The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-01-30
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EAtNOhio Vi q t'si-
tractor grew naturally out of his braf ch OF
production. In 1876 he wa, young and
driving merchant leather dresser q, Wiz
mington, Delaware,-a place always noted
for the e1cellency Of its tanned skins. The
army reqaired for the Mexican war kDar.
Sacks, LIS, tea'-straPs, clrtridse-boxes,
shoes, hats and other articles oil leather,
which exceeded the ordinary calls Of the
market; and McComb. under this stimula
ton, began his mercantile life.
He married Miss Bush, of Wilmington,
whose father was the founder OF the carwheei
cLsting and railway furnishing firm, aud, at
the decease Of his father-in- las, he became
a partner in the house. At the outbreak OF
the war. the Mississippi Central railroad had
owed McComb about Sl00, 900. After the
war, IN which he siSna!izcd himself az one
of the most tremendous aud seerless fur
nishers to the war department, and was the
special favorite of Secretary Stanton. Nc
Comb headed the organization 10 recover
the Southern railways for their original own
ers, and was perfectly successful. He then
advanced abou, $500, 600 TO the Mississippi
Central road; and il was t. serve him a.
their friend that the directors proposed
lease of the road to McCOmb. He
accepted it, and also the New Orleans and
Jackson road, about the time that Ames,
Alley and party took the New o.
leans, Mobile and Texas road. NJ
legislation was required, except to expel the
small STATE interest and in Louisiana, Nc
Comb did not appear at all, while in Missis-
sippi, Governor Alcorn and all the Legisla-
ture abdicated the interests Of the State in
consideration Of certain extensions. To the
New Orleans and jackson and Mississippi
Central roads unitedly, Colonel M,Comb
has added seven and one half millions OF
equipment, track and shop, and further IN
der:ook to build from jackson, Tennessee, to
Cairo, Iliinois-115 miies-at an additional
expense of six millions. The latter money
has been borrowed abroad on easy terms.
In McComb's combinations are Thomas
Scott, Fl. E. Newcome, of Louisville, and
the most reputable and legitimate railroad
the chief stakeholder N the Southern Rail-
road Association, Of which he ia President,
and which now is the owner of the trunk
line. In the Texas and Pacific railroad
McCom6 is also a large stakeholder, and
trustee of the Union Pacific while, mean
time, his regular leather business goes on at
Wilmington, - in the days when, according
to Brooks. he came from i,s streets and
alleys. Brooks came from the John B. Al
leys Of New Eogland, which lead to des-
truction.
Such were the relations which led Col
McComb into the Union Pacific railroad,
and the tone of the letters addressed to him
by Oakes Ames, sufficiently disproves the as.
that be was formerly regarded
with disfavor. His type of face and mind il
no, such AZ to inspire disirnst but, ii any of
the horny handed boss jobbers around Lynn
or Tsunton though, to crow over the bland
and genial man from Delaware, they made
4 mistake. They took great parcel of Credit
Mobilier stock to distribute amongst the peo-
pie of influence. pretending that it was for
the common defence and to promo:e the gen.
eral welfare. McComb suspected that it was
really conf.cated by Ames, Alley & Co,
and he demanded that James A. Bayard and
some OF his friends he equally considered.
Blu, it came to pass that, even in the whip
ping-post State, no public man would take
bri5e, and Mr.. Bayard refused the stock in
letter which New England might now be
glad to receive from some of the most hon
Ored Of her bedrageled public men.
McComb, pushing his inquiries, compelled |
Ames to account for come OF his stock
about one-third of the whole. A suit de- |
veloped to compel the Alley party to redis- |
tribute the aid stock and dividends, particu- |
|arly afle1 AIMEE had refused to give McComb |
se5 900 worth OF Credit Nobilier stock for |
which be had paid.
attorneys became advised Of the admissions,
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