Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-03-27
Winchester and Alabama
Railroad.
How it was Built, etc.

debt as follows. The investiga-
ton was a losing venture, inas-
much as the rings and corrup-
tons that had been pcrsistently
charged were proven not to ex-
list, and the irregularities that
were unearthed were a poor re-
turn for the cost of the commit
tee. We copy the following be-
cause it has a local interest.
The witness being sworn, depos-
ed, February 9th, as follows
Question. Did you at any
time have any business or other
connection with any railroad or
railroads of this State? If so,
please state when, and WI h
what road or roads?
Answer. IN reply | will state
this: In 1923. think, was a
contractor for the Winchester
81 Alabama, as it was called
then, the road leading from
Dechard to Fayetteville. Work
was suspended on it about mid
summer in 1853, and the road
and its franchises We're under
mortgage 10 secure contractors
and other creditors, Some year
or SO thereafter an effort was
originated 10 resuscilate the en-
terprise. / think this was in
1856 or 1851. The city Of
Nashville mad stock in the road,
and sent ont Il committee to
'ook after its interest, and to
examine the road, and | was
dcputed by some of the credit
ors out there (I being one Of
the largest creditors out there
to act or confer with the COM
mittee from Nashville. / also
spent some time in connection
with Col. Bibbs, from Nash
vile, in getting up subscription
of stock. In connection with
this movement, the idea of get
ting additional State aid was
suggested.
To get This aid it was neces-
sary to remove our mortgage
hen on it, and j came TO Nash
vile in connection with this.
We creditors desired to get as
much rs possible of the sums due
us, and still allow the enterprise
to go on. Col. Y. X. Stevenson,
when | cam, TO Nashville had
charge of the road, and had
undertaken TO get, it through
Stevenson, and released our
mortgages, they agreed to pay.
lis one third of our debts in
money, and we agreed to take
two-ihirds in stock in the
roads. After this release, they
obtained additional State aid.
@ What aid was obtained, ana
for what?
a. / am not sure as to the
amount, but | think $4,000
was obtained to build bridge
across the Boiling Fork Of Elk
river near Winchester, and a
larger amount, some $4,000,
| think, TO bnilda Bridge across
Elk river, at Fayetteville.
g. As a matter Of fact, was
this sum appropriated to build
a Bridge near Winchester, or
had said bridge been built some
year or more?
a. The bridge near Wlnches-
ter had been built two or three
years previous 10 this time.
Q. What was the cost of
building such a bridge as the
one near Winchester, and what
could a good bridge across Elk
river at Fayetteville been built
for?
A. The one at Winchester
could have been built for four
or five thousand dollars, for six
thousand dollars at the outside.
| am not familiar enough with
the riverat Fayetteville and its
APPROACHES, where the bridge
crosses it to estimate the cost
ofthe bridge. u
@. Had this road received
State aid before the suspension
Of work at the time you men
ton above?
a. | don't think any had
been received up to that time,
as it had not been completed
far enough to receive aid under
the general improvement Jaws.
Q. Did you have conversa-
tons with the officers of the
road and with your Representa-
tive in the Legislature in regard
to this bridge aid, and did they
say it had been relieved?
A. Yes, sir: with the officers
and one member Of the Legisla-
ture. The conversation with
the member was before the aid
was received.
@. Please state if you ex-
pressed any doubt about the
bridge aid to said officers or to
said member; if SO, state what
was said?
II n. 4