The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-21
NEFF's STRATEGY.
How He Induced ID. p. Holloway to
Vote for n Railroad Charter.

Winchester Herald.
Col. II. III. Neff, OF this city now in his
eighty-fifth year. was elected to the Legis-
lature from this county in 1S47-4S by the
Wing party on his pledge to the people that
he would work hard to obtain the charter
for the proposed Indianapolis e. Bellefon-
tame Railroad, from the city of Bellefon-
tame, o., to the city of indianapolis, pass
ing through our little town. The people of
this town and county were, of course, very
anxious for the road, and none more SO
than Colonel Neff, who had carefully pre-
pared himself on all of the legal points nee
eSsary to the success of his measure. To do
this, he must, of course, have a ma jority
OF the votes cast in each of the branches of
the Legislature, and the colonel set himself
10 the task or having a personal interview
with the many different members of both
branches of the General Assembly. and to
inform himself of the different wants and
whims of his fellow-representatives and
went to work for favorable report on his
bill, and the counting of noses when 1t
should be placed on its final passage
The Hon. David p. Holloway represented
Wayne county in the Senate, and was work
ing for the franchise and charter for the
now Panhandle road to Richmond. Colonel
Nen, knowing the vote would be close. and
without uniting efforts his bill would be
lost, sought out the Hon. David Z. TO try
to induce him 10 change his mind and vote
for the bill. The colonel found him and
urged him to vote for the measure. Mr.. Hol-
the bin. said: Now Neff. you and I are
good friends and on the same side of the
political fence. but / am working for
Winchester is only twenty miles away, and
you and | both know that there never can
be two east-and-west roads so near each
other, and If we get our Wayne county
road you people at Winchester will only
have twenty miles to come, which. you
know. is but short distance, and if this
& brought w tbpr
let us get our road first and this will give
you good market right at your door with
out teaming back and forth from Cincin-
natl" Well" said the colonel, my people
desire me to obtain this charter. You know
the road cannot be built. 1 want to satisfy
our folks, so you, as my friend. support
my bill. and when your bill comes up will
vote for it. Our project will soon blow over,
for 1 do not suppose the road will be built,
but this will satisfy the people 1 am here
to represent" On this agreement and under
standing Holloway agreed to and did vote
for the bill on its final passage. and Neff's
bill became law by one vote, and thus we
obtained the coveted charter for the Bee
line, now the Big Four, and one of the finest
lines of railroad IN the United States.
in order to get there without "hoofng'' it
he took the stage from here to Richmond
changed there for Cincinnati, at Cincinnati
obtained passage on river boat to Madi-
son. and at the last named place after
walking over the hills some two or three
miles there was railway to the capital city
(railway is the proper name.) The car mot
coach) they rode in, and the best one on the
road. would not now be used as hog car
1t had roof overhead and was weather
boarded with unplaned plank and it had
plank seats crosswise. The start was made
at early candle lighting, and at near mid
night the train arrived safe in Indianapolis
much to the delight OF most of the members
aboard. and greatly to the concern of one
member from southern Indiana. The mem
Der was a Seventh-day Adventist, who,
upon his solemn affirmation declared that
the world was coming to an "eend," for God
would not tolerate such movements by NOR
tails and allow big 'consarn" to go pull
in folks through the community at that
rate of speed. comm from Madison to In
dianap OliS in one day.