Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-05-29
TO CONSIDER RAILROADS
MEETING SUGGESTED FOR
AsHEvXI.LE'S CITIZENS.

Talks Plainly on Matters That
Concern The CitY-H1eetinG To
he Held 1n The Asheville Club
Rooms.
There will be n meeting at tue Ashcvillc
club rooms tomorrow afternoon at 4
O'Clock of all persons interested in the
proposition to build n railroad to
Bristol.
Mayor T. w. Patton, when inter
viewed by THE CITIZEN, concerning the |
proposition to retire 100000 worth of
the Asheville street Improvement bonds |
and allow the county to vote on that
amount to be given toward the procure |
| ment of additional railroad facilities, |
| said:
"I presume all persons agree that adj
| ditional railroad facilities would greatly
| benefit our whole county, and we should
| carefully consider the best plan by which
| this may be accomplished. The mistak ke
hitherto has been hasty proposition,
| in the wisdom of which the advocates of
| the measure were not agreed. Thus it
| went before the voters of Buncom be
county without the support of all those
| who really favored the object aimed at.
"In order to succeed it is essential first
to agree among ourselves. This can
only be accomplished by one more free
and candid conferences of those who SO
ardently wish for another railroad con-
nection, as to be willing to think, to con-
fer together, and lhen to work hard for
it's attainment"
what do you suggest?"
~ would suggest that THE CITIZEN
| call a meeting of those who favor the
| scheme on the night of The first Monday
| in June, in order that the County Com
missioncrs may attend, and in the rooms
of the Ashevillc club. AS president of
| that club(a most valuable institution,
| however distasteful to the Wayncsvilllan
style of oratory), l authorize you to sug-
gcst that place. After this initiatory
step is accomplished should have Il
mass-mceting at the court house, to con-
slider the measures proposed.
81 cannot now suggest anv very deh-
mite plan of procedure MIR. A. ID.
Cooper is a very thoughtful man and his
suggestions always deserve careful con-
sideration. If suggest difficulties in his
way. it is done in no captious spirit, but
rather with hope he may remove them.
1.-The first trouble is that his scheme of
retiring he unsold city bonds can only
be done by authority of the Legislature.
Involving a delay of two years. He and
both would prefer to have the railroad
| we'll under way before that time. In the
interval, what shall Ashevilic do? Con
slider the situation facing the present ad-
ging for work., money to employ
them most of the small amount of street
fund on hand already pledged to contrac-
tors employing foreign laborcrs, many
. streets torn up and partially graded on
a contract conditional upon Il farther
- sale OF bonds; absolutely means to
complete these streets, nor to replace
them in the condition they wercin before
this grading rendered them impaSSablc
1 do honestly consider this the most un
fair act of the preceding Board OF Alder
men. The only object must have been to
force a farther sale of bonds. 1t seem:
to ME they have succeeded i'll this mos
unjust way in rendering this unavoida
bic, and that we are now Obliged to sci
half of the remaining bonds-say 500,
900.
"The law specifics that these shall
not be sold below par. The present alder
men intend to respect their oath an,
obey this and all other laws
Then these bonds must be sold at par
if at all. After the squanderini
of $45, 900 on discounts, (), this car
not be done elsewhere than at home
All the city's credit abroad has been de
stroyed. Why, only last week l had
advance money to get a car load ot pitc
to complete Church street, because til
shippers were afraid to trust the city
and had sent it with bill of lading al
tachcd to their draft. What an abso
lutcly dishonorable position for a city
be placed in.
And, remember, Asheyillc in propCrt
is fve-sevenths of Buncombe count.
An injury to the city's credit. prevent
any chance of success i'll the propose
railroad scheme. Then if we wish anotl
cr railroad our first step must be to r
establish the credit of this city. Let IN
citizens do this by joining me in the pu
chase of 100000 of Ashevillc's bonds
par. 1 have completed my arrangement
to take one-tenth of that sum. TIL
money judiciously expended will do {
that is imperatively needed"
What plan do you propose, May
Patton?"
Let a mass meeting be called al
- let it order it's servants to sell no mo
ho SI:HtI n
- provides for their retirement. In tt
. way the city's credit being re-establIsh
a suitable amount of county bonds mi
be issued and sold easily at par. and t
, much desired additional railroad {
tanned.
First of all, let show by our dee
that we have not lost all confidence
the future prosperity of Asheville. L
us by personal sacrifice make good /
, credit, and all difficulties in the way
, the railroad will vanish"