The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-08-20
END OF rHE POLITICAL MACHINE

For many years North Carolina has
been dominated by a corrupt political
machine. This machine has been dying
by inches for some time. The last
spasmodie breath was drawn at Bur
lington last Friday. The corp se is not
yet cold and it may be condemned as
a nuisance before the funeral is pulled
off, but the giant octopus will no longer
menace the welfare of our people.
IF the question were asked to day
"who is the meanest man in the
States" the mind would instantly re
vert to some one of the Directors of the
North Carolina (0 Railroad. That is
the way u people, regardless of class,
feel about it. In leasing the railroad
to the Southern Railroad Company at
this time and at such a price, the a
of directors have brought down the
virtuous wrath of an outraged and In
dignant populace.
Twenty four years ago the State
leased the North Carolina railroad,
extending from Charlotte to Gold 3boro.
a distance of 223 miles, to the Rlchm
and Danville. At that time u State
was suffering from the consequences
of the war, was poorly developed and
the road itself was in asorry condition.
That company, now known as the
Southern, has improved the road very
greatly, the old rolling-stock was
thrown away and new substituted.
The section through which the road
was built has been greatly improved
and the R & D. has built several short
feeders, which, Of course, that COM
pany and its successor should get full
credit for.
Tae North Carolina r Dad connects
several of the most important towns
and cities in the State-GoldsbOrO,
Raleigh, Durham, Burlington, Green's
boro, High Point, Salisbury and Char
lotte. 1t passes through the best agri,
cultural and manufacturing section OF
the State. 1t is worth three times as
much to day as it was when first
leased, and yet the Directors only get
81 per cent. on the original valuation
for the next six years and z per cent.
for the balance of the term Of lease-93
years. This rental is equal to about
81, 255 per mile. TIE road is the most
valuable in the Safe, is easily worth
$25. 900 per mile. Other roads, 10 bet
ter, are valued at $50, 900, $40, 900 and
even more. Hence the rent is only
equal to a little more than one twentieth
of it's lowes5 estimated value. Now
wouldn't you like to rent property at
that rates
The original lease was for thirty years.
1t is yet six years before it would have
expired. Why all this haste? It vas all
for the benefit of the Southern Railroad
Company. That Company knows the
great and constantly increasing value
of the road. They realized that the
machine" was rapidly going to decay,
and that the party likely to be in power
six ear hence will not be made up of
the same sort of material, and that the
new crowd would either make them
pay full value for the rental or take the
road back and operate it, hence all this
haste.
The State Alliance had just passed a
resolution against the probable hasty
transaction, and some of it's officials
were getting ready to bring an ~injunc-
ton to prevent the untimely lease. But
the Southern held the strings and fear
ed delay. It pulled the strings and the
supple jumping jacks did the rest. The
State loses 5000. 900 or $500, 600 a year,
doubtless more when we consider the
constant appreciation in the value of
the road. But the deed is done. The
Southern has made a fortune, the State
has lost one. The Governor and The
balance of the machine" favored the
lease, consequently the machine"
will be held responsible. 1t is dead.
That is the only consolation.
So far as we know, every one was
willing for the Southern company to
lease the road again. II leased at all
the Southern was entitled to the first
chance, and ought to have had the
benefit of any special favors. But the
lease, at this time, at the price, is the
greats s political scandal that has ever
disgraced our State.