The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-30

ern Railway. 1t was only when the
railroads were operated so as to make
connections with other railroads for
the convenience of the people that they
rendered the service the people were
emitted to get
The Accommodations
The last issue is: Is it reasonable
and proper that the defendant COM
pany be required to make the connec-
tion? Are they now affording ample
and sufficient accommodations for the
10000 people of Nash county? Let's
see. They leave tnelr homes al II,
come to Rocky Mount and stay till 3:
come to Selma at $40, then stay for
two hours, accommodated how Not a
member of this jury but would g;N
his horse or COW better accommodate
ton than the Coast Line furnishes its
passengers at Selma, in the dead of
winter. Then take an old freight and
get to Raleigh at midnight If that's
ample and sufficient accommodation
for the people of Nash county, say so
by your verdict Three young girls of
Nashville go to the Normal school at
Greensboro. They leave home at II
noon and instead of reaching Green's
boro at 6 in the evening they go to
reach Selma at $40, stay there two
hours without fire or lights, come to
Raleigh at HAS and stay here till :
o'clock, and get to Greensboro an hour
before day. And the great Atlantic
Coast Line is being enriched by these
people, who pour into it's treasury
thousands of dollars a day.
Mr.. Brooks and his wife, called to
Thomasville by the sad news of the
IL, Il 4,
evening train from Nashville late,
drive twelve miles through the coun-
try, reach Rocky Mount by s, Selma by
$40, stay there two hours, and finally
get to Greensboro next morning in
stead of leaving Nashville at noon and
reaching Greensboro the same even
ing.
There is Mr.. Balm, of near Wilson,
He has to drive his daughter to Wilson
in the evening, spend the night there
and take the train at III the morning,
reaching Greensboro the same morn-
ing, but without any time for break
fast. Then look at the testimony of
Mr.. Daughtridge, Elder =. ID. Gold and
the others.
Taking up the question of the
rates, Mr.. Woodland explained that it
was only at six stations on the road
that coupon tickets could be bought,
at the same price via Selma and via
Weldon
1t had been shown that in year
ia 900 passengers Werg transported
on the Coast Line, and 5 per cent of
these or $500 passed through through
Selma. This amounted to something
like $4,000 to the road.
Mr.. Lacy's Evidence.
AS to the issue whether the train
could be run from Rocky Mount to
Selma in an hour and thirty minutes.
What was. the evidence as to that?
There was Mr.. Lacy. Mr.. Woodland
said he must admit he felt a little re-
Sentful when he saw Mr.. Lacy coming
forward and apparently about to tes-
tify that the run could not be made
and thus to nullify the order of the
commission, while he was occupying a
position to which he had been elected
by the help'of those 800, 900 people of
eastern Carolina. But / knew Ben
Lacy was an honorable, high mind
ed gentleman, who would not hesitate
to tell the truth under all circumstan-
ces. What did he say? "Mr. Woodland
then read from the stenographer's re-
port of Mr.. Lacy'S evidence, showing
that he had said the train could be
run in the time, even if it had to meet
two superior trains and take sidings.
1t could be made in safety, although
the speed between stations would have
to be about fifty miles an hour. Who
contradicted Mr.. Lacy? All those other
witnesses, upon cross-examination, had
corroborated Mr.. Lacy.
Mr.. Woodland then reviewed the evil
dence of the other experts, to show
that even by their evidence it was
81 loo 10 10 DO \,
the new train would have the right of
way over everything except two su-
perior trains. For twenty-three days
in the month there would not be a
single train to interfere with the pro-
posed train. for No. 40 was late TWEEN
ty-three days out of January, and the
whole month of February only four
days was it on time. 1t was about the
same in March. This would permit
the special to get to Selma before No.
40 got there.
All the witnesses said that the
Spring Hope train could be extended
to Selma, making 15G miles a day
which they all said could be done in
a day. What would it cost the road to
do it? Mr.. Woodland was perfectly
willing to let Mr.. Lacy decide it. He
said that it cost $3.50 on a branch
line. On the main line $2S.01 Add re-
pairs, interest and depreciation. II
was astonishing to listen to the testi-
mony of one Mr. Smith. Either Mr.
Smith did not know what he was talk.
ing about, or Mr.. John r. Kenly, the
General Superintendent, when he
swore to the tax returns, did not know
what he sWore to. He would prefer t,
believe that Mr.. Kenly's sworn state.
ment to the Corporation Commissins
was correct. Mr.. Smith said two pas,
senger cars were worth $1,000. Mr
Kenly put down first class cars a.
$4,000, second class at $500 and com
bination cars $500. MIR. Smith SAL
combination cars $1,500. Mr.. SmitI
said engines $4,000; Mr. kenh
$500.