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Mecklenburg near Knoxville Jan 8 1851 His Excel'y W Trousdale Governor &c
My Dear Sir
The individual stock holders having elected their directos for the E T & G Rail Road their colleagues on the part of the state will soon have to be appointed. I therefore take the liberty of saying to you that our friend Mayor John [Jernigan?] of Clinton in Anderson County consents to serve if appointed. Last year it was untruely stated that he would not serve & in that way his name was not sent on. I have acted with him ever since the Board was reorganised in 1847 & I know him to be a most faithfull competent & attentive Director & we have felt his loss all year. You cannot appoint a better man Judge Elisha Johnson of Monroe County was once a Director of the stockholders & his experience & fidelity were serviceable to the Board. He would make an excellent State Director. The seven remaining directors I suppose others will have recommended or they are perhaps well known to you. I have no wish myself to be reappointed. Col S A Smith and J C Gott of Bradly McElrath & M Cully of [illegible]
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[B-1-7-4]
William Lenoir fmr. of Roane F.S. Hirshell of Knox & J. L. King of Knoxville W. Kerner of Cleveland & Wm Hirshell of Monroe County will all do to select from.
The difficulty that occurred betwen a Georgia Co & ours I hope will cause no further delay in our work, our Engineer writes me that they are progressing with laying down the rails & that they will lay 1/2 mile per day hereafter. The carrs have already ran out nearly to Germantown The ron thus far turns out to be excellent. I had it examined ^at Savannah^ by cutting several beams in two & it proves very superior, also our spikes & chains, nearly 2000 tons of rails have arrived & I pay for it us it is received the Bonds are (I trust momentarily) depressed by covert sale was at 3 1/4 & the highest 4 1/2. The premium has been sufficient to take up the Jan'y coupon & leave something for my expenses besides. The Engineer believes that against April 40 miles will be completed & that there so much of it will be productive us to pay the July coupon of bonds already sold. I think he is too sanguine. But hope his expectations will be realised.
I dare not press upon you a topic I alluded to in my last but must be permitted to say before I close that no one but yourself care to be elected who is not a whig & thats with no other one can we carry the Legislature. The day reminds me of your old captain & reminds me of yourself. Let me importune ^you^ to sacrifice yourself like him to Tennessee & to the country. Wishing you my dear Sir the compliments of the day & joining with in its hallowed association & proud recollections I am your ob't ser't J. G. M Ramsay
[along left margin] since this was written I have heard from my agent in New York that the last bond I have left has realised me $1.042 2/2 dollars, he had just conducted the sale of 33 bonds at 4 1/4