The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-04-26


j From citizens asking that an alley laid by Co,
4 Cook on North Washington Street be opened he
ferred to Committee on streets.
From A. Hunt and j. Snider, asking permission
to put up pump and watering trough at corner Of
streets with power to act
Mr.. Reeves suemmitted the report of Irwin Reed, as
Chairman of the Committee sent to Baltimore in the
interest of the r. Fit. W. RI
THE FORT WAYNE RAIL ROAD.
To he Honorable Mayor and City Council Of the City o,
Richmond
GENTLEMES--As I was deprived the opportunity
OF reporting the Board of Directors of the Cncin-
natl, Richmond TT Wayne Railroad the result of
Investigations and contamination of arrangements
looking to the completion of said work. Chairman
of the Committee appointed for that purpose, owing
to my absence from home, take the liberty of pre-
senting the same to you, and through you to the
people who have to defray the expense of carrying
on this unfortunate enterprise.
More than year ago, Mr.. Parry, President of the
eompany obtained Ia promise from Benz. Smith,
the iron necessary to lay the track to Winchester.
and proceeded to prepare the grade, bridge and tie
it, and by the time this done. at great sacrifice
of means, provided by the City Council, Mr.. Smith
superseded in the management of his road, and
from this with others, declined to comply with
such promise.
Mr.. Parry being thus foied in his expectations,
and no immediate prospect appearing, to enable us
to proceed, opened correspondence, in my own
name, with Mr. L 'Hommedeu President of C II & D
and Gin Richmond 4 Chicago R Co.'S and obtain
ed prospective aid from him, and through him, OF
John W. Garrett, of BALTIC. d Ohio, and John King,
Jr., President of Marietta & Gin r and at the
same time procured the assistance of r. NJ Pomroy,
President Central Branch Union Pacific, and presen-
ted to the Board, plan Of operations, which seemed
to be feasible beyond doubt. Whereupon COM
mttee consisting of myself, Messrs Starr, Scott,
Stone and Studebaker, was appointed to carry out
the same.
We then proceeded to prepare report of the con-
dtion of the work. embracing all it's present and
prospective advautages;--which compares favorably
with any other document of the kind extant, with
map Of through line, exhibiting its relation to all the
roads of this section of country, from Cincinnati to
the Straits of Mackinaw, looking connections at
Cincinnati with their conte mplated Southern road,
and forming the second best north and south line in
the West, and at the same time furnishing COM
peting route east, by which conld have rates of
fret ght on rs good terms as other Cities
After long and laborous correspondence with the
gentlemen just named and others, East and West,
including Iron dealers, in order to make the entire
plan fit in all its parts meeting held at the Of
fee of President Carr EFT of Baltimore on the 10th of
March last, + Scott, DR. T Fl Davis, PIes't Pomroy
and myself, representing our road. Prest L'Hom-
medieu, the G & ID & & g Pres't Garrett, the
o and Pres't King, the Marietta Gin. and secur
ell the following proposed agreement;--the e d
and the & o representing the NJ b also, to en-
dorse the bonds Of our road amounting to one million
five hundred thousand dollars. Payable principal
and interest in gold forty years from date per
cent by setting apart thirty three per cent of the
gross earnings of their respective roads through to
Baltimore and intermediate points all freight and
passengers received at Richmond wherewith to take
transport
the iron chairs and spikes for our company from
Baltimore. We agreeing to reverse this arrangement,
and set apart similar sum after ten years, to buy
back the same, and to retain own earnings to
deiray contingent expenses, DC. The parties con-
tracing to furnish mutual aid in placing the bonds,
which considered sufficient guarantee
which fully illustrated by Unsuccessful eff
fort of Messrs Worthington and Frazier of the june
ton or Muncie road, to suppress it.
Sometime was necessary 10 refer this agreement
to the executive committee and adjust the minute
as to procure a issue of bonds and present the
matter to pitalists, which Mr.. Pomroy would n
dertake tc do. Acting his advise, Dr.. Davis and
myself returned home. Mr.. Scott and Mr.. L'Homme-
deu went to New York, Mr.. Pomroy left for Wash
ngton all satisfied that the work accomplished,
and considering myself at liberty for a short time,
could fill engagement with my own family and
rest from what has been an arduous undertaking in
learning business of all others the most diff
cult.
While thus engaged, friend Parry was busy doing
What he considered of more interest to the public,
forgetting his relation to the committee, with which
he promised net to coufct, and suffering himself to
urge upon another party hose policy in this
inimical to ours plan which could not fail to de-
feat us, and finally defeat itself by involving gener-
Gus confdng citizens in personal liabilities and the
public in onerous taxation for no benefit whatever.
The arrangement made in Baltimore, provides on
cur pa for grading bridging, ties and ballast clear
through as fast as practicable to be paid for out of
subscription already made, and deemed suffice mt:
the rails, chairs and spikes, to be provided for
by sale of the bonds of she road before stated of
which there is enough to include the necessary roll
required. Though the committee embraced the pro-
posed tax in their report, the engineers estimates
and prices at viii the entire line is let, renders its
use:unnecessary. contingency might arise, when
portion of it would be needed but my special object
to avoid its collection, until the contingency
should arise
be proposition from the Pennsylvania Central R
Company, for the iron only to Winchester, and
: embraces an indemnity to themselves of double
the amount of material, furnished in bonds of the
road and $50 900 individual liability, guaranteeing
the collection and prompt yment of large sum of
money within a short time, which from the history
of all such operations must produce certain disaster
as il is known that the collection of the tax will be
resisted. But IF it is notindviduals should never be
called upon by public officers to involve thems elves
dsproportionately in enterprises that can be
mated through their own means as proposed in this
case by committee.
l have desire to detract from Dir. Parry. the
contrary, sustained him for q year and half, til
experience decided it proper for me to proceed
did. hoping to render him and the public
vice; am now convinced that he is in error, when be
concludes, that what he cannot do, cannot be DONE
1t has been charged that my criticisms in regard
to President Parrys' operations are based on de
sire to secure his position to myself-which, would
be the height of presumption suppose. thought it
would be sad reflection the intelligence of
Wayne Township, if there were not a hundred men
competent 10 fill any of his numerous offices,
and thousand breakmen throughout the country
that could make the road to Fit. Wayne soon he
genius and skill which neither of us possess, and
when he has discovered this simple fact he will
with me In trying to secure the services of parties,
who can do 1t for US, but l ace wherein the
Central have an interest in building road,
cept to contract it 10 disadvantage and will do
them the justice say that 1 think they have no
desire to invest at all.
will add that there is no PROBABILITY of success
fully accomplishing this work any other plan
than the sale of its bonds and that the interests
of influential rail road men must be secured liz
der to do IT. and it would be expedent suspend fur
Their operations, and save the small amount of money
which is unexpended, for this purpose
There is yet probability that, by proper action of
the Board the contract of the committee can be reviv-
ed and carried out successfully, If too much time is
not wasted in experimenting on visionary and i'm
practicable ideas.
Ii is by no means expedient to attempt to carry
this work forward by taxation, with which we are
already burdened too much.
In conclusion, wish to say, that rendered N.Y.
self and the people of this city, under special obga
tons to the several gentlemen named and particu-
larly to Messrs. l. 'Hommedieu and Pomrov for
cnuriasies and attentions hich shnnld he 10 nm