Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-06
DECIDED SENSATION
mn ,rrp ny GOVERNOR RUSSELL.
or NORTH CAROLINA.
SENDS A SPECIAL MESSAGE.
,.oording the scaboard Air-rinc.s
proposition TO Lease the y. c. Rail-
,,,,-Hofrman's Chnrges-RepIy Of
PRESIDENT Alexander Thereto.

rTEIGH. n. c.. February 5.-(spe-
r.n Governor Russell to-day created a
5...aI eensa,ion by sending a special
message to the Legislature. including the
corr .rordonce between President Hoff-
,,.r or the Seaboard Airline. and him
.f and Honman's proposition to pay
$4,000 annual rental for the North Caro-
LID. llway for twenty years. President
l..rnan. in one OF his letters. says he
r. Dol, been allowed 10 participate upon
.r c4aal footing with the Southern road
.. uniting bid for the road, although
l...I desired TO submit such a bid here
.r He SAYS that II the Seaboard
AIRLINE secured the North Carolina rail-
,r there would be hesitarcy in agreeing
t. handle the Southern trains over such
s OF the line as was desired upon
mtut Of trackage charges not in ex-
OF those paid by the Southern to the
rt.c-Coast Line Cor similar accom-
mo ton. He further says the operation
M North Carolina railway by the
aard AIRLINE would have salutary
,.t uron the commerce OF the section
GIL. rold traverses. and that the road
,or6 prove a valuable adjunct TO The
t..rs1ri AIRLINE. and afford the people
. N1rth Carolina essential competition.
GOVERNOR RUSSELL COMMENTS.
Governor Russell says that the asser-
zion Of President Hoffman that the COM
r.rie. he represents were not allowed
t. participate with competing lines in
submitting a bid for the North Carolina
Hway. and that this fact was known
f1 the president and directors Of the
latter before the ninety-nine-year lease
f, the Southern was consummated. Is
startling If it be true. then, the trans
ection is not only void i'm equity, but
fraudulent in law and morals; and, II
the allegation Is sustained by proofs, the
courts will nullify this lease. on the
Ground OF palpable and fragrant fraud,
Ue then SAYS the lease will give the
state a net gain Of 10000 annually over
Inc lease TO the Southern. and that there
Is good reason TO believe that the Sea-
board would also pay organization ex-
gtnses and all taxes.
URGES PASSING THE BILL.
He urges that the bill to annul the
lease TO the Southern be passed, just as
" stands now. He says that the South
EN- railway cannOt complain; that IL did
not lease from the state, but from the
North Carolina Railway Company; that,
as a foreign corporation. il was per-
mitted TO take the lease. by virtue OF an
rnwritten law. which said; you are au-
thOrized by the laws Of Virginia to take
This lease, and not by he laws Of North
Carolina. This state admits you here as
"a matter Of hospitality and comfy. The
hospitality and comfy she will withdraw
1t pleasure
The Governor also says the Seaboard
IAN be made to purchase or lease the At
antic and North Carolina railway, on
l.rms very satisfactory 10 the State.
PRESIDENT ALEXANDER'S REPLY.
President S. r. Alexander Of the
North Carolina railway Will publish
letter tomorrow, saying: president
Hoffman. in his letter to Governor Rus
sen. SAYS he was I'm consultation with
lre and other directors before the ninety
ninth year lease was cOnsummated TO
the Southern. This proves he had
chance 10 bid on the lease AS presi-
dent. asked him If he would not make
bid on the road, and he replied: NO.
j cannot now, they would run the road
down on me. President Honmans Sc
cond letter TO the Governor is mislead-
in- and not warranted by the facts.
] ana astonished that he could nave
made such a statement" Director w.
~. Maxwell says he was present when
Alexander asked Hoffman to bid, and
that. although this meeting was held at
HoHman's request, the latter made no
proposition TO lease.