The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-31

w. B. Guthrie and others got through
with Mr.. Busbee, he felt like making
this report: 81 came, saw, I was knock
ed into smithereens. The next time
Alexander B. wants an orator to buck
against the Durhamites, hope he will
send Charles Price, Bob King or George
F. Bason. I know when l have got
enough"
Maj Guthrie asked Mr.. Busbee how
much longer the people would have to
stand in the rain at the Southern depot
before getting some accommodation.
Here is Mr.. Busbee's answer: Just as
soon as the suit is settled SOMETHING
will be done" But Mr. w. B. Guthrie
pinned him down and asked: do you
have any idea when the trouble in the
courts will end?" And Mr.. Busbee made
this remarkable reply: Just as soon as
the town gets off the street." Men and
brethren, think of modern railroad i'm
pudence! The railroad spokesman says
litigation will last until the town Of
Durham gives up its own property, and
the Southern will not pay one-third of
the cost Of a Union depot until Durham
gives the Southern Railway deed to its
principal street! But Mr.. Busbee was
on the stand and he had to answer some
more questions. Mr.. ]. Crawford Biggs
oClxa d of
ton: "Should the town win the suit will
the Southern build a depot?" That was
what the hunters call "gut-shot' ques-
ton, and it tloored Mr.. Busbee. He an
swered: 81 have no promises to make"
Then Mr.. Frank Fuller took a whack at
the minister plenipotentiary and asked:
Would the Southern agree with the city
of Durham and the Seaboard to let the
Corporation Commission settle the whole
and Mr.. Busbee replied: Let the courts
settle the matter" Judge Winston then
SHE'D his castor into the ring. THE Sea-
board" he said, has offered to pay it's
portion of the cost of the Union depot.
1t is said they are bluffing. If you be-
lieve it, do you advise the Southern to
call their bluff and see?" but Mr.. Bus
bee made no answer. We quote this ex-
tract from the Hcralds full report:
MIR. F. l.. Fuller made a short talk
in which he supplemented the report of
the committee and said that the commit
tee made the proposition to Colonel An
drews that a quit claim would be given
by the city for enough of Peabody street
on which to build a depot and put in
tracks and then the Southern would lose
nothing even should it lose the street.
Mr.. Busbee did not remember the propo-
Stion in that way and asked that such
proposition be made in writing. 1t was
on this account the Chamber appointed
Mr., Fuller to get the matter before the
aldermen ant, see what the Southern in
tended doing after this is made" -
Here is the situation as it now stands:
Durham offers to give quit claim to
enough land on Peabody street, on which
to build depot and put in tracks, and
the Chamber of Commerce appeals to the
Corporation Commission for relief. The
Corporation Commission is vested with
plenty of power. If the Durham Chamber
the Commission will, without the least
doubt, order the three railroads to build
a modern union depot in Durham. Here
is the power: Section Of the "Act to
Establish the North Carolina Corporation
Commission" enumerates the things it
is thereby empowered and directed" to
do. and these sub sections cover the
present case:
"02) To require, where the public
necessity demands and it is demon
strated that the revenue received will be
sufficient to justify it, the establishment
of stations by any company or corpora
ton engaged in the transportation of
freight and passengers in this State. and
to require the erection of depot accom-
modations commensurate with such bust
ness and revenue.
"Q3) To require a change of any sta
ton or repairs, addition to or change of
any station house by any rhilHoad or
other transportation company in order to
promote the security, convenience and
accommodation of the public. -"
Under these provisions, all that the
Durham people have to do in order to
secure an order that will give them a
depot is to demonstrate "that the reve-
nues received will be sufficient to justify
it," If they present figures showing the
volume of Durham's freight and passen-
ger business, that will be argument
enough.
Here is what prominent citizen Of