Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-05-05
"MANaLINc DONE HERE"
E.lIiHgtOa Defends His Professional Re
pHtation ard Answers MsrlWsibsF.

/ Editors Appe1I-In The verbose com.
/ munlcatiOn Of Mr.. Mor.wether in this
mornings APPEAL, speaking Of the Pad
uc8h rOsd, be says Il have never seen
[ ths road. It was represented 10 me as in
I good condition, and until I have some
I better authority than the preiudicsd
I statement Of Mr.. MiungtOn I must be
I permitted % doubt its worn out cOudi-
tion." As Mr.. MsriWetLer has not seen
Z the Paducah rOsd, Of course, he knows
nothing about it, and I have no objection
, to his doubling anything be plessss on
the same authority. have seen &c, and
know whereof I speak. Ia calling my
statement prejudiCed he Is In error, if he
means that ] am preiudiced against the
Psducah road. What little property I
own Is located in Paducah, and under the
impression that a railroad 20 Memphis
would Gdd largely Co the material
prosperity Of Paducsh, I have du-
ring the last four years done an
that my humble ability would permit,
and my Judgment sanction, to Sc
cure It's construction. i had the misfOr-
tune to incur the ill-will 81 parties deeply
interested in the alleged MeC0mb's con-
tract, by openly denouncing ig as being,
I'm my opinion a grand aWlndle, perpe-
trated for the purpose Of preventing the
construction Of she Mississippi River
railroad, aud events have shown my
opinion Wss well founded. The Norton
contract, as il was represented me, was 20
much like the McComb's one ia its in
Cgbniteneas OF purpose, and uncertainty
Of operation, SO far as building the Mis-
sissippi River road is concerned, that I
was tempted TO show up 10 the stock
holders, by means Of this " huge array of
figures" So terrible % Mr.. Msriwother,
who msy now 5esupposed 20 be dealing
more ln figures of spe5ch-the second
trap that had bsen set for them, and
AZ possible prevent th8 left wing Of
the McCOmbs marsuders, now re-
infOrced by Euca able talent,
sweeping away the small remnant
left BY the right wing. "Hhat the public
NAV know" says Air. NariWethsr, what
value 90 attach b Mr MilingtOn's huge
array of figures concerning The Norton
contract, it should be- Understood That
while Chief Engineer al tho Mississippi
River railroad, DO over stimsted the CON
tractors about SIS, 900 a serious charge,
m correct. but if Mr.. Msriwether will
read the contract, and estimates made by
me. and acQuaint himself with the real
facts 10 the case, as en- engineer, and not
a. q Iayver. be viii ind that he has blum
dared again. i have made no hnai e8ti-
mate for the contractors. i have made
none but the usual monthly estimates
Of the quantity and value or WORK
done, and materials delivered, - proYl-
ded for in tho contract, during the
progress OF the work. When ] len the
servlce Of the company, on tbs Slst Of
January lass, bad retsined from th5 Con-
Tractors over s33, 900, which was then ln
the hands of the treasurer Of the COM
pany 70 protect C against loss from over
ealllnalsd monthly estimates, if on hnal
procurement 1t should appesr that any
had been made. On account OF the failure
OF mcCombs and associates to fulfill their
alleged contract, ths work done was exc
1uted under many great disadvantareq.
both 20 the company and coDt,soflss
and on Iho greater portion OF III ne
mouthiy estimates bad been lpsde ana
oueratiOns suspended from six 10 twelve
months before the dnal estimate was
mede bv nay successor, during which
time fhs work had been exposed 10 heavy
rsins and overflow from the Streams, and
N the dspreeiation is no greater than Mr..
Meriwether states, it shows that the work
must have been done wen iu the FIRST
place, and not much over-sstimated.
II was designediy prevented nom