The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-09
1t is Backed Up by Big
Capitalists.
THE BEST OFFER YET
Mr.. r. S. HOWIands MuIti-Milli0n-
aire of Connecticut Who Has Been
Interested iu North Carolina En-
terprises Associated With
Others in Offer.

A new bid, and a. definite one. for
the lease of the Atlantic and North
Carolina Railroad is in the hands OF
Governor Aycock, and there will be
conference concerning it this morn
inG.
The bid, while it's terms are not yet
made public, is said TO be the best
yet made. While this is said To be
the fact yet there is nothing known
as to whether there is a proposal to
erect other lines of road as branches,
nor how near to an average Oh SIX
per cent the figures will make.
Behind this bid is the name OF one
lti-millionaire, and number OF
others are known to ha associated
with him. This bidder for the lease
is Mr. r. S. Howland. of Asheville.
most successful business man who has
lived in Asheville for the past six years
Mr. Howland is in the city to con-
fer with Governor Aycock about the
matter, and with him is his attorney.
General Theo. Il. Davidson. Mr.. Fred
l.. Merritt, of Washington, and Mr.. IL.
p. Foster, the latter the agent of the
Southern at Asheville, but who is
with Mr. Howland In an individual
capacity as he has been connectht
with the management of the Atlantic
Hotel at Morehead in past days, and
is aDle to advice of the physical con-
dition of the road.
Mr.. Howland reached the city yes
terday morning with friends, and dur
ing the @aorning met Governor Ay-
cock the State officers and NUMBER
of prominent citizens. He is a most
affable and pleasant hammered man,
and has made an extremely favorable
impression on all who have met him.
NJ ;e. l,fS civ 20 l.
dence in Asheville has been force
for the tmproN ement of that city. lie
has invested in much real estate there
and has built a line Of electric rail-
way reaching for miles into the coun-
try. He is the owner of the
Providence, Rhode Island, Jour-
nal, most influential and
conservative paper, with a great circu-
lation Many times millionaire there
are associated with him i'm the purpose
of leasing the A. q N. G. number OF
New England millionaires.
Their purpose is one of investment
and they desire 2 long time elase, SO
that the investment may stand not
alone for their lifetime, but for the de-
scendants They have investigated
conditions i'm eastern North Carolina,
and find that it is country susceptible
Of great development, so ii IS not alone
with the purpose of securing the road
that the lease is asked for, but back of
this is to be IL plan Of developing and
aiding in the growth OF the section
through which the road passes, SO that
there will be a return from invest
ments in this line, even while it is felt
that for some time the road itself will
make no adequate returns.
The papers in the matter are now in
Governor Aycock's hands and today nc
will be in conference with Mr.. How
land, Gen. Davidson and the other
gentlemen In the party. After this is
done it is expected that there will be
definite information given out with re-
gard to the proposition made.
Mr.. Howland is greatly pleased with
Raleigh and in company with Mr. Mer-
ritt went over the city yesterday. This
is his third visit here. His GRANDPA
ther, who was a Quaker gave $1,000
To Guilford College way back in the
SOS and the Friends were anxious for
him to visit the college and see what
had been done. He died before max
ing the trip. so in 1859 his son. and the
present Mr. Rowland paid Ii visit to
Guilford, stopping over in Raleigh.
Mr.. Howland, a small boy then, has
Only faint recollection of the place
His next visit here was some ten years
ago, but then it was simply in and out
so this is really the first time that he
has seen Raleigh, and as he passed
through it's streets he expressed his ad-
rniration of the city.