The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-27

cut TO PROVIDE outlets FOR the HOW
OF water. It is our opinion that this
work was i~mperatiyely needed and that
it has been well done.
The new shops 1t New Bern, with
the equipment which has been INSTALL
ed enables the company to repair, re-
buiId and house its locomotives and
cars at the least possible expense.
These buildings and the shop tools, and
general equipment would seem to be
somewhat elaborate and expensive for
a property Of the class to which this
road belongs, considering it's needs and
requirements, even for the future; but
in consideration Of the character of
the work performed and the continu-
ing need OF the best tools even for
small Jobs, M the economy in repair
attained by the possession and use of
ample room and the best tools, We
can say that the expenditure OF the
funds of the company in the erection
and equipment of the new shops was
wise proper. 1t is true that the
shops and equipment are in advance
of the present apparent needs of the
road, but this superior equipment en-
ables the company to perform even
small repairs more economically than
Il would otherwise be o
Tbs condition Of the road bed has
been much improved. In inc and
v lAC IIdCh 10 Ia sCAy 5OOh ciAA
ton. A large quantity of ballast, in
ferior in quality it is true, but the
best TO be obtained upon the road.
has been distributed and some Of it
has been put underneath the track.
At other places, noticeably from New
Bern ten miles west, the ballast has
been allowed to remain between the
ties. One serious hindrance to putting
the DAD bed in permanently good
condition 10 and has haan the faPf
that a sufficient number of ties has
not been used in renewals during the
present administration. 1t is poor
policy to spend money improving sur
face conditions to the neglect of the
real foundation of all good track,
namely. sound ties and plenty of them.
1t is a fact that at this moment the
surface condition os the road Is good.
and the trains attain a speed Of forty
miles an hour with ease and apparent
safety, and without discomfort to pas
This condition has been
reached by an extraordinary amount
of labor n care, in spite of the I'M
satisfactory number and condition of
ties, and cannot be maintained with
out undue expense. The mistake Of
spending labor and none upon a su-
per%structure upheld by insufficient
foundations has been made. The ties
should first nave been renewed and
made safe and sound. and then he
later work Of bringing the line and
level of the track into proper shape
would ave been more permanent.
The idea which seems to prevail that
the road bed may be made safer and
stronger by laying heavier rails upon
cotton ties is a fallacy. The rails on
the Atlantic and North Carolina rail-
road are in good condition and of
sufficient weight for the needs of the
o for many years. The present tenn
porary good condition of the track
may be made permanent by remov
ing decayed ties and increasing the
number to the mile. During the last
four years about 105, 900 new ties lave
been put in the track (96 miles of
main line and IL miles of siding).
This averages o $50 ties per mile
per year. and would seem to indicate
an average life of more than ten years.
Even without personal examination it
would seem clear from these figures
that not enough ties have been used,
and one would expect to find many
rotten ties in the track. since ordinary
pine ties such as are used. cannot be
expected to last more than about six
years.
The claim that the Atlantic and
North Carolina railroad needs heavier
motive power and rail is not in our
opinion, supported by the facts. The
fifty pound rail in use is ample, IL
properly supported. to safely carry
the heaviest locomotive now used by
the company; and we find that these
locomotives. although of the passen-
ger type, handle with ease freight
rains Of thirty to thirty-five loaded
cars. This is accomplished by roa-
son Of the absence of long or heavy
grades. With properly constructed
freight locomotives of the size and
weight Of those now in use the trains
could be increased to forty cars. There
Is no conon 10 be secured in seek
ing to, handle more cars to the train
under prevailing conditions. Instead
of heavie locomotives and heariN- II
the effort should be to secure a bet
ter foundation OF ties for the rail at
present in use. If locomotives OF the
size now in use handle in a satisfac>
tory way freight trains OF thirty-ive
cars, and this a fact, there is no neei
for heavier motive power. Larger
engines would demand larger rail,
more ties. more frequent replacement
OF ties, heavier timber and more Of it
in all bridges n t~restles and require
replacement of the present iron bridge
over Neuse river near Kinster with
is now carrying its full load.
Charges of Mismanagenent, Etc.
Considering the specific charges
which have been made affecting the
management by the present admin s.
tration in the order which the come
TO our attention, we consider first:
The charge that the road has been
run as a political machine, or that it
has been a dumping ground for broken
down politicians.
In view OF the States ownership OF
a controlling interest in the property,
and the resulting fact that the state
administration has been charged with
the control and operation road.
it has necessarily been true that
this property has been treated like
every other State institution. A ch2nge
in the political complexion OF the
State administration has resulted in
changes in the officers and emDloys 2.