The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-11
J, JAS. BYYAN'S POSITION
Ale Is QUOTED AS BEING OP-
POSED TO
DIVIDENDS UNTIL ROAD IS EQUIPPED
The Horrible Accident Saturday Night. Some
Additional Particulars. Shall the Rail-
road or the Cattle be Fenced?

Editorial Correspondence To pay a
dividend ON the Atlantic and North Car
DINA Railroad and make the stock
holders happy with ready cash, or
to use the money in buying new cars
and new engines ana putting the road
i'm better condtion-that is the question
that is agitating the people now i'll this
section of the State.
Most of the stockholders want a diyi-
dend and say that the road can be
made better without stopping the divl-
dend; others say that if the dividend
lis continued it is taken out of needed
equipment and betterment and that it is
not an earned but "a political diyi-
dend.''
1t is stated here that Mr.. ID. w. Pat
rick president of the road, recently yiSi-
ted the Governor. told him that the
road was sadly in need of more cars
and engines and insisted that instead
of paying a dividend the money should
be used for equipment. But. it is fur
Their said. the Governor declined to
permit the passing of a dividend. argu-
ing that as one was paid during the
administrations of Fowle. Holt and
Carr. it would be used against the Re
publican party if it used the money to
buy engines and cars instead OF paying
it TO stockholders. The Governor is
understood to have said 1T is only a
few months NOW before we will he out.
Let the Democrats take the money if
they want to, but let us not permit
them to cry out that as long as the
Democrats We're in power dividend
was paid regularly, but now that Re
publicanS are i'm they sqlrandered the
money That belonged to the stockhold-
ers." Whether the Governor is correct
~ quoted or not, it is certain that he
was ayerse to using the money to buy
more cars and engines. And so IL divi-
deId of one per cent is to he paid to
the stockholders. Next year will wit
less a struggle as to whether there
shall be dividends or no dividends. And
it will be Il tussle.
1t is generally believed that Senator
James A. Bryan, who goes in as presi-
deEt in September is against paying
dividends until all the necessary work
has been done and the necessary equip
merit secured The NewEern Journal Il
purporting to outline Mr. Bryan's views.
1t said:
/. That he is opposed to paying divi-
dends until the road was in fine condi-
ton and had purchased sufficient modern
rolling stock.
2. That he is in favor or building a
branch line from La Grange to Snow
HILL
B. That he is in favor of building a
branch line out to Trenton and to the
rich Riohlands section of Onslow couIl-
ty.
4. That he hopes to extend both of
these branch lines, one to Farmville and
the other into the timber sections of
Onslow.
had a talk with Mr.. Bryan last
night, called his attention to the Jour
nails article and asked him if the article
was authorized or correctly outlined his
policy. He said: Il do not go i'm as
president of the road until September.
Until then | will not formulate any poll
cies or plans. and will therefore have
nothing to say about the best methods;
to pursue
Mr.. Bryan has great faith in the road
and believes that if wisely managed it
will within a few years become a valua-
bic and paying piece of railroad proper
ty, a developer of every interest through
which the road runs. He will strive
to bring about such conditions as will
put the road in first class position so
that it will earn and pay dividends to
stockholders.
am not taking any 'rllthers'' in
the matter Of dividend or no dividend
That is a matter that the Stockholders
will be heard about first. One thing Is
certain: the roads needs better engines
and more engines: better cars and more
cars; and in some places needs heavier
iron. | am told that during the truck
season, the road did not have enough
rolling stock to do the business. and
that it now needs an engine. These ought
to be procured and placed on the road
at once SO the managers can make bust
ness by having tire facilities for doing it
If after doing those things and doing
them with due economy, Il dividend can
be earned, no effort should be lcst to
pay the Stockholders dividend. But
il as is commended the dividends are
taken out Of money sorely needed for
equipment. the stockholders viii not
want such a dividend. 1t is never wise
to skin too closely. But. as I said.
this is matter about which / do not
have enough accurate knowledge to ex-
press an opinion that is entitled to
weight.
The horrible accident on the railroad
on Saturday night by which two PEI
sons lost their lives east "a gloom over
the whole community. The rain was
falling in sheets as the engineer started
TO take his train UP to the "Y'' to turn
II, as is his habit every night so as 10
nave everything ready for an early start
the next morning. On the train was
engineer. fireman, porter, Jim Miller.
the hotel bell hoy. and a truck farmer
by the name of Mr.. Harry Mansfield.
VINO lived about four or five miles from
Morebead. He was riding on tho train
toward his home, and intended then tn
walk the balance of the way. II was