Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-08
WASHINGTON.
Grants Greeting to the Despots
of South Carolina.
He Has No Reflections to Cast
on Their Rule,
Nor ON the Louisiana Fraud.

the President this morning to answer the
charges made against them by the dele
gates from the Taxpayers Convention.
The delegation made a long statement,
based mainly on documents they presented,
TO the effect that taxation was not so bur-
densome as it has been represented, and
was imposed for the best interests of the
people and the State. They denied that
the delegation represented almost entirely
the tax-Daying citizens of South Carolina,
and declared that the Republican delega-
ton represented substantial interests in the
State, as they represented the great MAORI
ty of the people.
The President replied that be regarded
their statements complete answer to the
other side, and he would also say that MS
reply TO the former delegation has, in sew
eral instances, been misrepresented, partle-
ularly with regard to his remarks upon the
State governments Of Louisiana and South
Carolina, as he had not intended to make
any reflections upon them.
viii wait TO be Kicked
Outa
There was a brief Cabinet session to-day,
all the Departments except that or the War
being represented, but no business of inn
port ance was before the meeting.
Secretary Richardson said Immediately
after the adjournment, that he had not re-
signed and did not intend to.
The new French Minister, NJ. Berthold,
to-day presented his credentials to the
President.
Didn't Know He Was Gone:
Senator Edmunds, of Vermont, reap
peared in the Senate Chamber to-day, and
was warmly congratulated by his associates
on the complete restoration of his health,
effected by rest and a visit to Florida.
slippery Sanborn.
J. D. Sanborn was before the Committee
on Ways and Means to-day, and was cross
examined for several hours, but without
anything OF importance being elected. He
still declines to give a detailed statement of
his expenditures. All efforts failed to
make him admit anything that would con-
meet Gen. Butler, or any other member of
Congress with his contracts. He either de-
MED that Butler had given him advice or
the favor of his influence, or answer that
hc didn't remember it.
The committee finally put the following
question to Sanborn. which be promised to
answer On Thursday morning:
State in detail the amounts you have
paid or agreed to pay in relation to your
contract and in its execution with the
dates, sums, to whom paid, and for what
each payment was made.
Other witnesses will be examined to-
morrow.
The hearing of the case. Of Senator
Chandler against o. C. Buell., correspond
ent, charging the latter with libel, was
again postponed in the police court this
morning until next Tuesday, by request
of defendants counsel.
TunneIIing the Blue Ridge-OnIy six.
ty WiiIscn Dollars.
In presenting the report of the Board Of
Engineers who examined the proposed route
of the James river and Ksnawha Canal,
Gen. Humphreys expresses his entire con-
cuTTenee IN their conclusions, which are as
follows:
1. That it is entirely practicable to con-
nect the waters of the James end Chic riv-
ers by water navigation of seven feet in
depth. The tunnel required will be about
the length of Mount Gems tunnel, but it
would 90 through rock very easily eXca-
waited and could be drawn from shafts of
moderate height and at distances seldom
exceeding one mile.
3. Thai an ample water supply can be
commanded.
3. That the tunnel should be a single
tunnel with turnouts provided in sufficient
number to admit Of vessels passing.
1. That the proposed water line can be
completed in six years at a cost not exceed
ing S50.O00,000, and that the cost may rea-
sOnably be expected to be within S55,0O0,-
coo, and may possibly not exceed SJ0,000,-
coo.
5. That in the opinion of this Board this
route presents extraordinary claims as a
measure Of relief to the population Of the
West in furnishing them for their bulky
productions cheap transportation TO market
and fostering the commerce of the United
States by developing immense mineral re-
sources now neglected.
District Paving, Sewage and Sich.
At the meeting of the District of COlum-
bia Investigating Committee this morning,
John w. Thompson, President of the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company was
examined with reference to the payment
made by that company for improvement in
the streets through which the road runs.
He testified that it would bankrupt the
company to pay the said prices for paving;
that instead of making an extension to the
line of road he had the verbal consent of
the Board of Public Works to lay the
sleepers as work progresses; that he had
not paid any money to the board for any
concrete pavement laid except on Seven
teenth street, which was improved after
the c0mpany's track had been laid; that
the board had endeavored to force certain
payments from the company, which claims
were resisted and were now in litigation.
Witness was asked if any stockholders
of the road We're members of the Board OF
Public Works; he stated that S. 3. Brown
was, and that Gov. Shepherd had been, but
that the latter had resigned on the 1St OF
August, 1871, because he thought it best. A
croSs-examinatiOn of witness ELECTED the
fact that Gov. Shepherd sold his stock be-
fore the Improvements began,
Arthur Bridget testified that he did sod
ding for contractors who obtained contracts
from the Board at 15, 20 and 25 cents. The
evidence of witness was mainly to the
effect that the specifications for sodding
were not complied with.
The specifications of work required by
the Board were read to him, and he said he
had done sOdding nearly year before ht
saw or heard of the specifications, and thai
work that came under his observation was
not done in accordance with such specifica'
tions. Witness had done considerable sod
| ding for John o. Evans. Work was sub
let TO him. He was paid 10 to 25 cents pc
square yard. Upon cross-examination h'
testified that of many thousand yards o
sodding he had done, he had only purchased
about SO worth; the rest was given to hin
and gotten at different places.
S. S. Riley, an assessor, testified that Liant
on the eastern branch of the Potomac whicl
would not be worth anything without re
clamation, and which did not drain in th'
Tiber creek sewer. was assessed for sewer
ace one cent per foot. On cross examina
tioa it was developed that Gov. ShepherC
owned some property in this location.