The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-17
ELECTION ON OPEN SALOONS
Both Sides in GoIdsboro MarshaIIing
Their Forces.
Election Will be November 14th-Ri-
val Forces at Work on Railroads
About the Erection of a Union
Depot-Some Wayne County Freaks
for the Fair.
Especial to The Messenger.)


Goldsboro, N. c.. October 14.-Soma
of the mOnStrOSitieS OF Wayne county
will be on exhibition at the state fair
next week. Mr.. John R. Smith, of Mt.
Olive, will be there with a hobby horse
arrangement and will have on exhibit
ton some of the curiosities that he
has gathered from various parts Of the
county. He has some very peculiar
freaks Of nature among the calves.
One that he picked up has two heads,
and another has five legs. He has
also in his collection of %curiosities
a hen which has three we'll developed
legs, and some guineas that have web
feet, like a duck. His unusual collec-
ton will no doubt attract attention and
afford right much amusement to visit
ors to the fair.
AS the days drag YEARLY along, in
terest in the election On open saloons
which has been called for the 18th OF
November increases. AS the town is
now dry, and has been for the last two
years, it would indicate that the prohi-
bition forces have the situation well
under control. The bar room was
swept from the community by an over
whelming vote two years ago. The ma
jority at that time was larger than The
vote cast against prohibition. The
petition filed with the board of alder
men for IN election shows that there
has been considerable change of senti-
ment On the liquor question since pro-
hibition went into effect. There were
three hundred and twelve names en-
the petition. There are only about
seven hundred and sixty-four voters.
The people VINO favor bar rooms CAL
culate that not only all of those who
signed the petition will vote for sa-
looms, but that a number who were de-
tered from signing the paper by a
threat that the list would be published
in a local paper will also vote the
same way. The list has not been pub
lished and very probably will not be.
Sentiment on the question is more
evenly divided than it was when the
election was held before, and the lead
ers on both sides are marshalling tn cir
forces for the conflict with consummate
skill and interest IN the outcome is
being increased as the time for the
election approaches.
II h few people who own the prop
erty around where the trains stop now,
and who own the property which is
being rented to the railroads for the
~inconvenient waiting room and ticket
offices that the railroads now occupy
can prevent it, Goldsboro will not *:
the union passenger station that has
been the ideal dream of the bulk Of
u citizenship FOR years. A petition
has Deen circulated this week among
some of the business men asking that
tho railroads LOT fho nroc0nf I'll ~
ranged accommodations for the trav-
cling public remain as it is. The pro-
motors Of the scheme have met with
very poor success in obtaining names
for their paper. Resolutions from the
board Of aldermen addressed to the
corporation commission, asking that
they use their influence and good OIL
ces to secure a union passenger sta
ton for Goldstoro commensurate with
its Importance as a railroad center
shows how public sentiment on the
question stands. 1t is understood from
reliable source that the corporation
commission will not eve have to make
the request. The railroads are willing
n anxious to give the depot to which
it is entitled, if it can be done without
creating too much friction. All three
OF the roads which come here-the At
lantic Coast Line, the Southern and the
Atlantic and North Carolina, take on
and discharge more passengers at
Goldsboro than at any station on their
lines, and they have the poorest ac-
c~ommodation. The present bad ar
rangement causes a loss OF time. As it
is now the principal street in the
town is blocked for a greater part of |
the time during the day with freight |
trains and shifting engines, and when !
the Southern brings its through |
freights through Goldsboro, as it is
understood they will do, our most i'm.
portant street will be filled with freight
all day. With these facts before
them 1t would seem that the property
owners who oppose the depot are SIM
ply in their own light