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Letter to Editor
July 2, 1874
The Milan Exchange
Milan, Gibson County, Tennessee
What is this article about?
A Milan resident, signing as 'Tax Payer,' challenges Dr. Lea of the Tennessee Central Railroad to disclose the use of $15,000 Milan bonds, $17,000 Trenton bonds, and other funds, questioning overcharges, low-cost work, and profits from worker supplies amid suspicions of mismanagement. Dated June 26, 1874.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
TENNESSEE CENTRAL AGAIN.
"Tax Payer" Propounds a Few Interrogatories to Dr. Lea.
Editor Exchange:—I learn that Dr. Lea, President of the Tennessee Central Railroad Company, has declared his intention to "rest his case" on the statements in his letter in your last issue, and declares that, "if the people of Milan wish to know what has become of their money, they may go over the line between this and McLemoresville and see." This will not suit the people of Milan. It may suit Dr. Lea, but our people will not "rest their case" on the evasive note of Dr. Lea referred to. Your comments upon it raises an issue with him, and in effect says to him that our people have grave suspicions that their money is not being properly applied, and Dr. Lea cannot stop short of a full statement of receipts and expenditures now. We wish, in plain English, to know what has been done with our money. Dr. Lea can alone tell us. We have trusted him with it, and we demand of him a statement of the uses it was put to. Dr. Lea can easily answer what has become of every dollar. Will he answer what has become of every dollar. Will he tell us what has been done with the $15,000 in Milan and $17,000 in Trenton bonds, besides the private subscriptions. Will he tell us what has been done with the last installment of $7,500 of Milan bonds?
It is charged that work has been done upon the road at sums far less per cubic yard than reported. Will the Doctor tell us how this is, and why? Also, of all other overcharges, if any? It is charged that the Doctor has purchased supplies, clothing, etc., for the hands, and let them have the articles at fifty per cent. over cost. Will he answer how this is, and why, and what has been done with this profit? Will he state if any goods have been retailed to the hands at a price greater than paid for them, and what per cent.? Can't the Doctor tell us exactly the amount of work done and the cost, and subtract this amount from amount received by him?
A citizen of Milan asked Dr. Lea what he had done with the last bonds Milan issued to him. The Doctor is reported to have laughed and said, in effect, "O, they will be found in the hands of third parties," intimating that it was useless for us to attempt to seek redress. Why this, if all is right?
Will not Dr. Lea come up fairly and tell us how all these matters are? Will he not recollect that it is our money? Can Dr. Lea "rest his case" here? Let us hear from you, Doctor. We will not "rest our case here."
TAX PAYER
Milan, June 26, 1874.
"Tax Payer" Propounds a Few Interrogatories to Dr. Lea.
Editor Exchange:—I learn that Dr. Lea, President of the Tennessee Central Railroad Company, has declared his intention to "rest his case" on the statements in his letter in your last issue, and declares that, "if the people of Milan wish to know what has become of their money, they may go over the line between this and McLemoresville and see." This will not suit the people of Milan. It may suit Dr. Lea, but our people will not "rest their case" on the evasive note of Dr. Lea referred to. Your comments upon it raises an issue with him, and in effect says to him that our people have grave suspicions that their money is not being properly applied, and Dr. Lea cannot stop short of a full statement of receipts and expenditures now. We wish, in plain English, to know what has been done with our money. Dr. Lea can alone tell us. We have trusted him with it, and we demand of him a statement of the uses it was put to. Dr. Lea can easily answer what has become of every dollar. Will he answer what has become of every dollar. Will he tell us what has been done with the $15,000 in Milan and $17,000 in Trenton bonds, besides the private subscriptions. Will he tell us what has been done with the last installment of $7,500 of Milan bonds?
It is charged that work has been done upon the road at sums far less per cubic yard than reported. Will the Doctor tell us how this is, and why? Also, of all other overcharges, if any? It is charged that the Doctor has purchased supplies, clothing, etc., for the hands, and let them have the articles at fifty per cent. over cost. Will he answer how this is, and why, and what has been done with this profit? Will he state if any goods have been retailed to the hands at a price greater than paid for them, and what per cent.? Can't the Doctor tell us exactly the amount of work done and the cost, and subtract this amount from amount received by him?
A citizen of Milan asked Dr. Lea what he had done with the last bonds Milan issued to him. The Doctor is reported to have laughed and said, in effect, "O, they will be found in the hands of third parties," intimating that it was useless for us to attempt to seek redress. Why this, if all is right?
Will not Dr. Lea come up fairly and tell us how all these matters are? Will he not recollect that it is our money? Can Dr. Lea "rest his case" here? Let us hear from you, Doctor. We will not "rest our case here."
TAX PAYER
Milan, June 26, 1874.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Investigative
What themes does it cover?
Infrastructure
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Tennessee Central Railroad
Dr Lea
Milan Bonds
Financial Accountability
Overcharges
Public Funds
Railroad Expenditures
What entities or persons were involved?
Tax Payer
Editor Exchange
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Tax Payer
Recipient
Editor Exchange
Main Argument
the writer demands that dr. lea, president of the tennessee central railroad, provide a full accounting of receipts and expenditures for milan and trenton bonds and private subscriptions, addressing allegations of overcharges, improper use of funds, and profits from supplies sold to workers.
Notable Details
$15,000 In Milan Bonds
$17,000 In Trenton Bonds
$7,500 Last Installment Of Milan Bonds
Allegations Of Work Done At Lower Costs Than Reported
Supplies Sold To Workers At 50% Over Cost
Dr. Lea's Reported Response Implying Funds Are With Third Parties