The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1877-05-11
OUR RAIL ROAD.


Railroad, to be held in Canton on the
18th inst The call speaks for itself,
and "means business" We recog.
nize the fact that the times are hard,
but now is the time when every man
should do his whole duty. The
friends of the road have worked with
unntiring energy, and many have
made heavy sacrifices. The first
company, known as Wallis, Haley &
Co composed of H. B. Wallis, Joel
T. Haley, Humphrey Reid, Il. NJ.
Hammett, J. NJ. McAfee, Stephen
Tate, John Aired, w. 7. Day, Thos.
f. Greer, G. B. Howard, and A. J.
Glenn, graded to little river, of their
own means, over and above the
amount of subscriptions paid in be-
came liable for several thousand dol>
lars, for which the road was respon>
sible. At this point, Little River, a
new Company was organized for the
purpose of completing to Canton.
This Company was known as Fields,
McAfee, Tate & Co., and composed
of Col. L. Field, J. N. McAfee Steph~
en- D. Tate, Frank Daniel, Jabez
Gault, Joshua Roberts, Thos. ID.
Evans, John L. Barnes, II. M. Ham
met, Joseph Donaldson, joel 7. Ha-
ley, w. II. Hoskins, and VIM. Teas
ly, did complete the grading to Can
ton, but the subscribers failing to
meet the installments they became
liable for a considerable amount for
ad vances made and for which they
were responsible, not willing to go
further upon the faith of non-pay-
ing subscribers this company SUR
rendered the hands. A third com
pany was then formed to prevent
the convict force from falling back to
the State, whereby the work done
and the road would have been lost.
This Company was known as j. NJ.
MICA fee & Co., and was composed OF
j. M. McAfee, II. M. Hammett, G..
d. Phillips, w. Fl. Hoskins, and
VIM. Phillips; this company at a
sacrifice held the hands until the
companies were formed in Gilmer
and Fannin. Things were in this
condition when the act was passed
by the last Legislature giving aid to
the road. The act provides that
upon the loan of the state is given
that the President shall file an affida-
Wit with the Governor that the road
is "unencumbered." There are uu-
paid subscriptions pledged to the
payment Of their debts sufficient to
pay every dollar, but to collect re-
quires time and this causes delay.
To meet this emergency the several
companies mentioned came forward
and have obligated themselves to
meet the outstanding Indebtedness
of their several companies. All hon.
or to those patriotic gentlemen. This
assurance being given in writing,
there was then an easy process to
secure iron and rolling stock upon
the faith of the pledged aid of the
State. One thing only is lacking
and that is complete settlement of
every claim against the road, and
we hope that every person having a
claim of any character will attend
the meeting at Canton. The amount
is not so large but however small let
the books be squared and then take
a new start. We have no doubt
but that means can be raised in Cher>
okee, Cobb and Atlanta to feed,
guard and work so or 100 convicts
while getting out and laying cross
ties and laying track from Marietta
to Canton, or to meet the payments
for this work If it should be given
out by contract as mentioned by the
Chief Engineer, Capt. Wells. Nor
ought the work to stop at this-one
hundred hands should commence
the grade at once from Canton to-
wards Elljay and Murphy. 1t is
estimated that eight or ten thousand
dollars will work 100 hands for II
months. Can't we raise eight thous
and in the counties of Pickens, Gill
mer, Fannin, and Union and carry
on the grade 7 if so, when the iron
is laid to Canton the road bed will
be ready to go on and en- and on to
Murphy, every dollar of the earnings
being pledged and honestly and eco
pomically used for this purpose
After long and hard struggle the
work is now in business, practical
shape. This work is worth more to
upper Georgia, yes, to all Georgia,
than all your political meetings or
conventions, for it will give material
prosperity to our people and add to
the wealth of the State. We again
urge every man to attend this meets