The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-08-29
A Card from j. Wilder.

| here. DO you fully understand the sltua-
tions If not believe You would be will
ling to put things in proper light, so the
public may not be deceived. Having seen
your first issue, from general appearance
concluded that the "Posr" had started out
on fair unbiased basis, and was destined
to be what newspaper should be, q
record of facts and news based on facts
and not sensations. Your article would
lead Il stranger to believe that DR.. Bailey
and his party were outlaws, brigands and
disturbers of the peace. | wish to state
some facts, and those who know me, fiat
ter myself, will believe my testimony, for
have been here over four years and had
business relations with large number Of
gentlemen. l ain confident no man can
be found in Bristol, or even on the line of
the South Atlantic & Ohio railroad, who
will say that in my business transactions
| have ever msreprcsented anything. or
have not fulfilled all the engagements
have made. l :ras purchasing agent for
the construction company, and bought all
material to construct the road, except
rolling stock and rail for about 40 miles,
and bills were paid through my Office.
Dr. Bailey started the enterprise and
was the general manager. All his ac-
tons were in the interest of this section
of the country. Bristol was going down,
and the country through which the road
passed to the coal fields near Big Stone
Gap was entirely shut out from the world,
except by wagon teams over roads that
most of the time were in such condition
that GOO or 500 pounds was all that a pair of
horses could haul and it took nearly two
days to make the trip from Big Stone Gap
to Bristol. DR.. Bailey, under his manage
ment, did construct about 40 miles of this
road out of Sc, and put in operation what
he built; then property advanced and tho
actually north, three times its former
value; men from Big Stone Gap to Bristol
suddenly became rich and money flowed by
the hundred thousands, and labor advanced
from 80 cents to 81 90 per day; the wages
of mechanics advanced from 81 90 and 81 .25
per day, to $3.50 and $3.50 per day. Farm
produce that could be sold, brought fair
prices. All this in consequence Of DR..
Bailey pushing the enterprise he had
undertaken. He bought lands at Bris-
toll, Big Stone Cap and some along the
line, and turned in all his private pur
chascs to the company whom he rcpresen-
ted at what he paid-not like most others,
keeping the best and putting in the poorer
to the company ut an advance of nearly
1000 What followed? a syndicate or
land company urged to he allowed to join
the Bailey Construction Company, and in
an evil hour, by juir promises that the
money Should be FURNISHED to push the
road through TO Big Stone Gap rs fast as
it could be DONE influenced DR.. Bailey to
unite with them. When the parties now
in power got control, they began to crowd
DR.. Bailey out in eight months they pro-
posed to suspend work, and had it not been
for the urgent request of DR.. Bailey and
myself that the work should continue, il
would have been stopped They finall!
agreed to furnish $4,000 per month for
five months. We only used $4,000 per
month for about three months, when they
ordered the work stopped. DR.. Bailey was
fifteen months finishing up five miles that
was fully scven-tcnths graded, masonry up
and timber and iron on hand for bridging
Any one familiar with these times knows
the work was practically stopped and
everything pertaining to development of
properties in this section looked dark and
dubious. DR.. Bailey was all this time try
ing to get them to do something to put
the work through, and by his persistent
efforts and the dissatisfaction of stock
holders, and finding they would loose their
power, they finally did start up the work
and got to Big Stone Gap.
7 would unw cl Whv this cry AGAINST
DR.. Bailey of "crucify him." "crucify
him. We can only say, what harm has
he done! About fortifyng against Dr.
Bailey, fearing he is going to raise mob,
is it necessary? Has he ever instigatcd
or raised mobs? Not at all. DR.. Bailey
and his associates, feeling they had been
defraudcd, like most men, undertook to
get redress by legal course; gave notice of
what he intended to do, and appeared be-
fore Judge Paul, Of United States district
court, and urged d hearing; but Judge
Paul, to vindicate himself, had to produce n
letter from Judge Bond, saying he wanted
to hear that case himself, and in courtesy
to JudgeBond, he, Judge Paul, declined to
hear it. DR.. Bailey's counsel advised the
dismissal of the suit ard to go into the Vir-
ginia court, which he did. and the injunc-
ton was granted according to law, and
receiver appointed. The decree directed
him to take possession of the property;
he did so, but found the books removed;
money drawn from the bank. and gcncr-
al clearing out of all that could be removed.
On the same day, while in legal possession
from Virginia judge,a mob under color
of law, did come to the office, dragged out
the men in charge, there being some forty to
fifty men in the mol, generally armed with
clubs, and pistols, forcibly entered and
took possession Let us see who was in
the mob business; not DR.. Bailey. This
mob was headed by both Virginia and
Tennessee officers; Judge Rhca, of our
corporation court, and some OF the officers,
of the S. ~. & o. party.
Judge Kelley was then applied to by
counsel of these corporations, who got
modification of the Bolin injunction, and
they held the property under that. Did
DR.. Bailey raise mob to retake? No.
He went to Judge of the highest court
of Virginia, and he granted the receiver
relief, and directed the sheriff to put DR..
Bailey in possession, but when he came,
he found the doors locked and everything
apparently stripped, the officers had es-
capped to Tennessee, and the engines had
been run off to the mountains, stopping
off all communication; the telegraph wires
had been grounded or cut, stopping all
communion by wire. DR.. Bailey cut no
wires, but was left powerless to run the
trains. The first time ne was in possess
sion, trains were run on time, except one
freight and that went through that day.