The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-02

per we warmly advocated the gictng daooy
If a sale or perpetual lease could not be Ell
the w. y. &. and the Atlantic Railroads
lst. Because they added nothing to the
revenues of the State. but on the contrary
are a drain upon them.
2nd. Because they are a source OF con-
tinual quarrelling aud discord, o~ecasloning
bitter antagonisms between some OF the best
! people of the State.
Sd. Because they are a self Repeating
Lobby Machine; and election wire stretcher;
consequently inimical TO the interests OF the
masses Of our people
Views of this nature were. of course, alto
gether visionary, II for no other reason than
because there are three sets of officials,
forty-eight Directors, three sets Of
train men, and shops. the whole
embracing many powerful influences not 10
speak of the cohesive force of conflicting AS
piratioDs, and competing competitors.
Times, however, are liable TO change, and
communities often wheel squarely round
upon their Records 1t happened that our
" first Journalistic essay was in a very live
Is controversy, at Newbern IN IS61-e, over
the proposal then aggitated 70 consolidate
the three Railroads between Beaufort and
Buncombe into one Grand Trunk line, with
a single management. Much opposition was
dIOu>C4 d-diuSb IiiC
no end of unpopularity at Newbern aud at
Goldsboro, whose business men were led TO
believe the Great Through Route would
build up Beaufort, at their own expense
Indeed the feeling grew SO hot that we be
came involved IN several personal difficulties,
and were pointed out "a 'an enemy OF New
bern" Though, of course very many OF the
best people agreed with u.s. because of our
advocacy of consolidation
But time ha. demonstrated that with the
fading away OF that opportunity (tor there
was an opportunity faded away the last hope
of the long-pictured North Carolina Sys-
tenn" or Through Route from the Blue
Ridge to the Blue Sea The Newbern peo-
pie, having come to realize this fact, are
now anxious to attach their road TO some
strong and energetic Railway line hat vii
equip, and manage, 1t on progressive prln-
ciples. 1t was therefore proposed last sum
mer to lease the road for long term of years
for a sufficient rental to meet the existing
Obligations and leave some small per centage
TO the stockholders. 4 meeting Of the lat
ter was held and various proposals Were
heard.
The Richmond 4 panville offered $50 000
a year, for - years If we remember Alright.
The Wilmington & Weldon offered S33, o Q
and there were offers Of larger sums but
without as much security as the above
named roads.
A good deal Of feeling at once manifested
itself, pro and coz, and began to threaten
trouble IN the campaign then going on be
tween Jarvis and Judge Fowle. Gov. Vance
is credited with the remark that this Road
gave him more trouble than any matter du-
ring all his term. Jarvis is understood to
managed, directly or indirectly, to postpone
the whole business lst, until after his nom
,o.,o Old npt,i ,ftor bic ro.,ln.tap IT,
presumption is that it was done with the
appreciation or assent, of all concerned.
Nevertheless, tie question as to the Gov
ernor's ultimate action continued to ex-
cite discussion So that on reaching klnston
IN his canvas and in reply to interrogation
Jarvis declared from the stump his desire
to know the will Of the citizen shareholders
in the Road, and to cast the States vote in
accordance Herewith.
This seemed to aIlay all apprehension,
and the matter dropped out of sight until
last week.
With this resume of past transactions, the
following extracts.
1t may be proper to state that Gov. Jar
Wis takes the ground that as the Legislature
will meet in January, he is not willing to
permit the lease without submitting the
question to that body. This may be best ;
but it would have been better not have left
the impression during the campaign that he
would execute the wish of the private stock
holders.
t The public, we presume, care very little
/ who secures the lease; provided the road
/ be fairly and enterprlslngly managed.
From the Goldsboro Messenger: THE
{ Ca'o'ina Railroad met in Newbern
~ Tnac1ay accarIIpr 70 pravlnnC al
r journnlent, tor the purpose of again consid-
ering the perplexing lease question, but
nothing was done in the matter because of
E the withdrawal Of the States proxy from
the meeting. There was a pretty 1ull at
tendance. Messrs. 4. r. Bridgers and
j John + Devine were present at the meet
ing, and so was Mr.. w. J. Best. Owing
/ to the withdrawal Of the State proxy from
the meeting no action was taken on either
: of the propositions, but we learn that the
: feeling among the private stockholders was
; decidedly in favor of leasing the W. & w.
i Railroad. An informal meeting of the pr
Fvate stockholders was afterwards held, at
e which a resolution. offered by MIR. julius A.
a Gray. declaring In favor of leasing the road
was adopted by an almost unanimous vote,
{ and subsequently a resolution offered BY
Mai. John Hughes, that the lease be made
] to the ". & w. Railroad received 1901
i votes to 81 votes against, but We learn that
i about $50 Of the latter declared IN favor OF
the W. & w. r. r. provided no better
: proposition was offered. We learn that the
failure to dispose of this lease matter, and
: the Withdrawal of the States proxy, caused
a good deal of Indignation.
From the kinston JournuI: The sense
| of the private stockholders was soon seen to
be in favor of accepting the offer of the w.
, & w road, as it was known to be a respon
F.; bic bid. But before a vote was taken the
States proxy stated that he had a letter
| from the Governor which would require him
| to withhold his vote it he saw that she lease
4 was about to be adopted, and requested the
f; meeting to adjourn to the evening in order
that he might telegraph to the Governor.
: The meeting al jour ned, and on reassemb-
5 ling, the States proxy in obedience to the
l Governors telegram refused to vote on the
question, and thus defeated the lease.
This is the substance OF the proceedings as
we gather from one of the stockholders
Ill T.