The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-20
Mr.. Best Still in the Railroad
Business.

reported that he Is prepared 10 Drive
ahead and take the lead which he as
.umed al the start of negotiations.
We really DO not know how MIR. Best
stands or where he exactly stands, but
a friend in Washington city who is in a
position TO learn the news and know
what is going on, writes US under date
of January 10th AS follows:
w. j. Best was in Washington yes
t%er,iay Ell route to Raleigh with the
funds to pay off the next in,tallnent
on his railroad purchase.
[ AN informed that he has organized
a new company with ample capital to
build both the Ducktswn and Paint
Rock lines. He has a project on foot
to utilize the Oaksmith charter, by
building the road from Goldsboro to
Charlotte.
You may look for a bitter fight be-
tween him and the Richmond & Dan
vile Railroad. At least he talks that
way."-Charlotte Democrat
The Greensboro North State iRepub-
lican) hears that Mr.. Best il hiding
out with the books of his company !;
and then again that Mr.. Caddagan is
presenting the members Of Assembly
with w. Us. compliments, land \
small appro'-that is to say asmallf free
ticket. Another report says Best in
>i,ts on the small sum of $I7.O 600 before
he will surrender certain papers which
the Il & ID. Il. r. would be please to
possess. Another fellow is astonisied
at the rumored rupture between MIR.
Best and Col. Buford, ct al, because of
the fact that so active part was taken
by the latter in getting a special session
called. 1t is roundly asserted that
Gov. Jarvis, Mr.. Best, and Col. Blu
ford, all rode to Washington last sun
mer IN Butord's private car to consult
with the Congressional delegation and
that Buford was the only outsider pres
ent at the conference.
We give these things for what they
are worth, and mainly to show the teffe
of the Press, and of the people, SO far
as we are cognlzant OF 1t.
The Wilmington Star says: IF
there are a mar in North Carolina who
believes that Mr.. Best will accomplish
the mammoth thing he now proposes,
let him be placed in 4 little lunatlc Asy-
lum to be erected at Ducktown for his
special benefit by the said VIM. }.
Best and his associates" The Colds
boro Messenger, of Monday, remarks
that the projectors of the new Midland
y. c., or Beaufort and Salisbury
scheme. seem disposed to be quite reti-
cent.
Herein, we think, is the mistake
Of the whole matter. Nine men in
ten are anxious to have the Western
road bulls, in both of its branches, and
we're willing to give Mr.. Best every
support for it IS a matter of vsry lit
tie concern who owns the road, provided
it be well built and we'll conducted.
But our people have been too often de-
ceived by fair promises, too often swim
died by Railroad rings, not to feel q
measure Of suspicion eff parties, who at
4 time of unusual activity among Rail
rosd spectators, came into the State
with magnificent offers, of one sort and
another-but cou; hed in dubious
phra.eology, and accompanied by all
the mystery, the whispering, the but
ton-holing of some fearful conspiracy.
Even those who, like o~urself, had no
doubt of Mr.. Best personal integrity,
nor the fidelity of his intentions in re-
spect to carrying out his contract, were
led to look with suspicion on the whole
concern because of this unnecessary
secrecy and delay.
The truth Of the matter, 80 far as we
have learned, is that Mr.. Best at the
start believed all his own promises. He
is a man Of sanguine temperament, with
a tendency towards extensive ideas, and
having, as he supposed, curte Blanche
from a syndicate of m%illionaires he felt
himself master of the situation. But
the money-bag holders, (Messrs. Grace
Fish. ct al after an hurried glance at
the obstacles in the way of the build
ing of the road, decided that Mr..
Best's views were too e1travagant for
so gigantic a work; therefore wished
him to step aside, and allow a practical
Railroad builder to take supreme con-
troll both of the cash and the construc-
ton. Best, not being a first class fool,
declined to down step and out, in this
manner, after all his trouble and ex-
pense in lobbying the Legislative enact
ment to success.
SO, the Syndicate ''slopsd,' so to
and Mr.. Best was compelled to
seek a new set of partners. The Rich
mond & Danville authorities stepped in
temporarily at least; and the road itself
proved sufficiently remunerative to
meet current liabilities, the conduc-
tors for a long time sending their re
ports and money directly to Col. An
drews. Col. Macmurdo now acts as
Supt.
Meantime, Mr.. Best has succeeded in
getting several Boston capitalist. to join
with the Clyde's (of the well known
Clyde Steamship line) to establish the
new route from Asheville to the sea, by
way Of Salisbury, Raleigh, and Colds
boro, using the % miles from Beaufort
to Goldsboro and the 4S miles Themes
to Raelgh, under a perpetual lease, il
consolidation be not effected. 1t is
quite unlikely, therefore. that any an
tagonism will arise between the conflict
Ing interests for the present as the r.
4 d. Company would naturally be glad
to lease the side switch of it. main
line, inasmuch as it is now unproddc-
1t is understood that Capt. Appleton
blacksmith and other gentleman are
now in Raleigh in the interest of the
new scheme.
We are inclined to favor it and the
foregoing statement ~issolely a. a matter
information for our readers.