The Van Buren press., 1870-06-07
What is Expected.

It was feature Of the contract be-
tween the Little Rock and Fort Smith
Railroad Company and Mr. WARREN
FISHER, Jr, for the construction OF this
Road, that aid should be subscribed by
the five or six counties, that the Read
passes through, to the amount Of $780,
600. This contract was made in good
faith on the part Of the company, feeling
fully assured that all the counties along
the line would. as soon as the subject was
brought to their notice, subscribe one
hundred thousand dollars each, in bonds
running thirty years. Mr. FISHER is full
filing his part of the contract to the let
ter; but, on the other hand, with the ex-
ception Of Crawford, no county has, as
yet. tended the aid guaranteed. We are
permitted to copy the following letter,
address by the Chief Engineer of the
Road, to the President Of the company,
asking that the pledges made in the con-
tract may be faithfully kept. We trust
that now the question is brought directly
to the attention of the counties along the
line that prompt and liberal action will be
taken, and that each county will place
themselves on the record as favorng the
general progress of the country and the
present efforts Of this company to con-
meet the vally of the Arkansas river,
North and East, with the outside world
The report of the distinguished Chief
engineer, on the progress of the work,
is certainly very gratifying, and every
exettion Of the people along the line
should be exerted to help and forward
this great enterprise; and no unnccessa-
ry delay should be manifested in making
good the pledges of the Company. But
to the letter:
LITTLE ROCK Il FORT SMITH RAILROAD.
CHEF HSGrNEER's OFFICE.
Little Rock, Ark, May 49, 1870.
CHARLES @. SCOTT. Esq.
President Little Rock and Fort Smith r. r..
SIR:
1t becomes my duty to call your attention
to the terms Of the contract. between your
company and Mr.. Warren Fisher, Jr. for the
construction aud equipment of this Railway.
BY its provisions the company undertake
to procure subscriptions from the counties
through which the road passes, to the extent
of6ve hundred thousand dollars In the aggre-
gate, payable In the Bonds Of the said coun
ties. Up to this date the only subscription
obtained is, from Crawford county-amount-
Ing to one hundred thousand dollars.
Mr.. Fisher has not hcsltatcd to push the
work with the utmost vigor, relying with
certainty Upon these subscriptions being OBJ
talned. Twenty miles ofthe road Isl now COM
pieted and In the most perfect order. The
grading Is In such state Of forwardness from
that poiat nearly to the mouth of Big Piney,
that the track laying may be prosecuted with
out cessation. The cars will be running to
Lewisburg by tho lst Of July, beyond II
doubt. Under these circumstances II Is natu-
raj that Mr.. Fisher should feel some concern
atthe delay In procuring the county subscrip-
tions and hesitate In his progress until they
are secured. The completion of the grading
on tho first fifty miles has multiplied the
forces on the next thirty. i've to such an ex-
tent that he Is seriously embarrassed IN pro-
'vlding work for them; but, nevertheless. Is
holding them In the hope Of an carly vote on
the subscriptions, SO that no may distribute
them on the limo between Piney and Ozark,
whichis already surveyed and ready for con-
.struction.
beg, therefore, that you will represent to
the County Courts, of the various counties In
terestsd. ard to the people in those counties,
the urgency Of immediate action. No time
should be lost II these subscriptions be vo-
ted promptly, can safely promise you that
the entire cotton crop OF johnson county, for
this year, may be brought by rail to this city,
us soon as ready; and that the Road will be
completed to the Western Boundary of the
State long before the end of the year 1871.
Very respectfully, &c,
A.P. ROBINSON, Chief Eng.