Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-01-18
ROANOKE AND SOUTHERN.
Mr. N. II. G. Reptile. to Mr.. Troul

Mr. N. H. G. Replies to Mr.. Trout.
Mr.. Editor.-The article in today's
TIMES over the name of Hon. H. 8
Trout, president of the Roanoke and
Southern Railroad company. may be
entirely satisfactory to himself and
his associates, but will 1t satisfy the
taxpayers who are anxious to vote thu
additional subscription, but who are
determined to defeat it, unless it 1:
made clear that the second subscrip
ton will be the last asked, and that
the road will be pushed to completion
without further delay and it's terminal
facilities established within the pre-
sent city limits. Does the article re
ferred to carry conviction that such
will be the case
Mr.. Trout says q subscription to the
Southern railroad does not mean u
donation to the constructions com
pany. Will Mr.. Trout bind himself
to buy this stock Mt fifty oreven forty
cents on The dollar within six month.
after the city shall have paid pal
Tor it?
In answer to one. OF my questions
Mr.. Trout says: "A promise by any
company to build road 1875 miles
long. provided Roanoke city would
subscribe 800, 900 to its stock, would
be an absurdity How much OF the
1875 miles of that road would that
amount build and equipf" II this
means anything, does it not NEAR
more money more road; no more
money no more road :" Does the
reader believe that the man who |.
bold enough to make such a state
Lnent will hesitate to carry it into
Effect when the opportunity offers
Custom makes law and makes right
1t has for years been the custom Of
railroads to get all they can and ask
for more The Roanoke and South
ern will go as far and ask Us much az
any OF the boys Let US bear this IN
,uind.
Mr.. Trout seems to attach consider
able Importance to the fact that the
construction company 10 composed OF
men who have large supply OF both
uilu A'O OAS
denies this. Far be it from me to in
innate that they even have more OF
the one than the other. But that is not
the question. Would MIR. Trout loan
his best friend $4,000 on his verbal
promise to return it, or its equivalent
tx months hence? He would not,
vet he wants the city Of Roanoke to
nav him $500, 600 in cash on his verbal
promise to build and equip sixty miles
of rail, Dad, aud all the evidence OF
good faith he give. is that he will use
fh. S2OU, GOO in the construction Of
twenty OF the sixty miles. Does he
expect to fud the end OF the rainbow
with its bag OF gold ut the twentieth
mile; or does he expect to issue Il
prayer TO the people Of Roanoke for
more money TO oInplete the road?
Mr.. Trout says l seem more an1-
ious to raise an issue OF bad faith on
the part OF the railroad company than
20 give information to the public"
This statement l deny, but will az X,
which is freest from ell evidence OF
suspicion OF bad faith, the city OF
Roanoke, which binds itself in legal
form, or the Southern Railroad COM
pany which does not do 70 but makes
elaborate verbal promises?
In this matter the city is open.
frank. manly. 1t says what it will do
and binds itself by law to do it. The
Southern Railroad company beats
.bout the bush, talks loud, but does
not bind itself to do anything except
10 keep at work as long as the city
foots the bills.
IfMr. Trout's railroad company is
in earnest and is too innocent to hide
n bug under the chip, why does he
not tell us what his company will dc
when they will have built twenty
miles of bob tail road and spent 5000,
100 of the city's money! This ques-
ton was placed before him in my pre-
vious communication: Why did he
shun il?
/ m glad to know that Mr. Trout
will vote for the hospital, the city
hall and the bridges. | hope he will
nse his influence in behalf of these
measures where it will do the most
good. A convert for policy's sake
better than no convert at all.
do lot think Mr.. Trout's letter
will prove satisfactory to the voter.
He admits and denies just enough TO
allow the reader to draw his own con
illusions as to the true state of affairs.
He answers with powerful emphasis
some OF the questions of least import
ance. hedges about others and is as
dumb as an oyster in the face OF the
D ainest and most important Of all the
Questions, namely why does the
Southern railroad company object to
putting in legal form its verbal prom
2"
Make it plain and business like, Mr.
Trout; make it as plain as the prom
isory notes you discount and then we
will all vote for the appropriation.
For my part would as cordially vote
you $l5O,OOO as half that sum, but
you must make it plain. Brush away
The clouds and we will give you a
unanimous vote; otherwise we will
have TO give you a black eye.
When the funeral is over we will
meet you with an olive branch and
say "srraighten out the kinks; come
again and we'll be with you
M H g.