Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-08-04
a. III. e Q. r. 2.
FACTS AND EsGE SES FOR
THE PEOPLE.
Light fror,s 6 I'll ciai SoIrccS---TItc
History Ct Three Years.
WELT Eis CONSOLIDATION DcTE!

WELT 5iiS C0ES0L'DiT!oN DCIE!
WE propose to give an array of facts
which the candid mind cannot reject,
and which the honest judgment Of
our readers cannot refuse assent to-
The results are before the people but
the means and workings have been in
accessible to ordinary observation.
The canvass in Washington county
Va, has been already coloTed by char
ges which these facts inevitably over
throw. We ask the careful attention
of the people to them, because We be-
lieve they are not only unanswerable,
but have already wrought immense
benefit for the county.
The value of Consolidation, both, as
means of enhancing the prosperity of
the old companies which make up the
Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad
CompaIy and promoting every inter
est, either directly or indirectly con-
nected Herewith, has long since been
demonstrated "by the memorable logic
of figures and the introduction of
such an issue at this time, can only be
interpreted as an effort to appeal to
past prejudices, engerdCrCd by an eX-
cited contest over n question which
has been finally decided by the former
stockholders of the various companies,
whose property alone was involved in
the proper solution of this problem
andsince their verdict, by an ovcrwhel-
ming majority has given validity to this
m easure, we are at a loss to know what
other motive, than that given above,
can be adduced for this attempt to re-
vive the animosities of a nor dead
faSuc.
Everywhere, and more especially in
Virginia, are the fortunes of our peo-
pie, more or less, bound up with the
success of railroad enterprises-to the
farmer and merchant, in the reduction
of local. frcights, thereby insuring lar
ger gains and increasing prosperity /;
while to all, the retention of millions
of money, levied as a tax upon the
productions and commerce of outside
States, and the disbursement of vast
sums i'm labor, the purchase of wood,
ties, material of every description and
the manufacture of engines and cars,
constitute an evermoving, yet certain,
capital which can be relied upon from
no othcrenterprise in our State. There
fore whatever rebounds TO the sue
ccssfuI building up Of the business and
credit of a railroad, directly appeals to
every variety of interest embraced i'm
the section of country through which
IL PASSES.
This much promised, let us see in
what way this Consolidation scheme
has affected the Companies and our
pc pie, in the three years it has been
operated, in q'snsi form and that its
effects may be brought more directly
home to our local interests, let us ex-
amino its Influence upon our Virginia
and Tennessee branch Of The line. At
the beginning of Gen. Mahone,s add
miHistration, this company's floating
debt was found to be S6O5, S21. GO exclu-
sivc Of Interest past due on bonds &c,
(Which amounted to S2l5. 2g5. 90 as of
date July, 1851 OF this sum, large
amount was due the United States
Government for the purchase of roll
ing stock and for taxes, for The latter
item a portion of the rolling stock had
then been attached; to the city of
Lynchburg, for taxes; to connecting
lines, for balances on account of cur
rent business; to the Banks, for $50
oo0 of protested paper and S12l ,OS5 to
the mechanics, operatives and labor
crs Of the Road while the remainder
WAS due 20 banks and individuals, in
al embracing over free hundred dis
Iinc5 and separate obligations, many
of which were of long standing and i'm
some eases stood in the form of suit
and Judgements. OF this amount il
was.ahsolutcly necessary to pay $751;
033teforc the Observation-Disclosures
could obtain peaceful possession of Tie
Road.
b If possible. the physical condition of
the property was worse Than the finau- /
oes are seen TO have been. The safety
of passing trains demanded the inn
mediate replacement of 10000 cross 1
ties and tie renewal OF thirty miles of
iron: what balastiug had been done
was inperfectly executed and in some (
places had become source OF injury; /
lhe engines and ears were in bad con
liiion. OF the former, nearly all were |
Did and all below the present stand
I'D. The coaches were limited IN num-
,er and but few could lie called first