Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-25
SENATOR CAMDEN'S LETTER on
THE w. p. d q. ENTERPRISE,

SkNAEOh CAMDENS LEEEEh Wv
THE W. p. a g. ENTERPRISE,
We do not wish TO be unfair toward Mr..
Camden. We have the highest opinion of
him as genial, cultivated gentleman and
successful and capable business man. But
because he assured the people that If the
right Of way was secured, the money would
BE- forthcoming the blame falls upon him.
Now then, did the syndicate go back on
himf II so, then let as know the facts
UctsSl Democrat.
We are ut 8 loss to conjecture what
additional facts the Democrat is seek
ing.
Senator CAMDEN Is q frank man. 1t
is his exceptional frankness with the
public that has led the Democrat and
many others to think the situation as
regards the w. P. & c. worse than it is.
The Democrat has fallen into the
error Of interpreting Senator CAMDEN's
letter, announcing delay in letting the
contract for the construction Of the
road, to mean an indefinite postpone
ment. In other words, it has applied
the common rule in this case Of suppos-
ing that the best phase of the matter
has been given to the public and the
worst phase concealed.
The truth is that Senator CAMDEN,
with characteristic honesty, has put
the worst foot foremost;" or rather, he
has explained 1.-The situation with
such recklessness as to impressions and
conclusions that might follow its publ
cation, as really to mislead the public.
He was more careful to be accurate
than to be polite. The whole purpose
and purport of the letter was to an
nounce determination by the syndi-
cate to postpone the work of construe-
ton on the line between Wheeling and
Parkersburg until the surveys had been
completed and the light Of way secured
between Parkersburg and Point Pleas,
ant, The main reason given for this
change of programme was that the syn
dictate desired q little further time to
consider and arrange for raising the
funds to build that part Of the road.
With less frankness but more policy,
and at the same time without being dis
honest with the public, the letter might
simply have announced the conclusion
of the syndicate to await the compile
ton Of the surveys and the final settle
ment of the right of way over the whole
line before beginning the work Of con-
struetion. For, under the original pro-
position, as distinctly and repeatedly
made by Mr.. CAMDEN, the money to
build the road was conditioned upon a
free right of way over the whole line.
1t was not necessary for Mr.. CAMDEN
to have revealed to the public tnat there
was any difficulty or desire for delay in
the matter of raising funds; the delay
might have, with reason, been put upon
the ground that the right of way was
not settled; the conditions had not been
complied with; the syndicate was not
bound by any agreement, express or
implied, to begin work; and, in fact,
they b al a reasonable and perfect right
TO wait for the fulfument ofthe original
conditions.
But when the public read the frank
statement of Mr.. CAMDEN's letter, that
there was some little elaboration re-
quired for the task of raising the funds;
that the gathering together Of three or
four millions Of dollars to build rail-
road was more than \ mere breakfast
spell and would require a little careful
and prudent preparation, the public at
once jumped to the conclusion that the
syndicate had thrown up the sponge
and the promise of the money had been
broken.
1t was not, we say, necessary or
obligatory on Mr.. CAMDEN to have
revealed to the public that the money
was not all ready, or that that matter
entered into the reasons for delay, and
but for the fact that the public became
suspicious on this head, there is really
no good reason to be found in Mr..
CAMDEN's letter to discourage any
friend ofthe road.
On the contrary the letter gives the
most positive assurances Of the purpose
of the syndicate to build the road.
There is no hint of possible failure to
raise the funds. There was no hint ola
disposition to back out. In fact, there
has, as yet, been no failure on the part
of Mr.. CAMDEN or of the syndicate to
meet their promises or fulfill any rea-
sonable expectations in this connection.
If they have concluded that it would be
better policy to have the line open to
Point Pleasant before beginning the
work of construction between Wheel
ing and Parkersburg, that is their busi-
ness, and we have no cause to COM
Olain