The morning news., 1891-02-24
RAIL AND ORossrIE.


century to construct can hardly fail to
offer some points of interest in its history,
and illustrates the march of events during
the wears Of its progress. An instance Of
this kind is to be found in a tunnel not long
since conplsted, but which was commenced
over 100 years ago. This tunnel is at Schem-
nitz, in Hungary. Its construction was
agreed upon in 1782, the object being to
carry of the water from the Schemnitz
mines to the lowest part of the Gran valley.
The work is now complete, and, according
10 the BGuzeitung fur Ungarn, it forms
the longest tunnel in the word, being 1927
miles long, or about one mile longer than
Mount Cents. The hight is feet 10 inches,
and the breadth feet inches
The tunnel, which has taken 30 long in
making, has cost very nearly e, 900, 900
The original contract for the tunnel, made
in 1882, was that It should be completed in
thirty years, and should cost a7 per yard
run. For eleven years the work was done
at this price, but the French revolution
enhanced the cost of labor and materials
to such an extent that for thirty
years little progress was made. For ten
years following much progress was made,
and then the work was dropped for twenty
years more, until the water threatened to
drown the mines out altogether. Finally
the tunnel YVES completed, the remaining
part costing 222 yard, or more than three
times as much as the original contract rate.
President Bailey, of the Augusta and
West Florida railroad, who was expected in
Augusta Saturday, did nou.arrive thera His
coming was awaited with very complicated
feelings by the directors of the railroad.
The Chronicle tells this story about the
Augusta and West Florida enterprise: "For
the time being the affairs of the Augusta
and West Florida Railroad Company are
tangled up in complications which effectu-
ally prevent work continuing until matters
are Strengthened. The pause in the work of
pushing this excellent feeder of Augusta
into Florida is not in any way
attributable to imperfections in the plans
| and efforts of the projectors, but grows out
of tranastions in the Office Of the company,
v 1h are to be deprecated as much by the
puolc, whoisee, with regret, delay in the
building Of this road, as by those interested
| In the company, who find their efforts par>
| alyzed by an obstruction rather than con-
struction company. Toward the close of
last May William Bailey of st. Louis
| aud John G. Short Of New York were in,
| troduced by James Q. jackson of this city
| to the projectors of the Augusta and West
Florida railroad. Jesse Thompson and c.
| e. Smith of Washington, representing the
| Augusta and West Florida railroad, re-
ceived proposition looking toward organ
izing construction company to build the
railroad. Ultimately, the Augusta and
| Thomasville Construction ComDa nv was
organized, based on an agreement that
| the Augusta and West Florida railroad
should merge its property-the charter and
| graded and constructed roadbsd-for paid
up stock In the construction company, with
| the proviso that Messrs. Bailey, Short and
| jackson should secure the money requisite
| TO build the road. 1t now develops that the
| plans OF the last three named parties have
| fallen fiat, for Col. Bailey himself admitted
the other day that they had been unable to
raise the money. This is not the trouble,
however, which is giving the pro-
| jectors such concern. In the face
| of a resolution passed at
meeting Of the subscribers TO the con-
strucuion company in June last. which dis
tinctly sets forth a prohibition of the issue
| of any stock without the Endorsement Of
the board of directors John G. Short, pres.
| ldent OF the company, in July last, issued to
himself, Bailey and Others construction
company stock to the estimated amount of
| $3.50, 900. This was done in direct violation
OF the resolution mentioned above, and, ac-
cording to Jesse Thompson, without any
authority; without paying for it or
yielding any Consideration whatever in
return; for, according to the contract, they
were to receive their stock only when they
paid for it by the money which they had
| contracted TO raise Co build the road. Their
failure to comply with their agreement and
contracts were bad enough set-backs TO the
officers of the company, but it appears that
matters do not end here, for recently,
according to two of the gentlemen
associated with the interests of
the Augusta and West Florida
road, Mr.. Bailey has disposed of the worth
less stock to parties in Augusta and Thom-
asville for 40 cents on the dollar, virtually
peddling it about in search of purchasers
On Feb. Z the subscribers held meeting
and passed resolutions calling on Messrs.
Bailey and Short to decline the scrip issued
by them for cancellation, and Mr.. Bailey
promised to return the stock yesterday, but
he failed to put in his appearance from
New York, though his arrival was
anxiously awaited. Mr.. Short has never
been in Augusta but once, and that
was on the occasion of the self
issuance of scrip by him and Col.
Bailey. Mr.. James U. jackson is not
in the city, it being understood that busi-
ness had taken him to New York. Thomp.
son and Smith are strong advocates of the
road and feel confident of pushing it to
completion once the present obstructions
are brushed aside. They feel that they
have a splendid enterprise under equip
ment, and their only loss will be that OF
time and the annoyance that will grow out
of adjusting the present complications.
They affirm that glance at the contract
and agreements will convince any who
purchased this scrip that they have moth
ing for it except the paper on which it Il