The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-11-18

Tns New BRASCH.-Th Richmond &
Danville r. Il. last week effected a Rail
roadic coup IL etut by a rapid change OF the
gauge of the Western y. c.; widening 1t 10
I've fee SO that the rolling stock OF the
main lines NAV be used on this branch.
Many rumors in relation to the matter We're
in circulation it being stated that interest
ed parties were endeavorlng to serve an IN
junction upon Col. Andrews working force
but could not reach him either by ra'i or
telegraph. The opposition, if any there be-
issues doubtless from the Charlotte region,
as the Charlotte aud Statesville Railroad
has the As guage. aud hereafter all freight
destined for Charlotte or Wilmington will
need 70 come around by Salisbury or else
change cars at Statesville. The Charlotte
OJserrer, a strong Jarvis paper, speaks a
follows -
The Western North Carolina Railroad
was originally intended as a feeder to the
North Carolina Railroad, which was ITSELF
to be part Of a system, which was TO connect
the western with the eastern portions OF the
State, ending at Beaufort harbor on the At
%lantic.. coast, but the change now going OF
makes it a part of the system which feeds
Richmond, Virginia, and not North Caro-
ina towns. or North Carolina commerce.
Millions of the hard earned dollars OF the
%NOINll dIOIiho NaA ~ ''0
the building Of til road. and although i
has changed hands recently It ought essen
tally to be considered a North Carolina en-
~terprise. and we ask If it be good policy tc
spend our means for a lie time Tor the ac.
complishment Of a certain purpose, anc
then see it turned into an object for building
up the business of another State?
The change of gauge contemplated wa
not commenced until after the election, anC
if it shall hereafter be made to appear thai
our new State administrator Is a party t
this change, which eats out the vltals OF th'
Atlantic, Tennessee & Ohio Railroad a
once, and Stays the business interests o
Charlotte and Wilmington. is it now look.
to us, it will be held to a fearful response
bility by the people of the State. GOV.
Jarvis had no more devoted frieni IN tn
late canvass than this paper, and a VT
verify believe, but for its devotion to party.
many Democrats would have scratched tho
ticket in this section OF tie State, without
computations Of conscience. We won by
the skin of our teeth, but we are not Yet on
Of the woods, and 1t behonves the Governor
to look well into The matter, II order tina
he may see whether OF NOT he Is not being
made a cat paw to pull somebody else
cheStnuts out OF the fire.
We do not ike to fad fault or com
pldln c3ptlOaSly. Dut We WdIt IL uI9bihctlN
understood that this is a North Carolina pa
per, and a Charlotte paper at that, whlct
has never yet hesita'ei to say what /
thought WIS right
The Charlotte DeDtocrHt regrets The
change, but acquits Jarvis Of blame. The
Charlotte Press thinks the new owners have
a right to do as they please with their owi
track. The Statesyille papers have little I,
say, and the other local papers follow suit
The Asheviile citizen is fully in favor Of th'
charge. The Wilmington papers don't ap
prove. The STR remarks :-
"A telegram received yesterday brings tbs
refreshing intelligence that the Best Syndi
cate the world ever saw are now changing
the gauge of the Western North Carolin;
railroad to suit its Virginia connections
Being thankful for small tavoIs, we rejoice
that the job was not begun until after th'
election
The State papers generally appear t,
think the change a matter ct nc special mo
ment,