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


hearing will herein embody synopsis
of that communication as we'll as some
other matters of Importance that they
may form some idea of the interest
evinced in the past as well as the pos
sibility of the enterprise.
In December 1890, was in Baltimore
and met number of gentlemen there
who were attempting to finance a rail
road to run from some point near Lex
ington, Virginia, and to tap the coal
fields of West Virginia either at Sutton
or Elkins. In discussing their plans it
soon appeared, from my previous
knowledge of the country, that trunk
line of railway could not be built on
the grades that the proposed route
would entail. 1 suggested to these
gentlemen that it would be better for
them to form combination with the
Staunton people and to make Staun
ton an initial point on the trunk line,
connecting it from Lexington with q
branch road which would leave the
trunk line at some point near Church
vile or jennings Gap. This branch
line would skirt the great North Noun
tain iron region and through the opera
tion of the inter state commercelaw
freights to Lexington could never be
higher than to Staunton. The cost of
construction and maintenance of this
branch line would be very much less
than for the line they proposed.
Being confident of the practicability
and feasibility of the entire scheme I
called upon Hon. H. G. Davis and we
discussed the matter at great length.
AS result of this 1 telegraphed to
some New York people from whom I
had accepted an engagement that l
would not report for duty in January,
as had agreed to do. if they could
secure the services of some one else to
take my place. This matter being sat
isfactorily arranged, had another
talk with Senator Davis for the pur-
pose of formulating a base of opera
tions. 1 went to Philadelphia to see
Mr.. Samuel r. Griscomb. who at one
time held the charter OF the Staunton
and West Augusta R. R., but he in
formed me that he had turned it over
to r. N. Poole.
then returned to Staunton and call
ed together number of gentlemen to
decide the matter. A committee of two
were selected Maj. s. M. Yost and Col.
VIM. E. Craig to go to Boston, Massa
chusetts, and see if they could not Sc
! cure the charter from Mr.. r. N. Poole.
I was authorized to raise by private
subscription the funds to pay their ex-
penses on this trip and did SO.
It.was found that the old charter did
not cover the work contemplated and
it was deemed advisable to secure an
other. In the meantime I spent con-
siderable time in looking up old chart
ers to see if some of them could not be
made available for our purpose. made
several trips in March and April and
arranged with Senator Davis. Presi
dent of the West Virginia Central te
have his chief engineer meet me iI
Staunton and go over the proposed
route together. but owing to delays
and the West Virginia Central's de.
mands upon him, the chief engineer
was forced to take up his spring work
and it was then decided that l should
make a baronetrical reconnaissance
carefully examining the country as far
each side as was necessary over thi
route, and meet the West Virginis
friends aud return with them to Staun
ton over the most practical route which
the surveys developed, We were tt
pay all the expenses and Mr.. Parsons
Chief Engineer and his assistants wer'
to be our guests on this occasion.
In casting about to secure the neces
sary funds for this survey, which
|agreed to make free of charge so far al
any compensation or salary for mysel
was concerned, we found the city O.
Staunton had set aside 5000 or $500 fol
a banquet to be given in honor of thu
sale of town lots or something of tn
kind. The members of that body con
|cluded it would be better for the inter
est of all concerned to turn the banque
money over for use in railroad surveys
This, with 800 paid by Mr.. NJ. E. Mil
ler as President and General Manager
of the Staunton Development Compa
ny, and an additional sum raised b,
private subscription made up a tota
of $619.5O with which was to make
reconnaissance of several hundred hun
dred miles through the most Difficult
and inaccessible country east of tn
Mississippi river.
At this point, Mr.. Reeves Gait con
stituted himself committee of one t,
go to Baltimore and call upon Hon
Henry G. Davis to hear from him il
person, before he could turn over tht
supper money. whether or not l hat
ever had any conversation with Presi
dent Davis on that subject or whethe
| be had ever been friendly to the en-
terprise. Being assured by Presiden
Davis that he had entire confidence il
my ability as an engineer, he returne
to the city. Had it not been for tn
solicitations of my many friends,
would then have washed my hands Q
the entire affair.
On the 25th of May, 1891. I starte
on the trip with John w. Erwin, on
colored teamster and colored cook
lone 2-horse WACO, two ga Idle horse
and a general camping outfit, some c
/ which was kindly loaned by friends.