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James B. Rankin to Col. J. Cathey, August 11, 1863

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  • This letter of August 11, 1863, finds James B. Rankin writing to ask for Col. Cathey's support of James W. Wilson to be chief engineer of the Western North Carolina Railroad. The position was expected to be available, and Rankin wrote to Cathey, recently made a director of the railroad, to express his confidence in Wilson as a suitable candidate.
  • Pleasant Gardens August 11th 1863 Col J. Cathey Dear Sir, I see that you have been appointed a Director on the W.N.C. Rail Road, and I beg leave to address you in behalf of a friend of mine, whose name will be before the Board at your next meeting for an important office. It has, I believe, been reduced almost to a certainty that the pres- ent Chief Engineer will be turned out and if so another one will of course be ____[inserted word] elect. I wish to urge upon you the claims of Maj. James W. Wilson for the office, if it should be made vacant. You may know Maj. Wilson, as he was for a time on this survey. He is in every way competent, being a capital Engineer, highly energetic and very _____ and skillful in the trans- action and management of business mat- ters, and further is deeply interested in the success of the road. It is the wish of Gov Vance that he should be elected, and I know that some of the most influential members of the Board are strongly in favour of him. I have no doubt that the change would be greatly to the interest of the Road,. I write to you without Maj. Wilson’s knowledge as he is at present in the army of Virginia. I do not write to you for the purpose of electioneering in the common acceptation [?] of the times, as I know you are a man fully capable of forming your own opion- ions in matters of this sort, but for the purpose of bringing the matter clearly before you, and of testifying to May. Wilson’s competency and ability fully to discharge the duties of the office; and further I feared you might give some promise of support to some other applicant, though I do not know that there be any others. I suppose of course you will attend upon the next meeting of the Board, and if the matter should come up, which I have no doubt it will, I shall esteem it, not only a favour to Maj Wilson, but as I feel a great interest in the matter, I shall esteem it a favour personal to myself if you will give him your support. Very truly your friend James B. Rankin
Object
  • This letter of August 11, 1863, finds James B. Rankin writing to ask for Col. Cathey's support of James W. Wilson to be chief engineer of the Western North Carolina Railroad. The position was expected to be available, and Rankin wrote to Cathey, recently made a director of the railroad, to express his confidence in Wilson as a suitable candidate.
  • Pleasant Gardens August 11th 1863 Col J. Cathey Dear Sir, I see that you have been appointed a Director on the W.N.C. Rail Road, and I beg leave to address you in behalf of a friend of mine, whose name will be before the Board at your next meeting for an important office. It has, I believe, been reduced almost to a certainty that the pres- ent Chief Engineer will be turned out and if so another one will of course be ____[inserted word] elect. I wish to urge upon you the claims of Maj. James W. Wilson for the office, if it should be made vacant. You may know Maj. Wilson, as he was for a time on this survey. He is in every way competent, being a capital Engineer, highly energetic and very _____ and skillful in the trans- action and management of business mat- ters, and further is deeply interested in the success of the road. It is the wish of Gov Vance that he should be elected, and I know that some of the most influential members of the Board are strongly in favour of him. I have no doubt that the change would be greatly to the interest of the Road,. I write to you without Maj. Wilson’s knowledge as he is at present in the army of Virginia. I do not write to you for the purpose of electioneering in the common acceptation [?] of the times, as I know you are a man fully capable of forming your own opion- ions in matters of this sort, but for the purpose of bringing the matter clearly before you, and of testifying to May. Wilson’s competency and ability fully to discharge the duties of the office; and further I feared you might give some promise of support to some other applicant, though I do not know that there be any others. I suppose of course you will attend upon the next meeting of the Board, and if the matter should come up, which I have no doubt it will, I shall esteem it, not only a favour to Maj Wilson, but as I feel a great interest in the matter, I shall esteem it a favour personal to myself if you will give him your support. Very truly your friend James B. Rankin