The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-28
LAGRANGE SNAP SHOTS.
Variety of Views rom Business Men
and Others.
Especial to News and Observer


LAGRANGE, n. c., Aug. 27.-Below
are expressions of opinion from bus
mess men and others as to the pro-
posal to lease the A. & N. c. Railroad.
Il. j. Ragsdale. TobaccOniSt: /
am opposed to a lease. because l think
it would be monopoliZing the railroads.
The State has made a mistake in leas-
ing any of its railroad interests. L be-
leve the Legislature should act on it
and act slowly. / have utmost conf
dence in Aycock and trust him abso-
lutely."
DIR. j. w. Z. SmithWick, Mayor: 81
am heartily in favor of leasing the road
to q private company or to some syn
dicate because / believe it would be
better for the people along the line,
and get it out of politics. Service ana
equipment would be improved, and
the road made more profitable to
State and stockholders. l am opposed
to it's being leased to individuals or in
dividual companies. as they would not
improve it. 1 am against the State
continuing it's operation. The sooner
the road is leased the better, and the
Legislature has nothing to do with it,
as it is in the Governors hands, anc
/ have the fullest confidence in the
Governor and believe he will do the
right and proper thing
j. $. WOOten. Town Commissioners
say whether l favor lease or not.
am satisfied with the present manage
ment. l do not think Governor Ay-
cock should act next week on the mat
ter, but wait until the next Legislature
has time to consider it. l am decid-
eddy opposed to an immediate lease.
The road is doing well at pres
ent, and has a better future and more
promising than ever before, and !
think it would be unfair to let new
parties reap the glory and profits OF
its future. which has been made pos
sible by it's present management"
X. G. Creech, Town Treasurer a!lG
Merchant: 81 am undesded about
the matter. 1t has done better since
Bryan has had it than ever before !
am Indifferent to the matter and have
never given it a serious thought, but
l think it would be better for Cover
nor Aycock to defer the entire
matter and give the Legislature ar
opportunity to act Public sentiment
by that time would be more generally
known, and new developments would
give light on the situation, and by
that time it would hardly be possible
for a mistake to be made
G. w. Is. Hadley, Town Clerk: 81
am in favor of q wise lease, because
this would take the road out of poll
tics. give us superior service and
place it on more advantageous bust
ness basis, being more profitable to
all concerned. I hope the Governor
will act on the bids next week and ac-
cept the best proposition. / do not
think the Legislature could do much
to affect the situation more than Gov
ernor Aycock, and / am willing to
trust him."
Josiah Wells, Tax Collector and
Chief Police: az certainly favor a
lease. The State has no right to hold
a railroad and use it politically, which
makes it detrimental to the best in
terests of the section and the people,
as we'll as those directly interested.
The matter should be decided next
week The Legislature has nothing to
do with the matter. 1t is in the Gov
errors hands, and it is up to Cover
nor Aycock to act He is the proper
man to speak and L am willing to
leave the matter to him.
o. Taylor. Merchant: 'T think if
the road cannot be kept out of politics
it should be leased. l would favor
an immediate leave. The road has
never accomplished anything, and it is
but right that the road should be put
in the hands of responsible parties,
who can and will properly operate 1T.
The matter should not be delayed. 1t
has been put off too long already
w. III. Hardee. Livery: 81 favor a
AOe'oV, VI rlIiy llllIlS Ill TIE NOIICi TIA
VIII make an advisable change. l
think it would better the interests of
the road, the people and this section,
as well as the State, to lease it, be-
cause business men make better man
ayers than politicians 1t has al
ways been wrong, and there has al
ways been complaint and I think
change is necessary. The Governor
should not delay the matter
j. Il. Alrich, Merchant: "I am in
favor of an Immediate lease From
what everybody says, the road has
not been managed well, and the State
and stockholders can get more money
out or 1t If it is leased to proper par
ties. II good proposition is offered,
one which is better than the present
management, / think Governor Az
cock should accept it at once and not
continue these conditions under which
the road is now rum"
w. p. Hardy. Merchant: 81 am in
favor of lease. The road has been
in debt and is in debt now. and
lease would relieve the situation. be-
sides making it better for the peo-