The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-10
EDITORIAL NOTES.

@Os -
PREnATURE?-W hen the Legislature
was in session last winter the Fdrmc'
and Mechantc, and other papers. kept
up SO much growing about the mysterl
Gus wire-pulling in connection nth the
sale" Of the w. \. e. r. r, or Mr..
Best's contract, that finally Sena
torial committee of investigation was
ordered Col. John \. Staples was
chairman The committee sat wit
closed doors, and the newspapers were
denied admittance. A long time elapsed
before the report of the committee got
into print, and though 1000 copies
were printed 1t was not ten days before
they nearly all faded from sight. The
result is that not one in ten thousand
Of the people of North Carolina ever
saw the Report, or any portion of it.
We have long been tempted to pub
lish parts of the Report; for although,
both Col Andrews and Col. Best, cvi-
dently eyerted themselves to say as lit
tie as possible, and reveal only the sur
face facts, the investigation throws
much light on subsequent proceed
ings.
There are, nevertheless, many obscure
points in the developments. For in
stance, it is alleged by Mr.. Best that
his original contract with the Clyde
Syndicate was bona file transaction,
meant to carry out his own contrct with
the State. Yet when Col. Andrews
telegraphed him, Nov 9, 1SSO:-"We
will begin changing the guage of the
Western North Carolina Railroad to
day." his reply was as follows:
NEW York, Nov. 9, 80.
Telegram reed. | counsel delay in
changing gauge. First the Board
'of Directors should be consulted
Second it looks to me premature. |
know it is mistake. By whose au-
"thority is the change ordered at this
timer Answer Immediately.
w. j. BEST, Prest.
Col. Andrews telegraphed in reply
Telegram received too late, after we
had commenced. Col. Buford, Gen.
Logan, and Maj. Wilson authorized
it. ,
Delay" 'Mlstakel'- Premature!"
Why Premature Was the farce to
be kept up little longer? Why ''coun
sci delay after election day, Mr..
President?
WAS THERE TRICKERY?
Let us glance little farther. While
the committee were puzzling over these
kilograms, Maj. Finger put in his little
thumb and extracted this plumb =
WAS not the subject Of the change
of guage discussed between yourself
''and Mcssrs. Clyde, Logan and Bu
ford ?"
Mr.. Best-'The subject was never
discussed between us ?''
This emphatic assertion brought Col.
A. B. Andrews to his feet.
"M. Andretcs. Did understand
you to say, Mr.. Best, that che change
of gauge was never talked about in New
York?
Mr. Best. Not in New York; you
and | talked about it in Raleigh, and it
was generally understood that when we
got to the Tennessee line the gauge
should be changed to conform to roads
running west.
"Ar. Andreics. Do you not recol-
lect that the question was discussed IN
Hr. CIyde' office on seUerdl occasions ?
Mr.. Best. believe the only conver-
sation we had in Mr.. Clyde's office, on
that subject, occurred when you intro
duced me to him in the early part of
April, when he had no interest what
ever in this road: neither did Mr. Logan
nor Mr.. Buford. Colonel, | have no
desire to place you in false position in
this matter. 1t was my intention to
change the gauge of the road, had it
all been in my control, when it reached
the Tennessee line. | objected to the
change at the time it was made, be-
cause of the manner In which it was
made, and for the reasons stated IN my
telegram to you.
Mr.. Anlre,cs. 1t is my impression
that the change was spoken Of several
times in conversation with these par
ties.
"Ar. Best. 1t may be, but | have
no recollection of it, There a0ere SO
mann lnterrie,cs, and so much ooas sad,
i is quite possible that such may have
been the case, but | do not recall it
low.
Again we remark why "Prema-
ure -
WAS THERE TRICKERY?
Coz. Best was asked why Fish, Grace
/ Company Crawfshed in such grace
ess style, or words to that effect. His
lnswer was thusly:-
".M Best. After the contract with I
he State was entered into, Messrs /
trace and Fish and the attorney in fact
# Mr.. Tappan, returned to New ! ork
md | remained in North Carolina about
wo weeks. On my return to New
[ fork, found that parties hat fright
ned these gentlemen as to the magnl
ude Of the work to be done, and that
II face Of the fact that these gentlemen
lad gone themselves over the entire
Dad before the execution of the con-
ract, and sent an engineer to examine
t. as built and to be built. They re
used to advance the money to go on
With the contract, which forced upon
ne the necessity either Of standing
before the people of the
State or to make efforts to secure other
nen to step in their places and prose
ute the work. | preferred the latter
curse to sueiDg them.
The Chairman. Then | understand
'ou to say that they absolutely declined
O carry out the contract?
Mr.. Best. Yes, sir, they did. !"