Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/250

FRANK B. GILL I cannot see it in that light. I hold that inasmuch as I have at all times acted with you and Mr. Thompson in the antagonistic position which the company held toward the parties owning the Oregon Side of the River that you should do by me what at the time you expressed your- self willing to do, which according to all our judgment was for the best interests of the Company. The facts connected with the purchase of the Oregon Side of the River are to me very mortifying. I have never mentioned to you that I was aware (but not for a length of time afterwards) that at the time I was asked to try to get Ruckle to recede from his price of $175,000 you already had an understanding with him to take $155,000 and also that Olmstead was to write the note he did, in fact the whole transaction has been told to me by the parties in- terested and laughed at as being a smart operation. It may have been but I don't see it—and never shall. The whole object I have in this letter is to get you to go back and review the whole case in your own mind and in the action you will be called upon in the matter to take do what you believe to be right as well toward me as an individual as toward the company whose officer you are. I do not wish to sway you through any friendly relations existing between us, but I do ask to put you in my position or rather if you had not a dollar in the case you would act according to your views of right and wrong. I am satisfied both morally and legally I shall have to pay Mr. Flint his share of the business. I write this for yourself alone. I do not expect or require an answer. Hoping you will have a speedy and pleasant trip home, Truly your friend, Danl. F. Bradford. The Flint referred to in Bradford's letter was J, P. Flint of San Francisco, who as already stated, backed the Bradford enterprises with his money. Five months later the directors, on July 19, 1864, voted that "whereas certain differences exist between Daniel F. Bradford and Bradford & Co., and the Cascades Railroad Company, and also between the same parties and the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, which it is mutually desired should be amicably settled," the matters in controversy should be submitted to an arbitrator without appeal from his de-