The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-03-04
COMMITTEE, Rooms, Rooms, 8. G.

| COMMITTEE, ROOMS, Rooms, 8. G
February FL, 1870.
! The Special Joint Committee, ap
pointed under concurrent resolution
of the General Assembly to investi
gate the affairs of the Blue Ridg'
Rail Road Company, beg leave to re
port:
That they have discharged tht
duty assigned them and submit here
with, the accompanying statement.
Your Committee met at thu Office
of tho Company in this city Wednes
day, February 16, 1870.
They were courtcously received by
the President J. w. Harrison, the
Chief Engineer, Col J. p. Low and
by the members of the Executive
Committee, His Exccllency Governor
r. K. Scott, Hon. James L. Orr, VIM
Gurney, Esq. l. A. jerks, Esq, all OF
whom were present.
The Committee, in the outset, desire
to express their qualification for the
courtesy with with they were recciv.
cd, and the readiness and disposition
evinced by the officers of the Compa-
ny and the members of the Executive
Committee to facilitate your Commit
tse in the object of their visit, and
meet the wishes of tho General As.
scmbly.
The Committee found the records
of the Company carefully kept, en-
bracing minute detail of the work,
its history, the reports of its former
and present officers and engineers, also
the proceedings of tho Board of Di-
rectors and Executive Committee,
together with all the facts and ihfor-
nation relative to the contract with
Crcsswcll & Co., and the causes which
resulted in tho resembling of tho con-
tract.
After careful examination of the
proceedings of the several meetings
of tho Board of Direc' ors, and the
Executive Committee, held ut Char
'lcston and Columbia, your Committee
fully concurred in the opinion and re.
quest of the Stockholders and direc-
tors that tho proceedings, including
the annual reports Of tho President
and Chief Engineer, should not be
published until final adjustment of
the contract with CresswcIl g. Co..
was made. The Committee also find
that another reason why the annual
reports to the General Assembly have
been delayed, is that the Committee
have had in the fold for the last two
months o corps of Engineers running
an experimental line, which it is be.
ieved will avoid ell the tunnels In
South Carolina, cross the Blue Ridge
or Stump House Mountain, with O
tunnel Of but three hundred feet in
length, be q saving of two miles in
distance, great saving of time, and a
large expenditure in construction.
Owing to incloment weather, the re.
port Of this corps of engineers has
delayed, tbs company being desirous
q statement of this new survey in
their proceedings. The Committee,
however, are pleased to state that
all therepoFts and proceedings are now
being prepared for publication in
pamphlet form, and it is hoped will
be ready to be laid before the General
Assembly prior to it's adjournment.
Your Committee, however, directed
their principal enquiries into the facts
and particulars connected with the
award, and resembling of the contract
with Cresswell & Co. After hearing
the explanations made by the Execu,
tive Committee and officers of the
road, your Committee were fully war
rantcd in Withdrawing from that con.
i tract, and eftecting 4 oouapromise hy