The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-17
The W, n. c. Railroad.

The w. n. c. Railroad.
at appear from Mr.. Best's examina-
ton before the Committee appointed to
investigate the sale ofthe W. n. G. Rail
road that the road has been transfer.
ed to the Clydes and the Richmond and
DanyiIle Railroad, he being compelled
TO borrow money from them to fulhli
b;s contract with the State. He stated
that he is now the employe of these
~narties to which the road had been
transferred. :.
On this the Farmer and Mechanic
saws: 1T is now clear that the magnlt-
Gent bubble Of the Special Session has
bursted, and the lst of July IS fast ap-
nroaching without a sign of fulhllment
of the magnificent promises OF that pc
ried Moreover, we think the Cover
nor should be held accountable
Accountable for what? Governor
| Jarvis is certainly accountable tor his
| official acts in ~connexion with the sale
of the road, but he Is not accountable
for any failure on the part OF Mr. Best
to fulfill his contract Governor Jar
never guaranteed the performance by
| Mr.. Best and his associates, OF the con-
tract with the State. If Mr.. Best does
not come up his contract, let the pen
alty be enforced if the public good re
Quires 1t.
What is there so horrible in fact that
the Clydes and the Richmond and Dan
Vile Railroad have become the asslgnees
Of Mr.. Best? 1.-THE State State of North
Carolina is not able to build railroads
through the rough mountains OF the
West, are we to sit down like the dog
in the manger, aud refuse TO allow those
who have the means to do 1t. We
can't see any good reason why the
Clydes or the r. & ID. Railroad, or any
other respectable corporation should
not be permitted to build the w. \. Z.
Railroad if they wish to put their mil
lions down here.-Fayettevllle Err
dnlller.
We do not propose at present to enter
into a discussion of the several features
embraced in the above. But as a ques-
ton is. directly put, we will briefly and
directly reply.
lst. That the Governor, being the
sworn head of the State, is accountable
to his oath, and to the people who rely
on it, if he fail to make sure that the
laws are faithfully executed. :.
2nd. As Chairman of the Board OF
Internal improvements it is his special
duty to look after Railroad matters.
Sd. As Chairman Of the Supervising
Committee, appointed to assure the
faithful execution of the Best contract
step by step, mile by mile, it became
his duty to keep fully posted as tar as
possible enforce the carrying out OF the
by the persons who con
tracted to do it and none other.
The public were induced to believe
that through his Jarvis care, aud the
legal skill of Messrs. Kenan, Rufin, and
the contract had made undodge
able and unbreakable; and must, be
executed, loss or no loss. 1t is true that
Senator Merrimon and Mr.. D)rtch
affirmed the contract as otherwise; but
they were pot listen to.
4th. The Governor, having these
solemn oaths upon his soul, and being
In great measure responsible Tor the
special session, (which cost above $780,
900, to the State) was bound in an es-
pecial manner to see that the Best con
tract should be faithfully executed.
WAS IT so.
Was the contract faithfully carried
Recall, ifyou please that the Yves
tern North Carolina Road was sold,
that is-virtually given ~away-for twO
J .J Io,,H, n.ocI,,DoaI p,gr-
poses lst. To get the route completed
to the Tennessee Line, land to Pldgeon
by the first day of July, -(now
only three months Distant. End. To
create Grand Trunk Line, or unbroken
commonly called-'THE NORTH
SYSTEM from Ducktown to
Beaufort harbor. The creation of this
grand trunk line, designed to draw the
produce of the mountains to our own
,ea ports, and thereby build up ocean
rattle with foreign ports, has been
he dream of the best minds of North
carolina for half a century.
Towards the realization of this grand
State System, a score Of Legislatures
nave devoted months Of discussion Cat
IN average Of $1,000 a day. and have
,oted millions on top of millions. wrung
rom the taxpayers of every nook and
corner of the State although two
birds of them would never see the road,
Tor receive any direct benefit from it
So indispensable to the welfare of the
State has been the theory of this united
inc 'sfrom the mountains to the sea-
hat both political parties engrafted it
upon their platforms; and the 40 odd
counties of Western North Carolina
have been held in close unity, and
welded as a ''solid section" in all the
conventions and Legislatures for a
dozen years past. In truth, we Of the
Farmer and Mechanic, are unpopular IN
circles Of Western North Caro-
lima at this day, because after fighting
for the "North Carolina System" in
our papers at Newbern, at Asheville at
Rutherford, and at Charlotte, we have
of late years been forced t o admit that
much humbug and political intrigue,
lay at bottom of the professed anxiety
for its completion at least among many
of the Politicians.
THE GIVE AWAY.
At length, however, the road began
to see daylight. supt. James w.
Wilson, by great energy and plentiful
means 1.-THE Legislature of 1876 having
voted-with our vote among the rest
so, 900 a year, and the labor of 500 con
had succeeded in filling up Mud
and borainp thro,,pb tho Rl,,a