The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-09-05
PRESIDENT BRYAN
AND THE ATLANTIC & NORTH
CAROLINA RAILROAD,
A True Statement of the Condition of
Affairs Under two Different Admin
iStratiOns.
raleigh Evening CALL

L Va SOtuS tiilC pe1ot tilC SiCdt duu
feverish topic along the line of the At
lantic & North Carolina railroad has
been concerning the present and the
, next administration of the affairs of
the road. -Four years ago Mr.. Wash
ington Bryan was appointed its presi-
dent to succeed Col. Jno. D. Whitford.
! The appointing power rests with the
Governor when he chooses to exercise
it for the State owns thirds of the
stock of the road, and on behalf of the
State the Governor appoints eight of
the twelve directors, or two-thirds of
them. Hence, whenever the Governor
chooses to do so, he can indirectly ap-
point the president of the road for
the directors elect the president.
Not long after Mr.. Bryan's appoint
ment, some opposition was developed
towards his methods of administration.
! From the best and most direct infor-
nation the Call can get, this opposi-
ton was first started by newspaper
which claimed that Bryan attempted
to keep it silent with reference to his
manner of administration The facts
here are about as follows: The paper
made an attack on Mr. Bryan which
that gentleman claimed was unjust,
and so far as statement of facts was
concerned, was untrue. He saw the
publisher and told him that if it was
his intention to attack or criticise him
justly, all we'll and good but if at
tacks and criticism we're to be wan
tonly, he (Mr. BryanO wanted nothing
to do with the publisher, and told him
in substance that the courtesies of the
road should be withdrawn from him.
On this the paper based charge of
attempt at bribery and returned the
annual pass it held to Mr.. Bryan.
This started a row which has been
kept up ever since; and the newspa-
pers along the line of the road have
almost succeeded in making the public
believe that there is really unani-
nous desire on the part of the people
in that section for the removal of Mr..
Bryan from the control of the road.
Many charges have been brought
against Mr.. Bryan, among them a
churlish disposition, inefhciency Of
management, depreciation of business,
&c. So far, much more has been said
against him through the prass than fo1
him. His friends have claimed from
the first that he has been an efficient
manager; that the road has done bet.
ter in every respect under his manage.
ment than ever before, and that it is
now in a better condition than ever
This claim was not allowed by the op.
position, and some days ago the New
Berne Journal, which is uncompro
mlsingly opposed to him, printed q
comparative statement, purporting tc
show the business of the road under
two administrations. 1t showed that
for the year ending may 81, 1885
under Whitford's administration, the
! total earnings were S121,391.18.
BRYAN'S ADMINISTRATION.
Total earnings May 81, 1886, S11O,9S7. 81
Total earnings May 81, 1887, 117,oss o
Total earnings May 81, 1888, 119,452 2!
1t is assumed that the New Bernt
! Journal is responsible for these figures
as no other source is known or men
toned. The statement appeared day
after day in the paper. Mr.. Bryan
was asked if they were correct. HI
gave no reply beyond saying that HI
would soon print a statement which
would show the condition of affairs
On August 23d he published in th'
Journal an official statement which
showed the following:
EARNINGS FROM TRANSPORTATION.