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


Raleigh, n. c.. May 23.-The special
investigating committee, appointed
some time ago by the Governor to look
into the affairs of the Atlantic and
North Carolina railway, made their re-
port today. Governor Aycock called
State Board of Internal Improvements
in conference regarding the report,
but they postponed action till the Gov
ernor returns from a trip of several
days to Concord, Davidson college and
the Normal and Industrial at Green's
boro. The Governor will return Thurs
day and the report will then be consid-
cred.
In part the report is as follows:
To His kScellency, the Governor, Hon
Orab.- Charles B.. Aycock.
Sir:-In compliance with your COM
mission we beg to report that we nave
made a thorough of the
physical properties of the Atlantic and
North Carolina railroad. We also made
such inquiry and examination, with
the aid Of expert accountants, of the
books and accounts as the limited time
would allow. We inquired especially
into the charges of Encouragement
which have been recently made, and
sought upon our own initiative and by
every means within our power to in
form ourselves upon all matters touch
ing the manner and methods of doing
business. the circumstances connected
with the operations of the property, its
relations to the people and the section
of the State served by it. In the ex-
animation of witnesses we had the
advantage Of having Mr.. w. w. Clark,
Ounsel for Captain McBee, former re-
ceiver. with us. and he occupied the
position of prosecutor in seeking to es-
tablish the charges against the mar
agement. His appearance was allowed
upon his own written request and en-
abled US to investigate the matters
referred to much more fully han we
could have done without his pres
-ence.
1t is shown by the reports of Prssi-
dem Bryan that during the four years
OF his incumbency the road has earned
above operating expenses and fixed
charges the sum of $251, 727.56. II
appears that il has also borrowed $780,
10000. OF his sum S27, G10.c0 has
been repaid from earnings, leaving
$2S, 100000 still unpaid. We add a,So
the net earnings for the nine months
from July 1st, 1908, TO March Sit.
v - oAAO"AL " VI NAAC
auditor and treasurer. to-wit: $H-
T2.O6. Adding these two amounts 1,
the apparent net earnings for four
years as shown above. it would seem
that there has zen about 1924, 499. 62
available within our years n nine
months for permanent improvements
or raordinary betterments. We are
of the opinion however that many
items have been charged up to ex-
traOTCinlry improvements which
should have been included in operating
expenses and renewals instead. To as
certain the exact amount CT such ex-
penditures would require a tedious and
expensive examination Of the books
and accounts. Indeed, We doubt if
these expenditures could be properly
placed now by even such examina-
ton, owing to the crude and very un-
satisfactory system OF Keeping &C
counties use. Very considerable bet
termentS and Improvements over on
ditions prevailing four year an
should have been effected by the ex-
penditure Of so large a sum OF money
We find that the service has been
greatly improved within the reriod
covered by Mr.. Bryan's administration.
The train service has been doubled !,
the Dad bed greatly improved ana
the facilities for handling the bust
ness of the road al stations and shone
very much improved. We are or The
opinion that much Of this money mas
been wisel- spent, but some of IL has
also been in~judiciously used, in some
cases approaching downright extrava-
gance.
We wish to mention some Of these
expenditures of both classes in detail.
Four years ago the passenger cars In
use pon the road were Anticipated, un-
comfortable and insufficient in num-
Der. New cars ave been bought and
built and the old ones renovated ano
repaired, so a al this time they
seem to be adequate for the passenger
business. Five new locomotives have
been purchased and the old ones re-
paired and put in excellent condition.
If the new locomotives had been
freight engines Of the ten wheel type
with owe driving wheels, instead of
passenger engines, they would have
added much more to the efficiency of
the motive power OF the company, and
We believe it was a mistake to pur-
chase passenger engines at this time
in view Of the fact that every engine
owned by the company was of that
type. The freight engines would have
been more serviceable and the new
ones were needed and are in use in the
freight service.
The money spent in ditching ans
draining the right of way has beer
well spent, and this work has been
very considerable. Alongside the track
for many miles large bitches have