North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-10-08
RALEIGH AND CASTOR ROAD.

Though we do not concur with the Editors In all
they have said, nevertheless consider it but SIM
pie justice them that, in noticing their article, we
should lay the whole of it before readers.
We undertake to say that the Board of Internal
Improvement (the Governor incuded) did not desire
the appointment of gentleman residing out Of the
State as Superintendent of this Road and may
state also the belief founded good authority, that
the Directors for the State put in possession by
Gov Reid, of his opinions and of those of the Board
on the subject. Maj Vass, learn, was the only
Director of the six voting, who voted against Mr.
Bird.
We entertain not the shadow of doubt, however,
that the Directors were governed by good motives
in the course they adopted. We believe all of them
were animated by sincere wish to advance the in
terests of the State and of the Stockholders. They
regarded the appointment of Mr.. Bird, under the cir
cumstances, as the best that could be made; and
though some of them may have hesitated long over
the principle involved of going out OF the State to
select Superintendent of the Road, yet they yield
ed to considerations which, cannot be denied, were
weighty in themselves and calculated to exert no
small influence on their judgments.
The impression is, We understand, that MIR. Bird
was appointed to lay down the iron and to get the
Road in good running order under the present Char
ter; and the expectation is, that after this shall have
been accomplished, different arrangement will be
made.
! But Mr.. Bird has been appointed, and it is but
just that he should have fair trial. He is interest
eG-the people of his town are largely interested as
Stockholders, in the speedy completion and success
of The Road and in addition to this, the Directors
who hold their places at the hands of the State and
of all the Stockhoders-are the real heads and man.
ayers of the work, and his acts, in all matters of i'm
portance, will be theirs. He is their officer and could
devate if he would, from the plain path of duty,
without subjecng himself to reproof, and, if
sary, TO removal from Office. We hope the " series
of disasters - anticipated by friends of the Re-
! publican and Patriot will not happen; but, the
contrary, that the Raleigh and CASTOR Road, when
rebuilt, and all the Roads in the State, whether
ming West, or North into Virginia, or South into
South Carolina, may come fully up, in every respect,
the expectations of their projectors and friends.
| The following is the article from the Republican
and Patriot above referred to:
"SoLD AGAIN. Through nadvertence we failed TO
notice last week that the individual subscription to
the stock of the Raleigh and Castor Railroad had been
| taken, and the Company duly organized. Messrs.
w. w. Vass, John S. Eaton. and John King, are the
Directors representing the States interest, and H. ID.
Bird, of Petersburg, George W. Mordeca, of Raleigh,
Thomas Miller. OF Granville, and N. Il. Green, of
Warren, were elected Directors by the individual
stockholders. Alta meeting of the Directors held at
Warrenton, Maj. w. w. Vass elected Treasurer
of the Board. At a subsequent meeting held at Ra.
leigh on the 18Th inst, George w. Mordecai, Esq,
was chosen President and H. D. Bird, of Petersburg,
General Superintendent of the Road. The former
receives salary, and the latter salary Of b 900
per annum. Steps have been taken 10 secure the
speedy reconstruction of the road.
We have uniformly opposed the reconstruction of
the Raleigh and CASTOR Railroad believing that its
success would be detrimental to other works of i'm
provement in which the State has larger interest
The building of that road the most disastrous
piece of business in which the State involved
herself and its total failure did to discourage
the spirit of improvement in North Carolina than all
other causes PIT together. 1t is generally adj
mitted that it would have been better if the road had
never been built. The true policy of the State is
not construct works of improvement leading out of
the State, but to expend her energies works run
ming through the State from East to West. When
the Raleigh and CASTOR Road had become little better
than nuisance, thought and still think, that
l North Carolina should commence her system of i'm
provements from the beginning. Why should she
perpetuate most disastrous bunder, and persist in
keeping up road which had proved total failure
Why should she not be guided by the experience OF
the past, off this hobby which, since its ncep-
ton, has paayzed the energies of the State, and do
what she should have done twenty years since-con-
meet the East with the West!
I But other counsels prevaed-the road re-
chartered, and the stock subscribed. We now hope
that it may prove profitable investment to all con-
cerned, both the State and the individual stockho-
ders. The State half the capital stock, and
shall therefore watch the operations of the Com
pany with eye to the protection of her interests.
The first step of the Directors, to US, indicates
tain failure and disaster to the Road. Mr.. Mordeca
is chosen President of the Company ,vithout any SAL
arg affixed for his services and it follows that he has
little nothing to do, except to enjoy the honor of
being President of the Raleigh and CASTOR Railroad
Company. Mr.. H. ID. Bird, President of the Peters
burg Railroad Company, is appointed General Super
intendent of the Road, with salary of $4,000 and
upon him will devolve the whole management of the
Road. A work of which the State owns one half, is
surrendered the control of the President of Vir-
GINA Railroad! 1t has been truly said that there is
Virginia garrison in State Capital. If Mr.. Bird
had any character for skiful management, should
not be apprehensve of disastrous resus but is
notorious fact that the Petersburg Road, of which
Mr.. Bird is President, is of the worst managed
in the country, and more failures and accidents
happen on 1t, than any road within our knowledge.
This road, heretofore, has received his whole aten-
ton. 1t is hardly to be expected that Mr.. Bird will
display more skill in the management of the Raleigh
and CASTOR Road, giving it only portion of his time,
than he has done the Petersburg Road. 1t is sur
prsing that any set of North Carolinans should so
l willingly surrender a North Carolina work of Inn
provement to Virginia management. The State is
sold again, and Virginia influence is in the ascendant
in State metropolis.
Is it possible that there is no North Carolinan
qualified to fill the post of General Superintendent
Have we no man who would devote his ,ohoe time
to his duties the road Such to have been
the opinion of majority of the Directory. Yet we
have one person in minds eye, citizen of Rail
eigh, and native of this State, Maj. w. w. Vass,
who, think, is admirably qualified to discharge
all the duties of this Office. He is gentleman of