Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-05-02
FROM MY FRIENDS.
Coed Words and ComnsHsatI0as from Old
and StaUnOh Friends Of The Mis-
slsslppi River Railroad.
General Conner, /. HHl and Jsha 7. DeHg.
las Express Themselves as to
the Railroad lmbrBgli0.

| lish8d in The APPEAL OF the l5Jn April, IL
which 1 gave in detail my four years ser
vices for the Mississippi River rail
road, I called publicly on a number Of the
most prominent citizens Of Shelby, Tip.
ton and Lauderdsle counties, who hRd
known me intimately in all the work, q
testify for or against the ~truthfulness o.
the history / gave.
Mr. GREENLAw AMI REV. DR.. KERR
/ promptly responded from Shelby county,
Other testimonials came in, later, from
Upton and Lsuderdale counties. At first,
/ determined not to publish these last.
felt that l did not really need them; but,
OF second thought, 1 have concluded "a
ask space in the APPEAL for three Of those
responses. 1 do not wish my generous
friends to think / priZa their support too
slightly to give it 10 the public; andI wish
TO put on record anew some facts that will
go 20 my credit when a calm and Just
judgment shall succeed the passions OF
the present day.
The letters / submit are written by
Gen. William Conner. of Lauderdale
county, and Col. John T. Douglas and DR..
L. Hill, of Upton county, three of the
most prominent Conservative citizens OF
West Tennessee:
Editors Appe1J-Iu the DAILY APPEAL
Of the 18th instant I notice q publication
Of A. S. Mitchell, former President of the
Mississippi River Railroad Company, in
which he refers to me as one OF the Di-
r~eCtOrs, etc.
As stated by Colonel Mitchell, on the
18th of August, 1866, ut COYington, pre-
liminary steps were taken TO %reorgsnize
this company by the original stOckhold-
ers of tine old company, which was in ex-
istenCe before the 18th of July, 1860. I
presided as chairman Of said preliminary
meeting, having been a stakeholder and
director Of the old Board. At the 1866
meeting a new Board OF Directors was
chosen, among them myself, DR., Harris,
of Dyer, and others, and we elected A.
S. Mitchell President, and passed resolu-
tiOns giving the President 5000 a year for
his salary and a certain per cent. for all
the sUbscriDtiOHs he might obtain, and
some other resolutions, all of which do
not recollsCt.
1 was induced to vote for Colonel Nit
chell, first, because he satisfied me that,
through his eXertiOns, he had procured
from the State of Tennessee the magnih-
cent State aid Of g ,3OO, 900; and secondly,
for the reason that l had never heard a
better tslker for a railroad. Thirdly, Lsu-
dsrdale county, Notwithstanding she has
paid all her proportion of railroad State
tax, has never, to this day, received one
cent IN return.
Col Mitchell and myself ~canvasseG this
and Dyer county, at a later day, and i
was confirmed in my opinion that he was
q strong railway advocate, on the stump
and among the people, and That il was
owing entirely to his able CanVass that
LsUderdsle subscribed $780, 600.
] do not reCOll6Ct to have heard him set
forth an improper statement in his advO-
cacy of the road, and. if there is any mis-
statement in his publication of the 18th, so
Tar as comes under my knowledge, / am
not aware OF it.
From the best information Ihad, other
roads were paying their Presidents from
S5OO0tO $4,000 per year, and considered
President Mitchell entitled to the COM
pensstion we voted him, and have nothing
TO regret on that score. Respectfully,
WILLIAM CONNER.
April q, 1871.
In a letter to Mir. Mitchell, General
Conner writes additionally as follows:
Col. A. S. Mitchell;
Dear Sri find by reference to a sub
scription book "a small one) left with me
by GrandHll, who first hsd the route sur
veyed for the the then called Mississippi
RiYor Railway Company, that on the
l7th July, 1850, the subscriptions to stock
in said Company in Lauderdale county
were as follows:
A. b. HenuIug, n share.-~........ ) 100
j.. F.. Pearson, five barss............. 500
p. T. Glass, one share .-............. 100
VIM. Conner, ten ......... 1000
II. J. Anderson, five shsres........, 900
Z. G. Nelson, five hares.-........... 800
These subscriptions we're conditioned
that Ouly two per cent. be paid when SUBJ
and no more until the sum of
$500, 600 was raised, either by public or
subscriptions then the residue
to be payable in monthly calls
rs per charter. Another subscriber
As well as 1 remember, wa Hiram Partee, |
en- shares, representing all the subsCIib-
in this lLsuderdsls) and Haywood
I attended q meeting or two in
Memphis, and we organized; I was made
; director ia said company.
When Mr.. CrsuGsll and his corps of
engineers ran the line through this and
he adjoining counties, Hiram Partee, my
Ielt, and II think Ira g. Barhsld psid the
engineers $500 to help make said survey,
zach man paying 500. 1 had previously
)aid $50 a. Memphis when q sum was
'aised by the directors elect for stationery,
etc, all Of which amount (SI6O)
own in said company.
As stated by you, on the 18th Of Au-
rust, 1866, we organized at C~OVingUon, I
icing elected as chairman of the stock
meeting, called and held there.
. 7 am of opinion that the foregO-
ng statement of facts will Justify me in
aging l had a right to participate in that
Meeting, and I have the papers to show
THAT ! say about subscription.
WILLIAM CONNER.