The Van Buren press., 1871-08-08
L, R. & F. S. Railroad.
The Other Side Of the Questton-Lcae,
from NJ PrUH.
BosToN, July %, 1871.

EDITOR GAZETTE; Learning that there
is much complaint because the work on
the Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad
is suspended, word Of explanation on
this subject seems to be proper.
The company made a contract with
Warren Fisher, Jr., for building the road,
and he sublet the work to Messrs. Pierce,
Steacv d Yorston Fisher was to be
paid by the company in bonds and stock !;
under his contract with the sub contrac-
tors he was to pay them in money.
These contracts were between different
parties, and the company never had any
thing to do with the sub contractors.
The company held Fisher on his con-
tract, and the sub-contractors looked to
Fisher alone Fisher has been overpaid
by the company for all the work that has
been done on the road by any one. The
sub. contractors claim that Fisher is in
dcbted to them over $500, 600 This they
never claimed, and do not now claim
from the company.
On the suspension Of Fisher, which
necessarily involved loss and cmbarrass-
ment to the company, | found that funds
could still be raised to finish the road
with but small delay, and was making ar
rangements to that end, when the sub
contractors applied to a Judge in Arkan-
sas for an Injunction to prevent thc com
many from re.letting the contract for
building uGtjl Fisher paid them whatever
tley claimed, that is, that the work
should be indefinite " delayed, if not eX'
tu-ulshed. 1t may see,W surprising lhaV
the work on road Of such ,Hubhc lmpor,
tance and concern should thus He stayed
at the suit of PERSONS having no clalm
against the company, and on a parry
bond Of $4,000; but it is probable thac
miunctions are species of phenomena
not subject to any known rules.
The company, having paid for the
work once, and fully complied with the
obligations resting tn)on it, cannot, If 1t
would, pay for it a second time. Such a
concession would be yielding to the
equivalent Of mere brute force, and would
pave the way to new eXactons without
limit.
The charge Of conspiracy between thd
company and Fisher has, | hear, been
made. Such charges are easily preierree
by those having an interest to do so, but
how the company could be benefited by
the suspension of Fisher with q large
surplus of their bonds in his hands will
remain mystery. The accusation is
wholly destitute of truth, and equally de-
void of probability
In conclusion, ! have only to say that,
while the suspension of the work is
great loss to the company and a serious
detrmcnt to the public, it is of no con
ceivable benefit to the sub contractors.
They still have to look to Fisher and to
him alone They do not pretend that
they can make the company pay his debts,
If their course was intended to be a
press" on the company, to make itpay
a debt it never assumed, it must be re-
garded ss supreme failure, however
great a success in other respects. With
out this injunction the road would al
ready have been finished to ClarksviIle,
and would be in fair way ofcompleton; (;
and the money could be raised now to 60
on with the work, without any delay, If
the hands of the company were not thus
tied. Very respectfully,
John c. PRATT,
President of L. r. & F. S r. Il. Co.