The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-06
A. c. L. IN THE SADDLE.
1t Begins Operating the Onslow Railroad
The R0ad-Its Possibllisies-0enera1
Manager ". A. Whiting.

100 0O0O-xt0
Manager N. a. Whiting.
The Wilmington and New Bern rail-
o company began yesterday the ac-
tive operation Of the road from here to
New Bern. 1t will be operated here
after as a division of the Atlantic Coast
Line system. The road having to be
sold, its purchase by the Atlantic Coast
Lin people, with the intention of oper-
ating it in connection with their sys-
tenn, has been favorably received by
the public. AS an isolated property, it
was necessarily handled at a disad-
vantage; but, with the enlarged facil-
tiles which it's operation as part Of a
large system assures it, there is every
reason to believe the country it ira
verses, and there is none better in
eastern Carolina, will be rapidly de-
veloped, and it's farm, truck, fish, tim
Der, and other agricultural and indus
trial interests De greatly increased.
ALWAYS A FAvORITE.
to Onslow county, and thence north
ward, was always a favorite with the
Wilmington people. 1t was advocated
for many years before it's
ton, and many schemes had been laid
to build it, which never succeeded.
ITS HISTORY.
In 1885 the Wilmington, Onslow and
East Carolina railway was chartered.
Il Wilmington voted a S1hSnrintinn of
500, 900 to its copital stock. Topsail
township, in Pender county SO, 900;
Onslow county $50, 600, which was sub
sequently reduced by compromise to
so, 900. The East Carolina Land and
Railway Company was chartered to
construct a road from Jacksonville to
New Bern, and was designed as a con-
tinuance Of the Wilmington, Onslow
and East Carolina. To this New Bern
voted $50, 900. These subscriptions fell
very far short, of course, of the amount
necessary to build the SS miles of rail-
road.~ The efforts of the local pro-
jectors proved Of no avail, until, in 1889,
Mr.. Thomas A. Mcintyre, of New York,
a capitalist and prominent financier of
the metropolitan city, acquired control
Of the projected schemes. He COM
menced the construction Of the Will
mington, Onslow and East Carolina
railroad in the summer of 1889. 1t was
finished to Jacksonville in the fall Of
1890 and it's regular operation was beg
gun very early in 1891. Subsequently,
in July 1893, the E.. c.. Lane and Rail-
way was completed from Jacksonville
to New Bern. In the summer of 1894,
the two roads were consolidated and
thereafter operated under the name of
the Wilmington, New Bern and Nor
folk railroad, until yesterday when it
passed into the control of the Atlantic
Coats Line to be operated as the Will
mington and New Bern railroad.
GENERAL MANAGER WHITING.
The road was located and built by
Mr.. H. A. Whiting, who since it's con-
struction has operated it as vice pres
ident and general manager. When the
| road passed into the hands of a receiv-
er he was appointed to that position by
the consent of all parties-the
bondholders as we'll as the owners of
the road-a high compliment to the
fidelity and competency of his manage
ment. The foreclosure was the result
of conditions, which rendered it i'm
possible to pay interest on the large
bonded Indebtedness, while operating
the roa apart from any general and
large system, and in no wise to the
want to efficiency in the management.
Mr.. Whiting came to Wilmington in
April 1883, having entire charge of this
and Mr.. McIntyre's other large inter-
ests in eastern North Carolina. Orig
inally from New York and a mining en-
gineer by profession, Mr.. Whiting had
spent the most of his professional life
established a high reputation for bus
mess and engineering abilities. A man
of unblemished character and of signal
ability, business application, energy
and a%lertness, his supervision of the
construction and operation of this road
have evidenced trained organizing and
administrative capacities and adapta-
bility for practical and executive work.
It is high prise, which he we'll deserves,
when the present purchasers of the
road, themselves practical railroad
men, speak as they do in flattering
terms of the location, construction,
condition and organization of the rail-
road.
Mr.. Whiting has been active and en-
terprising in aiding in all public in
t~erests, since he has been here, and
pleasantly identified himself, both in
business and social life with our people,
and, if the passing of the DAD to other
hands, were to lead to his removal else
where, there would be many sincere re-
grets, at his departure, and many good