The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-06-20
rO the stockholders Of the Belt
a1re and South wv esiern II. q. Co.


The delay which has occurred ia the
commencement of work on our propos.
ed enterprise has doubtless induced
some impatience with the stockholders.
and may Justify q public explanation
Very consiierable delay wa, caused
by the want Of energetic action ny our
first Chief Engineer, and the necessity
for change of that department. After
the change and after extended, surveys
a desire was felt by the Board to put
under contract the first ten miles out Of
Bellaire, so as to utilize the labor en-
gagements" of the neiphborhoud while
it wonld be OF service to them, and be-
fore the laborers depended upon for the
working of this special district should
be scattered by their necessities and by
the protfer OF, employment elsewhere.
z The explorations of the engineer de
veloped value TO the "Wegee line"
which had been concealed from US by
the late Chief Engineer, and which in
duced the Board to indicate prefer
ence for that route, if due arrangements
we're ma 1e for releases of right of way
and for sufficient amount of stock
subscriptions to make up the compile
ment OF $4,000 per mile for the increas-
ed length of line This reqnisition was
not complied with in the Time indicated,
nor has it been up to this time tj55
Under these two causes of delay, the
policy of using the unemployed labor
ers OF Brllaire in pursuance of their
"labor engagements" was counteracted
by the fact that most of these laborers
are, now, probably. engaged or dispers-
ed. and could not be concentrated to
any very large extent upon the work
Tire management of the enterprise was
then compelledto recognize the necessi
w II looking TO such financial as shall
admit of application to the whole line
from Bellairet 10 Wsodsfeld "a
Under extended correspondence and
ob.ervation of the diff :ulties which
seemed to beset olher enterprises of sim,
liar character to ours, we discovered
that the general inability of young rail
roads to dispose of their securities was
conclusive as to the necessity Of great
caution in cur engagements, if we wish
ed to avoid what now seems to be the
fate of such organizations-namely. an
exhaustion Of the stack Subscriptions
chile grading the road bed, and The sub
sequenG failure to obtain rail land ma
chiaery With which to put the road in
operation
This is result which your Board OF
Directors is determined to avoid, believ-
ing that the stockholders would rather
hold their money unexpended than have
it placed without the hope of advantage
in graded road bed
Sill trusting, however, that the adop-
tion of cautious policy NAV secure to
US such financial position as will enable
Us to 60 on with the work without much
longer delay, we have contracted for
10000 ties and as much lumber as may
be needed for the east end of the line.
aud have also, opened negotiations for
purchasing the machinery and cars nee.
essary for construction. We have also
had extended surveys made, covering
the whole territory between Bellsire and
Woodsheld; and with these expenditures
and engagements we have been con-
strained to make the first assessment up
on the estock'of the company, which we
trust will be paid promptly. and cheer
fully We do not propose to make anv
further assessments until we have made
such:engagements IS will enable us to
go ON with the work k
j. n SULLIVAN President.
Bellaire, O., June Ii, 1876