The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-26
THE BLUE RIDGE MILLION.

lHE BLUE KlU(JE MlLLlUN.
Il PROMPT REPORT IND DECISIVE
ACTION.
The City Council Joined as a Plaintiff
In the Suit Against the Blue Ridge
Ring Miscellaneous Proceedings OF
Council.
regular meeting of the City Council was
held last evening at five O'Clock, with Mayor
,Wagener presiding, and Aldermen O'Neill,
Bowen, Garrett Kenny, Voigt, Sweegan,
Glover, Johnston, Brown, Simonds and Pelzer
present.
A petition was received from Messrs. Alfred
Bernard, Henry Bischoff Bernard 0'Neill, W.
Y. Leitch, John Kenny, John II. Houston, b.
q. DeLeon, G. D. Ahrens, c. Michaels, Charles
o. Wltte and Samuel L. Bennett, urging the
Importance of rebuilding the burnt district
and other waste places Ia the city, and urging
a release from city taxes for five years upon
buildings erected within certain specified
time. On motion of Alderman Sweegan, the
petitio4was referred jointly to the commit
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A petition was received from Messrs. B. b.
Rutledge and W. G. DeSaussure, plaintiffs at.
torneys and special referees In the case OF N.
G. Oakes, trustee of the estate of s. B. Oakes,
against D..F. Appleton. for remission Of the
city taxes for 1871, on account OF alleged over
:. assessment and in justice to the other credit.
ors of the estate, which Is insolvent. Referred
to the committee on retrenchment and relief.
A petition was received from Charles Car
rere, agent for certain lots on Broad and
Friend streets lately purchased by the City
Council, asking to have the taxes on said lots
remitted. Granted.
A petition was received from VIM. Marscher
asking for permission TO open the street to
make connection with the street drain from
the yard drain of his house just erected on the
north side of Queen street At the suggestion
of the Mayor, 1t was resolved to refer this
petition aud similar petitions that may be re-
ceiyed in future to the Board of Health, with
power to act.
An opinion was received from the city at
torney, submitting certain recent decisions OF
the Supreme Court upon the right of benevo-
lent societies to exemption from city taxation,
and report of verdict against the city for
damages from an open cellar door extending
across the sidewalk.
Mr.. Corbin also submitted the following
opinion and report of his action under the re-
cent resolution c. the City Council In regard
to Its interest In the Blue Ridge Railroad:
Report. OF City Attorney Corbin.
OFFICE OF CITY ATTORNEY,
CHARLESTON, 8. c., June rs, 1872.
To the Mayor and Aldermen Of the CITY OF
Charleston
GENTLEMEN-I have considered the subject
matter OF the resolution passed by you at your
last meeting, which resolves that the city attor,
ney be Instructed to report to the Council
what action is necessary to protect the inter-
est OF the city In the Blue Ridge Railroad, and
have to report:
That the interest of the city In the Blue
Ridge Railroad consists in the ownership of
l0,540 shares of the capital stock OF the COM
pany, for which the City Council has paid
$l,054,0OO. The rest OF the stock, consisting OF
about IS, 500 shares, formerly owned by the
State, is now supposed to be owned by few
men by virtue of a pretended purchase from
the State through the agency OF the sinking
fund commission. The validity Of this sale
has been seriously doubted as not within the
authority of the sinking fund commissioners,
and not properly confirmed by the Legisla-
ture; but however this may be, the fact Is un-
doubted that for all practical purposes now
the State has parted with Its Interest In this
stock, and 1t is now in the hands of few prl-
vate persons. These persons who have thus
got possession of the States stock have there
by more than halfo all the stock Issued by the
Blue Ridge Railroad Company, and hence
controlling influence in the management OF
the road.
In1he resolution passed by you regret
that 1t was not stated, by preamble or other
wise, precisely what danger was apprehend'
ed to the Interest of the city, and against
which remedy ls sought, and thus reduce my
reply to mere question OF law or practice.
As 1t Is, am left to conjecture the evil aimed
at BY you, and for that, If possible, to suggest
remedy. can but suppose that you have
reference to the charges made in the daily
newspapers against certain officers Of the
road of traudulently mlsappropriating the as.
sets and funds of the road. My general
knowledge of the affairs OF this road, and OF
some of the men Into whose hands 1t appears
to have fallen, leads me to believe that what Is
so generally charged has more or less Of truth
in II, but how much or how little do not
know, nor have the means of knowing.
Several suits in this State aud New York
have recently been instituted against the
company by Its creditors, in which they
charge the most 1agrant misapproprialion
and embezzlement of the funds Of the compa-
ny by the president, J. J. Patterson, and
others.
Among others, one has been Instituted by
John N. Mackay, complaining on behalf OF
himself and all other stockholders who shall
come In and contribute to the support OF the
action. This complaint, after alleging nrmer-
GUS mlsapplications and embezzlements of
funds of the company, prsys among other
thing "that receiver of the property and ef-
fects of the said corporation be appointed to