Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-07-12

Governor Worth's Circular the Disabled Sol
diers Requiring Artificial Limbs, and the Will
mington and Weldon Railroad.
We present elsewhere the circular of Governor
Worth to the manned and disabled soldiers OF
North Carolina, who served in the Southern
armies
By late act of the General Assembly, these
soldiers are to be furnished with artificial limbs at
the expense of the State, and there breathes not
an honest man in North Carolina who does not
applaud this action of State Leg gislators but
while approve the act, and deem it alike cred
liable to the hearts and patriotism of repre-
Isentatives, regret to learn that the limbs that
are being manufactured of inferior quality,
and unless improved, likely to prove of no
practical benefit whatever to those for whom they
are intended.
IT, as is stated, the limbs are of a clumsy char
acter, and from their construction painful to the
wearer, then, some is to blame for awarding
the contract to incompetent manufacturers, and
If those whose duty 1T is to inspect the work. shall
suffer inferior article to be palmed Off on the
State at the expense of those unfortunate persons
requiring artificial limbs, we trust they will be
held up to the people in their true light. We
make no charges now, we are merely anticipa-
ting from what rumor has whispered to us, and are
truly averse to believing that there IS man in
North Carolina stepped i'll baseness as to con-
nive and assist at cheating these poor men, who
are really the losers by the war We well
aware that very few contracts are let out by gov
ernment, in which there is not great amount of
swindling, but this, we had supposed mat
ter appealing directly to the better instincts of
human nature, that no One save a rObber of grave
yards or resurectionists, would dream of any
pecuniary gain whatever, in connection with fur
nishing our unfortunate heroes with limbs, where
by they support, at best, miserable existence.
We shall, accordingly, as duty, ventilate very
freely the men having charge of the artificial limb
manufactory if we find that justice demands such
at our hands We know that Governor Worth
entertains for our disabled soldiers the kindest
feelings of regard, has shown an interest IN their
behalf quite cOmmendable in any one and If there
should appear any frauds in this matter, we feel
sure he is not responsible therefore, or party
thereto.
Having corresponded with the managers of the
various railroads of the State, the Governor in
forms us in his circular, that he had received
prompt assurance from each company, that each
manned soldier furnished with proper certificate
should pass free to Raleigh and home again. We
regret that duty compels to say that this prom
ise has not been observed by the Wilmington and
Weldon railroad authorities. A gentleman of this
place provided with the proper certificate, had oc
casion to visit Raleigh for the purpose of obtain
ing limb, and required to pay full fare, and
was not treated by the conductor with that cour-
tesy, which, at least, he might have expected, in
his unfortunate condition. The North Carolina
road passed the gentleman free, going and return
ing.
We do not pretend to say that the managers of
the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad was re-
sponsible for the conduct of its officer this oc
caslOn, but we do say that 1t was very small
business on the part Of somebody, and it grows
beautifully smaller in the Superintendent to re-
tain in the service of the company one who shows
so little appreciation for an unfortunate fellow
man.
The Barracks, which the Governor says he has
provided for the soldiers while waiting for their
orders to be filed, are described as being very
poor and uncomfortable. This should be seen to,
and suitable accommodations furnished, and this
being the duty of the Governor we shall refer to
90
taken to render the barracks comfortable.
# Wilson CCroEinidn