The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-07-17
THE INTERURBAN
RAILWAY FIGHT.
Mr.. C. W. Ruth and HIS Associates
Are in Control, and Mr.. Conner
is 00wned. Attorney Frank
Bond Promises That the Road
Will Be Built.
Special to the Herald.


Nashville, July 11.-Mr. q. w. Ruth
and his associates have defeated the
efforts OF Messrs. w. ii. Skevingon
and j. Fl. Connor to gain possession of
the controlling interest in the Tennes-
see lnterurban Railway Company.
Mr.. Ruth has returned to Plttsburg.
where he will confer with several
companies In an effort to finance the
enterprise. Within thirty days ne
hopes to be back with the finances of
the road IN shape and begin anew on
the construction of mis- road.
What Mr.. Ruth and his people pro-
pose to do is to set forth clearly in
letter that has Just been written TO
Mayor James nj. Head by Mr.. Frank
p. Bond, attorney for Messrs. Ruth.
Haskell and Mckinley. The latter
was in anwser to one of the Mayors
under date Of July 3, in which Mr..
Head stated that the city in granting
the franchise had acted in good faith,
and would like to have the same good
faith evidenced by the interurban
company. The letter follows In full:
Mr.. Bonds Letter.
Nashville. Tenn, July 10, 1905
Hon. james M. Head. Nashville,
Tenn, Dear Sir: Your favor OF
recent date referring to interurban
railways received. I have delayed
answering because Mr.. Ruth was
expected, and | desired to be better
advised, before replying.
II beg to assure you, that current
talk about selling the road has no
foundation. and that am assured by
Mr.. Ruth that he has never offered 1t
for sale. except at recent meeting of
the Board OF Directors, in order to
test the sincerity or rather to expose
the lnsincerity of Mr.. Conner and
In what we regarded as
fake proposition, Mr.. Ruth offered to
release all the interests Of himself and
associates. Or course he took the
chance OF his proposition being ac-
copied and would have been con-
strained, by good faith, to comply |
with his offer had it, by any posi- |
billty, been accepted, but no one
advised had the remotest apprehension
that Messrs Conner q Co. meant any
thing, except to get possession and
lative purposes.
To Expedite Construction.
IL beg to assure you that appreciate
your interests in the premises, and de-
sire for every reason to expedite the
of the road. That my
clients are honorable men, acting in
good faith, pnrposing to finance and
Guild the road, have no doubt. That
hey are pushing to that end and expect
% do 80, | am assured
'Mr. Ruth says, and asks me to say
20 you, that within the next few days
le will he IN position to speak definite
y in the premises. Mr.. Connor's sing
liar, but to me not unexpected, attitude
n the matter has been the cause of
much annoyance and delay. 1t will be
ny pleasure to keep you advised. |.
Il speak with confidence when [ as
ure you that my people are earnest and
incere in their purpose, and Will
hey may be unable to perfect their
,lans. they are hopeful of early and sat
sfactory results, based upon good rea- ,
ons.
II am with great respect yours truly,
"FRANK P. BOND"
The proposition was, it is said, mere
y to assume all indebtedness of the
although there is not a dol
ar out against the companies, except /
he expenditures on surveys, attorneys ;
nes and some little grading made by
fess ,. Ruth, Haskell and Mckinley. {
he proposition embraced also the exc {
ution of a bond satisfactory to the 8
layor that the road would be built. {
Directors With MIR. Ruth.
The directors of the companies who !
,ere clamoring that active construction
Q begun, now stand with Mr.. Ruth. !
lie directors are Messrs. Pink Webb, !
hilary Howse. Douglas Wikle, j. p. !
'ulcher and j. L. Parker, Jr. From {
ne of several sources he hopes to have :
apital forthcoming to give backing to
be road The franchise of the read =
oes not expire for over year in the 9
lty of Nashville, and it is thought that :
he work will be well under way by that :
me. The franchise allowed six months a
,r work to be commenced, and it is .
laimed that this provision has been :
llfilled by some grading done in South :
nashville, and poles set up on North 4
irst street. 1t is figured that $1,000
10 or more will be requii ed to build the /,
Dad. T
The directors, by resolution, voted +
it'll Mr.. Ruth and Mr.. Bond to take n
ON the board the right to assess int q
spital stock, and placed the manage
tent OF the whole business in the hands
Messrs. Ruth, Haskell and one other
OF yet appointed. Mr.. Ruth announced :