The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-27
ROCKFORD, ROCK ISLAND AMIDST. LOUIS
,s.a RAILROAD.
Tho Thomas Letter.

Tho Thomas Letter.
We recently transferred to our columns
an article from the Chicago Railrdy Re
riew in reference to the organization and
of the Rockford, Rock Island
and st. Louis railroad Company, written by
W. S. Thomas, Of Carbon Cliff in this state.
Many Of the statements ia the letter were a
surprise to us, aud, we think to the public;
and we expressed the hope at the time that
some one connected with the management
Of the road would refute them. A gentle
man of this city, not, however, connected
with the road, has furnished the Union the
subjoined article on the subject, which we
reproduce in order that our readers who
read the Thomas letter. which was not pub.
lished in the Union, may read also the
other side Of the question. Our columns
are not closed either 10 those who for pub
lie reasons favor the road, or for similar
reasons oppose its management;
NY attention was called few days since
to a communication published in the Rock
Island ARGuS--orgnally in the Chicag0
RdupIy Rerier over the signature of Wm.
S. Thomas, OF Carbon Cliff, Ill. The sub.
iect Of the communication IS the Rockford,
Rock Island and st. Louis railroad and its
management.
Haviug been long personal friend Of Mr..
Thomas, and having always entertained the
highest regard for him as a gentleman Of
integrity and caudor, having been associ.
ated with him as one OF the charter members,
and subsequently, at the earnest solicita-
ton of Mr.. Thomas, accepted the position
of director in the company, was not lit.
tie surprised at the sweeping and groundIess
charges of Encouragement, corruption and
fraud which Mr.. Thomas makes against the
Rockford, Rock Island and st. Louis raj.
road company.
The whole drift and tone Of the article, il
seems to me, betray feeling somewhat
akin to malice, and was evidently designed
as Il stab at the credit of the company, in
the hope that it would result in Gripping
or suspendiug the construction Of the road
From my knowledge Of the history Of
said railroad company, and Me-. Thomas
connection with il hereaotIorc, | more than
suspect that he is endeayoring TO avenge
himself for some real or imaginary personal
slight or injury at the hand of the com.
pany.
Ii has been suggested that perhaps Mr.
Thomas, in au unguarded moment, may have
permitted himself to be made the mouth.
ally intertered with by the construction of
said railroad. But whatever may have been
the causes or motives which prompted the
writing of the communication, there Is one
thing certain--it does the railroad com.
pany very great injustice, and against
which !, as citizen of Rock Island, feel
in duty hound to protest While had at
one time, as heretofore stated, an official
connection with the said railroad company,
such connection long since ceased, and at
this time have no direct interest in the
road. | have, however, in common with
many other citizens Of this vicinity, taken
deep interest in the enterprise, and have
kept myself tolerablo well posted as TO ;the
doings and management Of the business
affairs Of the company, and feel safe in as
suring al those who feel an interest in the
matter that the Rockford, Rock Island and
st. Louis railroad exists upon as substsn.
tinl basis; its affairs are as udiciously
and honestly managed; its future prospects
az bright, if not brighter, than any railroad
that is in process Of construction IN the
western country.
Mr. Thomas raises the question as to the
legal existence of the company on account
| Of informally in its organization and man
agemcnt. To any Que at all familiar with
the history of the company, such a question
| seems simply absurd and ridiculous: but
| for the benefit of those who are ignorant Of
what the company has done and what it i,
now doing, will state few facts which
have direct bearing on the point under
| consideration, and which | deem are suiii
| ceut to settle the question beyond all doubt
| The company has had several imporlan,
suits at law, tried in the Circuit Courts OF
| this state, in each one Of which able attor
neys have been employed to prosecute and
defend. Yet in neither of the cases has the
question as to the legal existence of the
company been raised. The company
has built aud has in successful
operation, fortyfive mics of railroad; it has
purchased and in process Of deliyery iron
ties, chairs, NC, in sufficient quantities Ia
iron two hundred miles of road, and add
tional iron under contract for later delivery
| II has on the line of the road and paid for
SlocomCtveJ and sixteen additional contract
| "d tor, to be delivered within ninety days
| Ii has six passenger coaches On h...d s.,,a =,
| transit with the necessary baggage, express
| aud malt cars on baud and in transit, auC
$50 more contracted for, to be delivered as
the wants Of the road may require. Within
sixty days, if weather is even tolerable, th,
road will be completed to Rock Island
which will make about sixty miles of road
In view of the above facts, and many
more that might be stated, how absurd anC
| ridiculous it appears for any one to raise the
question u. to the legal existence of said
company. And can any one doubt for a
moment in view of the above facts, that the
courts Of this or any other state would hest
tate abor. recognizing the legal existence Of
the company, however informal may
have been its organization, provided nc
fraud was intended or perpetrated?
New few words in reference to the charge
Of fraud and corruption Mr.. Thoma.
states in his communication that "up to the
| time the mortgage was made and the pam
| phlet was issued advertising the bonds foI
sale, the concern had not dollar paid in as
capital stock, nor a dollar which it had {
right to collect on account Of subscription
thereto, or dollar in money or propert,
which it had right to call its own" &c