The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-07-27
PRESIDENT HOFFMAN CAN BID

On the ". G. Il. II. Lease, If he Wants
to, Said Governor Carr Yesterday.
Hoffman says il is PrepOsteTOus to
Lease the Road at this Time.
Gov. Carr was seen yesterday concern
ing an interview Thursday with Presi-
dent Hoffman, of Tie Seaboard Air Line,
which interview ar cared in the Atlanta
Journal of that date
when asked" says the Journal, eff
he had read the dispatch published in
the Atlanta papers, regarding the appli-
cation Of the Southern Railway or its rep
resentatives for an extension of lease of
the North Carolina Railroad for
ninety-nine years from 1901, it being
understood that the present lease
of the North Carolina Railroad to the
Southern Company, had nearly six years
to run, President Hoffman said that he
had read the article referred to, and ex-
pressed surprise at the seeming haste of
the Southern Company in the matter,
further stating that he doubted very
much if the chief executive of North
Carolina would lend his assistance to the
ninety nine year extension of lease
which, under its present conditions, only
expired long after the Governors pres
ent term of Office.
"Mr. Hoffman further stated that the
Seaboard Airline had hoped to have an
opportunity to bid for the lease of this
road Eat the expiration of the present
contract, and would do so if permitted;
he could not believe that the effort now
being made for the purposes which
seemed plain, would prove successful,
nor that the people Of North Carolina
would look at this time with favor upon
such a proposition. It seemed simply
preposterous.
Go,ernor Carr was walking to the
Mansion yesterday afternoon, as is his
custom, when found by the NEWS AND
OBSERVE repo ter. The attention of his
Excellency was called specially to the
doubt expressed that he would lend his
assistance to the extension of the lease
which under present conditions expired
long after the Governors present term
of Office
He replied, saying, ''if Mr.. Hoffman
wants to bid, he can bid, as there was
absolutely nothing done the other day /.
The Directors will consider al the bids
When they lease, they will certainly do
the best they can for the state
That Yves about all the Governor ap-
peaFed to care to say OU the subject until
he was asked did he, in using the word
'when, mean to imply that the present
directors would re lease tie road; for be
was remiL ded that at the end Of six years
there might be set of directors who
might NOT be inclined to Go the best they
could for the State
The Governor hesitated moment, and
said use ''whep," and his attention was
again called to the possible misiuterpreta-
ton that might be put upon such word
at such a place The word ''if' being
suggested, The Governor said eyes, say
if they lease, " &c
This seemingly trifiiug snatch from
the conversation is introduced above for
fear that there might be some w1O would
think thar the Governor was At the
moment possessed Of knowledge hat
the direct ors Lad ctermired to make
the release, a0d, therefore, rs a sequence
of such knowledge used the word
'when, "but such seemed not the case; for
having promptly grasped the distinction,
his Excellencg said, Yes, say if they
lease, &c - which, Of course, will put
aside any idea that there has been any
thing determined upon
The Governor had reached the enter
ance of his parsiop, when the reporter
asked him if the Directors would meet
again in two weeks
Il don't know that they will ever meet
again" he replied az he passed on up
the steps.