The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-10-24

OAPT. ", M. N1SlOUD.
Our readers are aware that fo
some time our townsman, C. M
McLoud has been working energeti
cally to induce Northern capitalist
to establish street railway and gas
works in Asheyille. As capital i
always timid Capt N. had mucl
difficulty for time % attract thl
interest of ofcapitalists IN this direc
ton; but he never desisted or abatec
his efforts, and with statistics as tc
the growth of our citv, its prospects
DC, &c., finally succeeded in enlist
| ing the attention Of some well
known capitalists Of New York city
in both enterprises. and the more
these gentlemen inf festigated The
more they became Interested IN
Asheville, the moretIseir faith in the
early future of Asheville was in
creased, the more earnest they be-
came to plant their money here, il
anything like safe satisfactory terms
could beobtained. After some con-
sideration on the part of the city
authorities on the subject, an cleo
tFic system of lighting was chosen in
preference to gas-works, and such
conditions were named relating to a
street railway as decided these
New York gentleuen whom Capt.
McLoud had induced to enter upon
this scheme to abandon it. Capt.
McLoud did not lose heart, howev-
er, and, as he has always done, he
has persisted, in behalf of the inter
est. the needs, of AsheYille, in urg-
ing the consideration of these
schemes, and to that end he has res
Gently visited New York, and res
turned Tuesday evening highly
pleased with his success, so far as
the none diminishing feature is
concerned, being accompanied by
one of the gentlemen who wishes to
invest in such works. At the meet
ing OF the city authorities Friday
night Capt. McLoud appeared before
them and again submitted plans
for these two important enterprises,
involving as they do the early ex-
penditure of upwards of fifty thous-
and dollars here for labor, besides
contributing largely to the general
welfare and prosperity of our city.
As announced yesterday, the board
appointed a committee of Messrs.
Scott, Powell and Murray to confer
with Messrs. McLoud and associates
relative to this matter, and submit
report to the next meetiI z. We
called on Capt. McLoud yesterday
to ask some questions concerning
the plans of his company, and we
were pleased to find him very much
enthused over the prospects of
Asheville if his company can be
given a fair and just showing and
protection.
Capt. McLoud said that he has
been at work upon these two schemes
for several years, and has given the
matter much study and attention,
at much expense, time and labor.
He had finally succeeded in procur.
ing the promise of sufficient capital
to establish both the gas-works and
street-railway; but when the ques-
ton of street lighting was recently
before the board that body conclud-
ed to establish electric lights, for the
present, which lights he heartily ap-
proves, for themselves as we'll as for
the general good ofthescity, whose
interests he has fully at heart. It
will soon be evident to the commu>
nifty that the electric lights cannot
reach all sections of the city, and
that some other lights will have to
be added he has therefore again
submitted aproposition, or will to the
committee, for the establishment of
gas~works. The gentlemen who are
ready to put up the cash on this
enterprise are ready to go to work
provided favorable terms can be OBJ
tanned. AS to the street railway
Capt McLoud was much more in
teresting as he was much more con-
vinced of its absolute necessity for
the good of our city, Said Ashe-
vile was city of magnificent dis,
tances, and was certain to continue
to grow; and In growing, the de-
mand for modern conveniences also
grew, and, if we wish to sustain
the reputation and attractions
of the place we must avail ourselves
of all modern improvements for
city attractiyeness.
He cited New York. Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Richmond, Atlanta, and
Charleston; and showed how the
business of those streets upon which
railways had been established had
very largely increased their busi-
ness as compared with those streets
which had no such facilities; /; and,
with street railways in AsheyiIle,
connecting the depot with the main
business streets, hotels, boarding
houses, and specially the suburbs
the city which is so rapidly being
built up and elegantly SO, our city
would rapidly increase in popula-
lation, visitors, and business. He
was told of party who thought of
coming to Asheyille with his fami-