Kingston, E. Tennessee

November 15, 1865

Genl. J.T. Wilder

Dear Sir

I have received your’s (sic), dated the 12^th at Knoxville. Its contents considered of, and am some what surprised at the stubbornness of the Knoxville and Ky rail road officers not at once taking in with your proposition to make a connection of the two roads at Dunavens Gap, at the mountain for of Poplar Creek. This rout (sic) is absolutely the nearest & best rout (sic) for the road to Knoxville. The Knoxville & Ky company, evidently to my mind, are not able to make that road, they I suppose think that the state, having an investment in the road, will prohibit them from making any change in the rout (sic), located by Col. Pritchard. If the state have an investment, I presume she also has her directors. If so, those directors are bound properly speaking, to make any change resulting in the best interest of the road by making it nearer of cheaper. To sum the whole matter up, they are under obligation to act for the best interest of the road generally without regard to any personal interests which may or might conflict with the interest of the road or community generally. I have written a publication in the East Tennessean, bringing to the notice of the President and directors of the road, as well as the people of Knoxville, having interests conflicting with the general interest of the road & community, in which I make some suppositions which may happen if they persevere in their observations, to rule or ruin, as has heretofore been their motto. I have laid down, as I am certain, the course which will, if persued (sic), result in the best interest for both roads. I admit that there is a probability, that the rout (sic) for the Cincinnati & Chattanooga road through Morgans, striking the valley on (illegible), is something, the most direct rout (sic) between the two points. But, again, it will not cut anything like such a coal field as on the other rout (sic), nor can it in my judgment insure so heavy a business on it. For myself, if justice is done, I am perfectly willing to acquiess (sic) in the result, but to see a set of men, oppose the interest of the road, & country, because they may have some little local private interests to serve, when they have no power within themselves to advance the matter in any way except by blowing, and thereby setting up a scarecrow, it looks to me to be most ridiculous, and right here I will say, had you not better hold off a little, & intimate to them, the most direct rout (sic) to Chattanooga, will probably be the result, unless, they consent to make the connection that suits the Chattanooga company.

This kind of demagogueism (sic) some times has to be fought with their own kind of weapons, and in this case, I am inclined to the belief that it would be right. When Col Pritchard was locating the rout where it now is, it was desirable, that the road should, from the top of the mountain, near the Elk Gap, at the head of Cove Creek, take down the strait fork of Buffalow (sic), which would have precisely then taken the rout you now advocate, & would have been better than it now stands. But a little private local interest, not then known by many, turned it away round by Williamsburg, much out of the way, Danville lies north, 47 west, from Knoxville, which convinces me that the sugar tree gap, lies nearly in a direct line from Knoxville to Danville, or there abouts. Since the old rout makes a long bend, making many miles diference (sic) in the two routs, and now, taking every thing into consideration, we believe that nay thing se could do for the Pritchard rout would not effect much, inasmuch as Waldens (sic) Ridge intervenes between our coal lands and the road, thereby making a barrier to the approaches of the road from the coal fields owned by us. This we could more fully explain to you by a personal interview.

Here in answer to your enquiry as to how much land we are willing to donate to the building of the Pritchard road, I have to say that we with the same convenence (sic) & profit to the road cannot give much, if any, on account of the barrier above spoken of, as we could on the other rout, and another thing, when men are not willing to yield any thing, on account of their private interests, we do not feel under many obligations to help them build a road contrary to our judgment, and the interest of the community generally. Men who have the means to promote the good of the country, should in our opinion use that means, to facilitate, and not prejudice the improvement of our country, in the most general way they can devise, so as not to conflict too much with their own interests in this way we expect to act in this matter.

And now I will repeat what I have already said in a former communication; that if the Knoxville road be made, it has to be made by others, and not by the Knoxville people, and if other (illegible) have to use their money in making it, they certainly should have the privilege of selecting their rout, as it is presumed that their interest would prompt them to make a choice of the best rout, all things considered. You are satisfied that the rout which you, Dr. Ely, & myself, passed over, is the (illegible), taking every thing into view, that would best promote the interest of the road and of the community generally, passing over the best coal field in East Tennessee, and I am satisfied every thing depends upon you. If you will take a decided stand, and say to those folks up north, from whom the money has to be obtained, if obtained at all, that any particular rout in your judgment is the one that should be adopted, they being many of them personally acquainted with you, and having entire confidence in your judgment, will adopt any rout you will say. I look upon it, that you have the whole thing in your own hands, and all you have to do is just to determine for yourself the best rout, and let those having the control of the Knoxville rout at present understand that you have taken decided ground, and I have no doubt they will come into (illegible) at once, but if they should not be willing to adopt your views & unite their road with the others, at the point you thing best, let them go it on their own hook, and you go at yours.

It is certainly a great piece of presumption on their part to expect that the interest of a large extent of country can be made to yield to the interest of a comparatively small place, such a place as northern capital & energy could build up at any point on the road in less than twelve months. All that I ask is that the best rout be selected, that is, the rout which, taken all in all, would best promote the objects sought to be attained by the building of the road, and as I before said, I have no doubt it should pass over the ground viewed by you, Dr. Ely, myself, and as I have a greater interest in the going over this ground than any other rout, it is natural I should have very great feeling on the subject.

Still, I should not feel warranted in pressing the claims of this particular rout to the prejudice of one every way preferable, and if we can be found decidedly superior to it, I shall not be disposed to murmur if it be adopted, but untill this is done, I shall not feel like it was my duty to aid in the construction of any other rout, the claims of which were in my estimation vastly inferior. It might be well for you to urge those who were willing to take stock in the company to make an actual survey of the diferent (sic) routs spoken of, before determining upon any, this would certainly be the wisest course, and if adopted, I have no fears as to the result, but if I turn out I am mistaken, I repeat it, I shall not (illegible). Then the only course left to us will be to try to get up a private enterprise, and have a road built from our coal lands connecting with whatever rout may be approached with the most ease.

In conclusion I have to say, that from the opposition you will have to encounter from the Knoxville road, you will necessarily have to spend a good deal of your time to bring about the desired result, and as I do not feel that it is incumbent on you to be spending your time for my particular benefit, without compensation, I now say that if you can succeed in having the road to pass over the ground we selected, in addition to what we promised to give the road, we would be willing to give you individually one tenth of an undivided interest in the remainder of our lands for one mile on each side of the road, after deducting the third we propose giving to the road. I should scorn the idea of offering a man a bribe to do what I knew would prejudice the best interest of the community, but in this case, I look upon it that we have right and justice on our side, and that the best interest of the public will be subserved by the adaptation of our rout, but that in order to accomplish our ends, some one must devote his time and influence to bring about the desired result, and as we have entire confidence in your being able to bring an influence to bear that will effect it, I consider that it is our duty to act liberally with you.

I should have gone to see you after the recpt of your letter, as it would have been much more satisfactory, to have had a personal interview with you, but I learned you had started north.

This communication I wish you to treat confidentially. I hope you will write me soon and frequently. You may depend that I shall use my best power to bring about such measures as will affect our object.

Very Respectfully

Your (illegible)

Henry H. Wiley