The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-26
WILMINGTON AND WELDON r.. r.
The Parent Road OF the Atlantic
Coast Lane System-Some Facts OF
It's History, and Personal Accounts
Of Its Officers Of Former Days.

The beginning Of a large institution
is always q matter Of peculiar interest.
Thhs should particularly be the case
with reference to the Wilmington and
| Weldon railroad. the parent road Of the
Atlantic Coast Line system.
The road was chartered in 1888 as the
| Wilmington and Raleigh rail Dad. AS
the name Indicated, the object was TO
connect h capital city with the chief
eapor Of the state; but it was finally
decided 10 build the road from the
Roanoke river to Wilmington. Halifax
land a little later. Weldon) was chosen
as the northern terminus. on account OF
d connection with the Petersbu. rail-
road to the northward. The name was
later changed TO the Wilmington and
| Weldon railroad.
The Was organized in
March. 1896, and the work CT construc-
ton begun in october Of the same year.
Just before the great panic OF 1891.
which resulted from he feveTi5h ex-
eiteqneTt OF speculation with the notes
and funds Of the Wildcat" banks.
Notwithstanding the b0eineS5 depres-
sion. the work Of constructing the road
continued until the completion OF In
loS IIlEeS In March,. lo4V. Inc occasion
was celebrated in Wilmington by a
grand jubilee and public demonstration.
A leading incident of the occasion was
the minglinS of the waters Of the Roam
X and Cape Fear rivers.
The cost Of the road was $780, 900.
$500 900 was subscribed by the state.
n a large part Of the remaining STICK
was taken by the citizens OF Winning
ton. In fact. it is asserted that the
town Of Wilmington actually subscr4b-
ed more than he value of its taxable
real estate. There were several la. ge
Individual subscriptions. Governor Ed
ward B. Dudley took SO. 900 in stock,
and was elected the first president.
Governor Dudley was a wealthy
planter OF Onslow county. He NOV
to Wilmington. and lived in the house
which has lately been remodeled and is
now occupied by Mr.. James Sprunt. He
was a man of large influence and high
standing in his day, which is attested
by the tact that he was the first gov
ernor of b state elected by popular
vote under the new state constitution
OF 1885.
BY an act of the legislature of 1910.
the state endorsed the bonds OF the
ompany to the amount of $500 900: and
afterwards paid a large part of that
amount.
General James Owen, Il prominent
military and pubic man of this Sec
ton. succeeded Governor Dudley in the
office of President. He was a cou9tiy
old gentleman, who had been q men,
Der Of the State legislature and also of
Congress; but the presidency of the
I Wilmington and Weldon IA ltCad w IS
an honor second to no ether station
held by him.
| General Walter ~Gwynn was chosen
superintendent. but was, within a shot
time, succeeded by General
MacRae, who inaugurated his off III
connection with the cad by wa .king
from Wilmington to Weldon. This was
TO familiarize himself with the physical
| teatures and needs of the roadway, and
wigs an indication of the ~thorougIn IS
which marked his long term of service
as superintendent. and later. also. as
| president.
Mr.. Stephen D. Wallace, who was in
later years, cashier of the Bank OF
| New Hanover. and always a much re-
spected citizen of Wilmington, was
bookkeeper, which corresponds 20 tn
modern office OF auditor. Nj. Robert
Fenner was freight agent, and person
ally visited the merchants and patrons
of thu road to collect the FIRE ght bills
due the company. He afterwards re-
moved to New Orleans.
The secretary and treasurer of the
was Mr.. James S. Green, a
methodicaa and tfforough-going official.
He was the owner of the we'll Known
Green's Cottage or the corner of
Sixteenth and Market streets. In It's
early days, the road was not very pres
porous; and Mr.. Green had a. system of
registering bills rendered aga nst the
company, SO that. as the money came in
hand for the payment .of bills, each
wouSd be met in the order Of regiStra-
t1on. Old Man Jinrmi Green" Is well
remembered in many interesting Incl
tents by the older citizens of Whining
ION avid 4T-xrnx c nc n ~ rrCrh Irf
Gus gentleman.
General MacRae was a p~ainstaking
and eminently capable official. 1t
would be hard to estimate how mu IN
Of he latter prosperity OF the road has
been due to his assiduous in lay
ing the foundation for It.
He was succeeded in the presidency
by Mr.. William S. Ashe. a former men,
Der OF Congress. He was the soul of
courtesy. and his administration was
marked not only by efficient service.
but also by many acts of Kindness,
which even yet remain in grateful re-
membrance as tributes to his memory
He lived at Asheboro. Il station ON the
road, and came to the city on the tran
to attend to his duties. One day the
train, through some misunderstanding,
passed his station without stopping.
He had made an appointment for that
day: and, being always careful OF lis
obligations, he determined ito make the
| trip on a hand car propelled by sac
ton men A train came upon them
I unexpectedly. and he ordered the men
to Jump for their lives This they did;
but he could not do 50. On account CT
| an attack Of laIneneSS. He met q fear
| full death, which threw a pail Of sorrow
over the community and the, entire Sec
! ton traversed by the road. He was
a popular official. and a nal whose
friends were without umb
Another official closely associated
with the ante-bellum days of the o
| was Colonel S. L Fremont, who not
only filled the office of superintendent
for some years before the war, but
| also during the var and for some time
afterwards. He was an overbearing,
| punctfious man. erect m bearing. and
| generally distant in manner. He vas
| often a terror to the men h m,
but was. withal. a most thorough and
capable official. He could not fail to
clash with the gentler Ashe and with