The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-08-19
dhs Wlessenan.
MIR. ROWLAND AND THE MULLET
ROAD


1t looks as if the governor is going
10 receive a proposition for lease of
the Atlantic and North Carolina rail-
road which will place that property
upon paying basis SO far as the
state and the private stockholders are
concerned.
Mr. Richard S. Rowland, the last
bidder for the property, evidently
means business. He wants the road
for himself and as an investment.
and not for q Speculative scheme.
He. is determined, if he secures the
lease, to greatly improve the proper
ty and to take measures to enhance
its value by bringing about improved
conditions along the line of the road
and al its terminals.
If he gets possession of the road.
there is little doubt that he will ex-
tend it westward to some point on the
Southern or Seaboard Air Line. There
has been some talk heretofore of the
road, if leased, being extended 10
Sanford. There it would tap The three
great systems of this section of the
south. It is hardly possible that the
authorities will lease the road with
out providing for its extension to
some point which will give it better
terminal advantages than it now has
in Goldsboro. Mr.. Bryan in his last
annual report said that the two sys-
TENS with which it connects there
could bottle it up in six weeks.
Mr.. Howland has recently been
over the line of the road looking into
the natural advantages and the pros
poets of their Improvement, along
with profitable development of the
section of the state through which it
runs and of it's terminal at Morehead
City.
Mr.. Howland, we have been told,
has made a better offer for the road
than have any of the other bidders.
If he gets the road and his intentions
are what they, from present appear
ances, seem to be. there are bright
prospects ahead for it and the Sec
ton of the state through which ii
runs. II will be managed on business
principles and made to pay, and,
therefore, will be of much greater
benefit to the people of that section
than il has ever been.
The New Bern Journal of Saturday
has this to say of Mr.. Howland and
his proposition to lease the road:
Mr.. Richard s Rowland, who is d
bidder for the lease of the Atlantic
and North Carolina railroad, spent
yesterday in the city, examining the
roads property here and looking into
The business prospects of New Bern
and the surrounding country from
the railroad point of view.
Thursday he was at Beaufort with
Senator Simmons making investiga-
tions regarding the harbor there. He
proposes, in case he gets the road, to
bring every possible influence to bear
for Improvement by the government
of the Beaufort harbOr and the estab-
hshment of harbor of refuge al
Cape Lookout. In this he will have
the hearty cooperation Of the North
Carolina senators and congressman
as we'll as the assistance of powerful
Influences in New England.
Island, but for the last six years has
been a resident of North Carolina
His home is in Asheville, where he
has acquired large property interests
and it is said by residents of that
section that he has done more for its
development and upbuilding than any
other citizen, with the single exception
of George Vanderbilt. He is Severa
times a millionaire and has associat-
ed with him in his proposition to lease
the Atlantic and North Carolina other
very wealthy men. They have faith
in this section of the state and THEN
idea is, in case they get the road, t.
spend large sums of money along its
line in developing the country by col.
oniZation and by the establishment OF
new enterprises and the like.
In making n bid for this property
The Journal has been assured that
Mr.. Howland represents only himself
and his personal associates--no cor
poratiOn. Neither the Southern rail
way nor the Atlantic Coast Line i
back of, or jim any way interested in
his bid. Nor is he bidding for the
property for speculative purposes
He wants it as a permanent invest
ment that he can improve and devel-
op, believing that Improvement will
increase its earning capacity.