Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-09-23
Balance due me.

y
I am not the custodian and do not
keep the archives of the Chamber of
Commerce, therefore cannot say what
has become of the report if it is not
where it should be.
It soon became apparent that unless
I made some move in this railroal mat
ter it would fall through as no one took
any interest in it beyond good wishes;
as not a hand was lifted the work all
fell entirely upon me, aud began to
cast about for assistance to finance the
enterprise.
Messrs. Dudley & Michener of Wash
ington, D. e., became interested after
having the entire line and all its re-
sources thoroughly explained.
Through them 1 placed this matter
before some of the most prominent
railroad men of the country and
brought it to the attention of railroad
capitalists in this and foreign coun-
tries. Through them met the mana
gers of the Grand Trunk lines both
North and South giving terminal and
freight distributing facilities second to
no other road on the continent. For
two and one-half years | toiled inces-
sanity at this work, beering my own
expenses which alone exceeded So, 600.
Through the assistance of Gen. Mich
ener succeeded in diverting large
block of railroad capital from west of
the Mississippi river. Contractors
came on to construct the road in sec
tions of from 10 to so miles each, and l
believe had the. members Of that char.
ter co-operated with me as l implored
them to do, today the cars would be
through the State line and Staunton
would be in reach of the great coal and
timber regions of W. Va. But the Ia
mentable slowness of that body when
1 approached each individual member,
asking that they meet only for few
minutes and give me an expression
that could convey back and say that
they were ready to secure the contrac-
tors by turning over the charter and
| giving them all the rights and privi.
leges to construct and equip the road
retaining only their rights to ulti-
mately secure their pay for plant and
construction, prevented action.
The result was that after 36 hours
delay l had to return to Washington
and Philadelphia and state to the
parties who had had the matter in
charge for weeks (some of them coming
from their business beyond the Missis
sippi river, st. Louis. New York, ETC.,
that I could not give them anything
definite. They, as matter of course
abandoned the business in disgust.
And now stand accused of delaying
this enterprise and preventing and
embarrassing the construction of the
railroad.
! Gen. Michener worked day and nigh
in this matter, spent his own money
freely dropping other important bust
ness to the advancement of thil
scheme, collecting around him railroad
men and bringing the matter to th'
attention of those whose cooperative
interest goes largely toward assisting
to finance an enterprise of this nature
All the terminal facilities were secured
thousands of miles of pro rata freigh
was secured. Nothing was needed bu
the actual cash for constructing th'
road, and upon two occasions this wa
rendered, but owing to the lack OF in
terest upon the part of the Stauntol
men it could not be secured. Growing
tired of thankless drudgery, embar
rasseG for money spent III fostering tn
enterprise, and finding the finances o
the country in most deplOrable con
dition, it was concluded to shelve th'
matter for the present and wait for I
more favorable period.
March %, 1895. while in New Mexic'
l received a communication from th'
Chamber of Commerce requesting M
to present them with the charter, rail
road survey, reports, etc. l answere'
on May 6, 1895, to the effect that
printed copy of the charter and it
amendment could be secured from thu
: Auditor at Richmond, and that a cop.
of my report was left with the Cham
, Der of Commerce and some of the mem
! bers present upon the occasion n
doubt had it. And further stated
} would resign my present position
my presence in financing or furtherin
the scheme was needed. l also sue
gested that they confer with Ger
Michener as he was possibly more fs
J miliar with all the financial details a
well as the other interests necessary t
) successfully carry out the scheme
On April 1, 1895, was telegraphed
wire order to turn everything over ou