The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-24
TO THE PUBLIC.

understand that the political opponents OF
Hon. W. Bushnell are circulating the report that
he engineered the lease OF the Fox River Road to
the c, b. & Q. Co, This | know was not the
case. That lease was procured by Contractors
Z. IL. Force & Co., firm consisting OF myself
Col Cushman and Col. Plumb. They, and they
alone. are responsible for IT. l deem 1t matter
Of simple justice to say that Mr.. Bushnell had
nothing whatever t. 10 with II, except to sign
his name as President hich was mere matter
OF form, and even tn h, did with extreme reluc
lance boz ls. t..e
The contract und.r which the Road was bull,
gave to the contractors full control Of the prop.
erty. 1t WAS for them to decide who should run
u and what disposition should finally be made OF
u; aud exercising the rights thus vested in them
they procured the existing lease
And as one Of the contractors | venture to af.
drm, even In the face Of the many and severe
criticisms which have been offered, that we did
the very best thing for the adjacent country and
the travelling public which it was possible to do
unfaithfulness in the management Of the funds
Of the company. This is also false. After the
construction contract was let, they had no funds
Of any kind to manage. They pledged every.
thing, nlortgaged bonds, local aid bonds, sub
scription notes and stock except some few shares
necessary TO qualify the directors to act to the
contractOrs.-They had treasurer but no treas
ure.-Indeed, I am satisfied they never had dol.
lar OF Railroad money in the treasury at any time.
1t is true that several OF the directors demand
ed and received pay for services which they rem.
dered through series OF years; but they were
paid, not by the Fox River Railroad Company or
out Of funds or assets Of any kind belonging to
the company, but by the contractors and the YER
million Coal Company.
1t is unquest0nably true that these directors
spent good deal OF time and did much hard
work for the company for which they were just
ly entitled to compensation; and it would have
been perfectly proper for them to have been paid
out of Railroad funds had there been any, but
there being none the burden fell upon the par
ties named above.
1t has been asserted that Mr.. Bushnell received
Ills pay In local aid bonds. This is not true.
Not ono OF these bonds or one of the subscription
notes ever passed into his possession nor was any
one Of them ever sold for his benefit.
consider 1t my duty to volunteer this state
ment, feeling that great injustice has been done
Mr.. Bushnell, and that few, if any, understand
ell the facts in the case as well as do.
.Fi IS CH,s. II. Force.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
La SALE COUNTY, s.. Personally appear.
ed before me, Oh the 18th day Of April, A. D. $780,
the above named Chas. ii. Force, who deposes
and says on his oath that the above statement by
him subscribed is true in substance and in fact.
rEsa..... CHAs. II. FORCE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th
day OF April, AID. 1880 j: McRoBERrs,
Judge 9th Circuit
:. ASALLE COUNTY, 81. And now comes one
W. Bushnell who, being first duly sworn accord.
ing to law, on oath doth depose and say, that he
has carefully read the foregoing statement Of one
Chas. II. Force, and now here distinctly states
that the same is true In substance and in fact,
and that the same was volunteered by said Force.
further state that refused in the Ar,t instance
to sign q lease Of the said Road, but becoming
fully satisfied that the company of itself could
not build and successfully operate the same, |
finally executed the lease rather than see the en-
terprise abandoned. That never had a cent Of
interest directly or indirectly in any bond voted
or subscription note given to said company in
M ha thrnuyh a. Rnnt
runs. That all ever received for large amounts
Of money advanced (for there never was dollar
in the hands Of the treasurer) and for four years
Of hard labor by day and by Might was paid by
the contractors and the Vermillion Coal Com
pauy, and that too long months after the contract
was made. That in no way or manner did ever
receive one cent in consideration of signing said
lease or for any other purpose except as above
stated. That acted in all things in connection
with said Road In the utmost good faith, ever ex-
erting myself to do that which would best ac-
complsh the end designed and most efectually
secure the greatest benefit to all persons interest
ed In the completion of the said Road
'Ff 2 p =. w. BUSHNELL.
Subscribed and sworn to before this 18th
day Of April, A. d. 1880 j. McRo,BERTs,.
...- Judge 9th Circuit
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Ia SALE COUNTY, 49, |, Lorenzo Leland,
OF said county ard state, do solemnly swear, that
was treasurer of the o., O. Il f. Il. V. r. X. Co.
part Of the time before it was completed and
As treasurer of said company. | further state
that am fully satisfied that the company could
lnever have operated the Road successfully as an
Independent line. l.. LELAND.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th
day OF April, A. d. 1880 AARON B. SMITH.
Justice Of the Peace.
To THE PUBLIC:
No one perhaps has ever suffered in silence
such o long series OF ISLANDERS and abuses as for
years have been heapcd upon me on account of
my connection with the above named Railroad.
/ have, however, remained silent, relying for my
vindlcaton upon the fact that have been well
known In and transacted business, both impor.
tant and sacred, for hundreds of people in Ken
dali county during the last forty years, and when,
where and how have l betrayed the confidence
reposed in me By man, woman or child.
Yet you have been repeatedly urged for Interior
purposes, by those upon whose ambitious paths
! may perhaps cast shadow to give credit to
many and cruel falsehoods uttered against me.
Yes, and still would remain silent but that my
many friends insist upon giving publicity to the
above facts, and that am debarred from reach
ing.the people Of Kendall county through any
other friendly medium.
To a generous public can only say. read the
above facts, remembering that ito err ia human,
to forgive divine" l may have erred in judg.
ment but am fully conscious of the abso-
lutte rectitude Of my intentions.
With great respect &c,
W. BUSHNELL.
Ottawa. April 14th, 1880.