The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1900-11-23

lnents in your last issue on the various
actions of the Board of Commissioners
in regard to to the extension OF the
water works system to reflect the
opinion and f cling of the ma ority OF
that body in the matter; is stat sment,
that then. and Tor the first time, there
was division of the Board, entities
the minority to an explanation OF their
stand in opposition to the majority,
1t certainly was not the fear OF pub
lie censure that Influenced the N, as at
the time the first positive action was
taken on it, few if any of the citizens
of the town were cognizant OF what it
was proposed to do.
Some months ago, when it was seen
that the water system as originally
planned would not nearly exhaust the
fund for that purpose, certain extern
sons were proposed and some OF them,
including the sewerage, have been in
stalled. It was at that time that the
matter now under discussion was
brought up. The laying of water
main through some 400 feet OF unlm
proved land was not, at that time, Sc
rously considered by any one of the
Board, unless in return the town
should receive an equivalent. This
it was proposed to furnish by the gift
to the town of certain land to be used
for school lots and park. But con-
ditional deed to this property was all
that was offered, and this gift with
string attached to it, was never salts
factory to the minority and for long
time was unsatisfactory to at least two
of the majority.
Now in regard to the securing of
the contract to supply water for the
S. A. L. Ry. This phase of the ques-
ton was never mentioned or discussed
during meeting of the Board, nor
could it with propriety have been. 1t
was, however, lightly touched upon
previous to the meeting at which the
engineer was instructed to order the
pipe, and at which the division above
referred to occurred and some whatmore
thereafter. But as to the truth of the
statement that if the pipe were laid,
the town would secure the contract,
and if not would fail to do so, nothing
was offered that could be dignified
with the name Of Proof.
While Mayor Gladmon's statistics
on this matter are not entirely correct,
as he does not allow for the expense
entailed in the performance Of the con-
tract, there can be no doubt that it
would leave a margin of PR fit, and,
if it were matter of knowledge that
or failure in securing the
same, were absolutely dependent up
on the installation Of a pipe line on
Iowa Ave, there would probably have
been no opposition t. the project SO far
as the minority of the Board was con-
cerned.
In the absence of absolute proof to
the contrary, the inference is but ma
tural that the S. A. L. Ry. conducts
it's bushes upon Sc mewhat similar
ines as other large corporations
or the greatest benefits that can accrue
% it's stock holders, and not to exp oft
he schemes of it's sfficers or employees.
in the least deprecating the
influence of those who would benefit
W the now defunct project, rational
inc of reasoning would lead to the
conclusion that if the S. A. L. Ry.
inds it advantageous to take water at
Southern Pines, water will be taken
lere; while if can secure better terms
" greater advantages by doing SO at
ONE other point, that point will be
elected and that in these premises,
nd Notwithstanding all assertions to
he contrary, the action Of the Board
ad but one attribute-that of impo-
ence.
X
The resolution ordering the exter-
ion of water pipe on Iowa ave-, which
aor1,acf1x, 0n,OonI hv, no