to be
understood as impunging his motives.
As private citizen he has an undoubteh
right to connect himself with any laudablc
and don't know that he is to
be condemned for being stakeholder in
the Sioux City Pacific railroad company,
even thoug Oh the interests of that enterprise
may be adverse TO the line of roads that
he advocated in his Pacific railroad pam
phletc of 1859. The point have endeav-
orcd to make heretofore, is not against the
of any railroad in Iowa, bu.
against the diversion Of government |
subsidy, designed for tho Pacific railroad |
and its branches, to plug Of the Cedar
Rapids road.
AS to the letters published in the IIEs-
AID, to which Mr.. Smith referred, / can
only say THAT ! am in no way responsible
or their publication, nor can l tell
whether they are authentic or not. Mr..
Smiths failure to deny their authenticity
raises the presumption that they are
WIN, VANDEyER.