davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31
THE N. G. RAILROAD.
The Directors viii Subject Themselves
to Very Unenviable Criticism if They
Make a Bad Trade Far in Advence.
7ouGApv II! IuH 9pBIL pBa 0YgIv

ANAN ACAANNNCAo W III AouDiEtl i tfuiHtAkRS
to Very Unenviable Criticism if They
Make a Bad Trade Far in Advence.
'79uGApV II! IpH opBIL pBa e 04gIV
'It is not u small thing to ask the State
now to surrender this coign Of vantage
for a century when six years Of the orig
inal lease are still unexpired, and wheE
it is so uncertain whether or not it will
be desirable in 1901 to execute a con-
tract which may seem very tempting in
1896. Everything now points to tho
consolidation OF the ownership and con-
troll Of the railroad lines Of the South in
The hands Of q New York syndicate that
IS the representative OF the Rothschilds
in America. This consolidation. which
is going forward every day, may prove
a blessing to the South, but there is an
instructive dread among the people Of
such a powerful and overshadowing mo-
iopoly, a dread for which history fur.
FISHES abundant warrant. The time may
;ome when it win be Of the greatest
Importance to North Carolina TO owl
and operate her own line Of railroad
from the mountains to the sea, the line
FOR which some Of her most patriotic sons
struggled to build. The Southern Rail
way has it in its power to do the State
immense service, and under its present
management is doing a great work FOR
The country penetrated by its lines We
want to see the good work go on and we
would regret to see any obstacle need
,essly thrown in the way Of the South
ern's advancement. But the proposition
70 tie up the States road from 1901 to
the year 2000. away back here in 1895
md upon a basis of rental settled upon
in 1874, when the States population was
not more than half what it is now. and
its manufacturing industries not tenth
Of their present volume, does not look
like good business for the people Of tn
State If our present industrial growth
continues the towns along the North Car
dina road from Charlotte to Goldsboro
will, by 1901, yield twice as mucl,
freightage for the road ms they do now
North Carolina has a reputation for con
seryatism. If she is to maintain it. she
will wait few years before she parts
with the control Of this line The South
ern can afford to pay more for this road
than any other system. II it makes the
State the best offer in 1900 or 1901. i
will doubtless get the lease. If it don't
make the best offer, it oughtnt to have
it. The road is leased for six years We,
and there is very little danger that it will
go begging when the time comes for !,
rev deal. The directors can't be blamed
If they wait and watch a while. TheN
will subject themselves to very unenvia-
Tile criticism If they make a bad trade
so FAR i'll advance OF the time
,
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31
"A INDUSTRIOUS TRANSACTION.

ssNsnety-nine years is the term of the
new lease of the North Carolina railroad.
1t is the most monstrouSly unfair trans
action to the State that this generation
has witnessed. Ii would have been bad
enough to have leased the road for thirty
years at this ridiculously low figure, but
il is crime for which there is no excuse
or pallation TO have leased it for three
generations at only one per cent more
than was paid for it twenty-five years
ago.
1.-THE Southern and another road leases
the Western and Atlantic Railroad, from
Atlanta TO Chattanooga, from the State
of Georgia for $4,000 per month, or
SI20.o00 per year. 1t is 131 miles in
length. The Legislature OF Georgia
passed an act authorizing this lease, and
the lease was drawn up in accordance
with the act of the Legislature.
.sThe Georgia railroad, III miles with
branches making in all 800 miles. il
leased for 100000 per year. This road
IL leased by the stockholders.
1.-THE Southern road pays rental OF
ST. 100 per mile per year for the Airline
from Charlotte TO Atlanta.
'sThe North Carolina railroad is 223
miles long, and at seven per cent the
lease will bring that State $2S0,000, or a
trifie over S1.255 per mile or $500 mile
less than is paid for the Charlotte and
Atlanta Airline, which is part Of the
same system as the North Carolina road. "
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31

in the way OF protest and criticism Our
spac eforbids many extracts from these,
but we append few:
LET THE PEOPLE DETERMINE IT.
On August End, the following editorial
was copied from the North Carolina Bap-
fist:
THE State road from Goldsboro 10
Charlotte should not be leased yet
while there is yet six years to expire
on the old lease, and circumstances then
may be entirely different from those ex-
listing at present Besides the Seaboard
Air Line, and probably the Atlantic
Coast Line may want finger in the pie.
Let the directors wait for Legislature.
fresh from the people, for advice, as the
matter is one of supreme Importance to
the State"
The issue OF August 2nd, contained the
following:
ORIGINAL LEASE or n. c. r. r.
A Trace of History That is News to The
Younger Generation.
1.-THE Chatham Record, which thinks a
new lease of the N. c. r. r.. at this time
premature and imprudent, contains the
following piece of history in this weeks
issue:
"A few facts in regard to the old lease
may be of interest to the younger gener-
alton, which has grown up since it was
made, for there was much criticism Of it
at the time it was made. Indeed it was
such a surprise to the public and some
Of The circumstances connected with II
were SO secret and suspicious that a leg
islative investigation of the whole mat
ter was made. The States directors
were all Republicans appointed by Gov
HOlden), Of whom Col. w. +. Hender-
s0n,Of Lexington, is the sole survivor,
and Hon. William A Smith, known as
BLOW Your Horn BilP) was the presi-
dent Of the company. The Legislature
(Which was DemOcratic), at it's first SEES
sion after the lease was made appointed
committee of three Senators and FIVE
Representatives to investigate fully nto
all matters connected with the lease and
especially whether or not amy money OF
other consideration had been paid, or
agreed to be paid to any person for the
purpose Of procuring the lease
This committee made an investigation
and reported fully at the session Of 1871
70, the report being signed by Senators
Iohn w. Graham, ]. NJ. Worth and ]. A
Gilmer, and by Representative E. p.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31
History of oo-Year Lease.
CONTINUED from second page.

U5Ontllupu pdE0+ J
ma iority of the stock in the road belongs
to the State, and the taxpayers, who
built the road, had right to be permitted
to PASS upon the question before any ac-
ton was taken,
Thirty years ago, when the business
Of the road was very small, a lease was
effected which paid only bagatelle
more than the interest on the bonds Is
sued for the construction of the road.
Now, when the population and the busi-
ness has greatly increased, and the traffic
ss worth many times as much as then,
the directors have hastily rushed lease
that cannot be too strongly condemned.
The action was 81 blunder that amounts
to a crime.
"The lease is for too long a term OF
wears: the price paid is rfdieulously small;
and the hasty and precipitate action is
not warranted by any existing condition.
~ transaction of such Importance
~ugat not TO be consummated by Board
of Directors whose terms will expire be-
fore the new lease can go into effect
While they may thus be able to mort
gage the future and bind the State in
law. II was transcending the equitable
management of the trust committed to
their keeping. II any reason exists for
action prior to the expiration Of the lease,
three sessions of the Legislature viii
intervene before the lease expires. The
Directors are mere creatures TO do the
bidding Of the people; the legislators are
their direct representatives. For the Di-
rectors to hastily and and unnecessarily
project their official action long after the
expiration of the term for which they
were appointed, is TO take unto them
selves a power never intended to be dele
gated.
"The Legislature would deserve crih-
cism if it should do wrong, but in 1t re-
sides the highest power of the State.
''No directorate has any equitable
right to injure the State, without legisla-
tive sanction, for a period of ninety-nine
years"
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31
PRESIDENT HOFFMAN

The following appeared in our local
August 4th:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31
GFcorn rens and Observer fAnr. . 49,

Withers. This report is too long to copy
here. but it shows that the lease had been
made without any advertisement or pub
lie notice and indeed no notice had been
given to the directors OF the particular
object of the meeting (September 18th,
1871 which had been called for the pur-
pose Of making the lease. The whole
matter appears to have been arranged by
President Smith, and the directors mere
" ratified his action. And now comes the
very suspicious part of the proceedings.
for the committees report states that all
the witnesses examined deny any knowl-
edge of any consideration paid or under
stood or agreed to be paid, except Mai.
Smith who states that he could not an.
swer as it might lead to questions crimi-
mating himself. In this we believe lies
the true secret Of the lease The com
nnttee's report sets forth in full the ques-
ton propounded President Smith, which
is in the following words:
DO you know OF any sum of money or
any other consideration whatever hav-
ing been paid or promised to be paid to
any person in this State or out of it for
the purpose of procuring the lease of the
North Carolina Railroad or in any way
connected with the lease?
This question Maj Smith declined to
answer because, as he alleged, the an
swcr might crimnate him or lead to in
formation that would eliminate him.
The committee, commenting on this re-
fusal TO answer, very properly reported as
follows: When a public servant cannot
answer all questions touching has CON
nection with any transaction affecting
the interest committed to his charge, it
is not unfair to conclude that his own
interests, rather than the States and
Company's, have been taken care Of.
No further attempt was made to force
Maj. Smith to answer, because the com
mittee reported that the Legislature can
not rightfully compel disclosure
"All this may now be termed ancient
history, but it is one of the many Incl
dents, happening during the days of Re
publican misrule in North Carolina, that
should warn our people from again en-
trusting our State government to the con-
troll of that party or its alhesP'
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31
THE STATE MIGHT RUN TT.

On the same day the FOLLOWING appeared
from the I<inston Free Press
"'The Southern Railway is anxious to
renew its lease of the North Carolina
Railroad, which runs from Charlotte to
Goldsboro. The present lease has still
six years to run. They wish a new lease
now for ninety-nine years. 1t is entirely
too soon to even think OF renewing the
Iease. Wait until the present lease is
nearly expired. Perhaps much better
terms could be secured. if it is desira BILE
TO again lease the road. 1t might be wise
for the State to operate the road itself
which would give line road from Char
lotte to Morehead City, under the man
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31
THE RAILROAD LEASE.


rentOn Record
THE RAILROAD LEASE.
1T strikes us as a very high-handetI
game, that the Southern Railroad should
attempt TO rent the North Carolina Rail-
road six years before the present lease.
expires. Our opinion is that the authori-
ties of the North Carolina Railroad
will do an exceedingly unwise thing il
they rent this road to anyone before the
expiration Of the present lease.
Suppose some company other than the
Southern. should rent it now, it would b.
perfectly natural, in keeping with hu.
man nature, that the Southern should
get all out of ii possible between now and
then, and do just as little as possible t.
keep up the road
If any other company should lease il
now, they could not get possession of ii
till the present lease expires. The only
proper way to manage this thing is to
commit in no way whatever the lease of
the road and when the present lease ex-
plres. let every one come in for bid. and
give it to the best company with the best
bid.
"This property belongs to the State Of
North Carolina, and it is right and proper
that the public should be heard through
the press about its management"
In the same ISSUE the following editor
ial from the Statesyille Landmark was
copied:
THE N. c. RAILROAD LEASE.
THE State has developed immensely in
these twenty-four years, and this prop
erty ought to have advanced, and has
advanced, in value in the same ratio.
But whether it has or not, ii would be
unseemly to renew now a lease which
does not expire until 1901. There is no
telling what conditions may present
themselves within these six years. Ii il.
said. however that it would be unfair TO
withhold to the last moment an answer
TO the Southern Railway--that III should
have time, in the event Of a failure to
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31
THE STATE GETSLESS
WITH THE STOCK AT 40, THE
STATE WOULD GET ONLY
4.86 PER CENT EVEN
UNDER A5o YEARS
LEASE.

UNDER rHE olo, n GOES OVER SIX
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31

etglnies) would realize to the State only
6 per cent. or LA per cent less than If
the stock sold at 40 ON a lease even OF
so years. SO that Mr.. Alexander might
make his figures over again.
''But figures or no figures, the public
would like to be taken into the confidence
Of the directors just now as to their prop
erty, and in the failure TO be convinced
that the State is not getting all that
should reasonably be expected from this
rich proft-bearing and growing road, it
may be IN order for those who have been
so unnecessarily ignored to invoke the aid
Of the law, with the hope that the pre-
sent court may see the matter as did
Judge Bynum in his above-Quoted dis
senting opinion"
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31

In our issue of August 18th, the follow.
ing editorial was copied from the War
rentOn Record.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31

voluntary Sdhe, KSdSe UT uadLShSS any
more than it can bank insure or deal in
stocks.
q
Public law 80 well settled and recog-
nized at home and abroad should not be
overthrown by the mere construction OF
words Of a charter OF ambiguous and
doubtful meaning; but on the contrary,
should control their construction accord
ing to every rule OF Interpretation.
1.-The rapid multiplication OF these
bodies, their resources and far reaching
ambition, their ubiquity and vast com
binat1ons, all moved and directed by
concentra ted power and talent constitute
them distinct and almost independent
and oyerShadowing power in our govern
NETS, and in fact the great social and poll
teal problem of the age, whether they
shall control governments, or govern
ments shall control them, are questions
that are forcing themselves upon public
attention, and fast assuming practical
Importance. They should and will be
maintained in the exercise Of all their es
sential and legitimate powers, as neces-
sary and useful institutions Of modern
civilization But If ia addition to the
dangerous power Of transferring all their
property and franchises TO ANY body and
anywhere, it should also be held that
their corporate powers are such contracts
as put them beyond the reach of all leg
islative check or control in the interest of
society, then the problem viii have been
solved. The government, i'm my opinion
win have addicted its sovereignty. here
tofore supposed TO be inafenable, and
society will be left without protection TO
chartered irresponsibility.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-31

In our issue Of August 18th, the follow
ing editorial from the Morganton Her
aid was copied:
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25

George P. Keeny, national organ izer of the silver party, prophecies war between America and com bination of foreign nations in the near future. MT. Keeny has made a thorough study of the question and regards preparation for war by the United States as an imperative necessity We will give the view of the Washington Times on the subject in full in our next issue.
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25

Suit has been instituted by a British syndicate against w. c. Bashford and Daniel E. Heating, of Prescott, for 50,0OO$ damages. The syndicate claims that Bash ford and Heating salted the Jersey Lily mine and causing their expert to make an exaggerated report on which they paid 25,000s. Aside from the 25,0O0s paid on the prop erty they expended 25,O00$ in de- velopment work and ascertained that they had been taken in. It is claimed by the owners that the suit is only an attempt to get possession of the mine without paying the balance due on the property.
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25

United States Attorney Ellin- wood, who was in Washington a few days ago on business for the White Hills Company, was inform ed that his successor will not be ap- pointed until after the holidays. MT. Ellinwood is one of the most outspoken advocates of the free coinage of silver in the west and is one of the leading lawyers of Ari- zona. No complaints regarding his retention in office is heard from the common people of Arizona. He is all right.
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25
SwaHowing Dwt.

Bob Burdette gives this simple recipe : My homeless friend with the cbromatic nose, while you are stirring up the sugar in ten cent glass of gin, le. me give you fact to wash down with 1t. You may say you have longed for years tor the free independent life of farmer, but you have never been able to buy isrm. But there Is where you are mistaken. For some years you have been drinking a good improved farm at the rate of one hundred square feet at gulp. If you doubt this statement figure 1t out your self. An acre of land contains A3 500 feet; estimating, for convenience, the land at 43 50$ an acre, you will see that it brings the land to just one mill per square foot Now pour down the fiery dose and imagine you are swallowing @ straw berry patch. Call in five of your friends and have them help you eulp down that 500 foot garden Get on a prolonged spree some day and see how long 1t would take to swallow pasture land to feed COW. Put down that glass of gin there is dirt in it--thres hundred feet of good, rich dirt, worth 43.50$ per acre"
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25

A writer in recent issue of the Los Angeles Express rehashes the story of a Cherokee Indian who had killed rival and was arrested and sentenced to be shot on Octo- Der 31st; how the Indian belonged to baseball club-one of their star players, in fact-and upon pledging his honor that he would return on the fatal day to meet his fate the authorities allowed him to play a winning season with his baseball companions and then met death like a stoic. The story is romantic and illustrates the stoical indifference of the Indian to death and tribute to his guileless hon. esty. But, we are sorry to state, the story is untrue in every detail.
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25
Proposals.

Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received by tho Board of Supervis- ors of Mohave county until January ad. 1898, at 2 o'clock p. In. of that day for the following contracts for the year 1898, from the first Tuesday in January, 1898. to the first Monday in January, 1899, to wit: for doing the county printing as follows:
 Iss. Publishing minutes of the Board of Supervisors. one insertion as required by lev.
 2d. Publishing advertisements, notices. proclamati)ns, etc time required by Board and as provided for by law
 Bids to state, price proposed to be charged per inch for each insertion.
 Ed, For printing letter heads, envelopes, receipts and blanks needed by the differ. ent county officers, and furnishing stock therefor. All such stock to be not less than sixteen poond flat cap or twenty four pound folio post Envelopes to be six and ten inch (XX) quality, and letter heads ten or twelve pound lai fiat paper. Bids to state price proposed to be charged per thousand.
 For the care of the indigent sick of the county that may be confined the county hospital including the furnishing of all nsoessaries incident to the proper care and maintenance of the patients. County to furnish lights and fuel for sick rooms.
 Bids must specify distinctly the amount proposed to be charged for each days at. spI snI including medical attendance, medicine, food, bedding snd clothing. rsa For medical and surgical treatment to inmates of the ooun:y jail; medical and surgical treatment of indigsni sick of the county at Kingmsn and attendance in the Probate Court in the examination of per. sons charged with insanity.
 Bids Co state price proposed to be charged for said service as a whole.
 For furnishing meals to prisoners oon- aned in the county jail at Kingmsn, bids 10 state price proposed to be charged per meal.
 For buryinR the indigent dead of the county at Kingman for the year 1898 and marking graves as required by law.
 For conveying persons adjudRed insane by the proper authority in Mohave county to the territorial insane asylum. Bids to state price proposed to be charged for each person conveyed.
 The successful bidders will be required to give bond in such amount as the board may require, or as fixed by law for the faithful performance of their respective contracts. Said bonds to be approved by the Board. The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids. All bids to be addressed to Clerk of the Board of Super visors and marked "hid for -" (stst- ing contract bid for).
 By order of the Board.
 A. LAFEvER,
 Clerk.
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25

To whom it may coucern:
 Notice is hereby given that the In. dependence, Goddess of Liberty and Ma. bel mining claims, situate near Union Pass, in San Francisco mining district, Mohave county, Arizona, are under lease and bond to parties working the same. snd that neither said property nor the an dersiRned owners thereof will be responsi. ble for any labor or debts contracted nor injuries sustained by any employe or em. ployer in the operation of said mining property; that all operatives engage in said service at their own risk and shat no debt is valid against said mining claims.
 B. H. SPEAR,
 O. D. NJ. GADDIS,
 J. c. DEXTER. Kingman, Arizona, Nov. 26. 1s97.
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25

The territorial board of equaliza- tion has sent out invitations to all boards of supervisors and assessors of Arizona to attend a meeting of that body to be held in Phenix on the 27th of January to devise a method of equalizing the matter of assessments. The object is good one and Mohave county should be we'll represented at the meeting.
Mohave County miner., 1897-12-25
How to Write for Papers.

The true newspaper sriter has to study and initiate the brevity of the tel. egraphic message rather than tue pro-
 lixity of the essayist. He may enlarge upon details. If necessary, to make his article complete or interesting, but his first duty is to have his language simple and plain. his wordf the most commonly used and easiest understood, and his sen tences brief and direct in their meaning
 He may not need often to he 30 empb atic in his language as Horace Greedy was in political argument, but there should be left no doubt of its meaning, unless, in. deed, the writer IS using language to conceal his thoughts like the old French diplomat. Short, sharp and to the point" should he the motto of the news. paper writer, and the nearer his writings approach that standard the nearer will he come 10 being success as writer. The advice which a certain successful orator gave 10 the young man who was desirous of also becoming a public speak CT, was applicable 10 the newspaper writer: "Be sure you have something that you want to say, say it just as you meant 1t, and when you have said it. stop at once. ."-Stockman and Feeder.