The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-05
THEY SHOW THE RIGHT SPIRIT

THEY SHOW THE RIGHT SPIRIT.
At the banquet given in New Bern
on Friday night the new officers and
owners were given the sort of hearty
welcome for which New Bern has
long been famous Speeches of well
come and good will were made by
prominent citizens of New Bern and
by officers of the railroad. There has
been much dissatisfaction by shippers
because of a change in freight rates,
the people having been assured that
the new lessees of the road would not
put up freight rates on the people.
Mr.. Frank S. Cannon, vice-president
of the new company, in speech on
the necessity of cooperation between
the people and the owners of the rail-
roads, is quoted by the New Bern Jour-
nal as saying:
''He made a statement in regard to
the rates Application has been made
to the Corporation Commission for au-
thority to reduce rates on flour for
distances of thirty miles on an aver
age or more than twenty per cent. De-
low the old rates.
RATES on coal to this city will be
reduced twenty cents a ton or on the
same basis as Wilmington dealers get
The small dealer will be enabled to
realize on this reduction as well as
those who deal more extensively.
Rates on vegetables from stations
east of New Bern have been reduced
five cents a barrel and three <cents
on stations west Planters among the
line of the Atlantic Coast Line Will
have no better advantage in shipping
their goods than truck raisers on the
A. & n. G.
"A satisfactory rate on lumber is be-
ing contemplated and negotiations are
being made with the Pennsylvania
Company to get a rate to inland towns.
LAS to the improvements on the
road, the company has purchased 5OO
tons of rails, heavier than those in
use now, have placed orders for 1000
more TONS They have received box
cars and will order fifty more of Nthe
same style and will also have twenty
open cars. They will place am order
for six new passenger coaches and
will dispense with the car stove, re-
sorting to steam heat for the coaches.
1.-THE matter of increasing the speed
of trains must necessarily wait upon
the improvement of the track, but
they hope within a few months to re-
Morehead City twenty minutes, and
possibly one half hour"
Mr.. Marsden ]. Perry, the new
efforts the road would make to de-
velop Eastern North Carolina. and is
thus quoted by the Journal
HE said he had two announcements
which he wanted to settle once and
for ALL and the first was that ths
railroad shops would not be moved.
1t had been the desire of the officials
to have the shops at the place where
the general Offices were located. 1t
is almost necessary to be where they
can be in touch at ell times with the
mechanical department; they had.
however, given the matter their SER
ious thought and had decided it best
TO keep the shops in this place.
THE other announcement was the
company would help the people in
their efforts to have the States expert
ment farm located on this road A
subscription paper is now being start
ed and when the residents have SUBJ
scribcd their amount the company will
make complete the required amount.
The experiment farm is an institution
which will be peculiarly well adapted
to this section
from leading officers of the company
and gratifed to note the spirit which
actuates them. They have obtained a
valuable lease upon valuable piece
of railroad property. We are glad to
note that they propose to invest large
sums in improving the road, and that
they will cooperate with the people
in developing the resources and inter-
ests Of the country from Goldsboro to
Mcrehead. By continuing the old
freight rates in operation, withdraw
ing every special privilege enjoyed by
any shipper and cooperating with the
people along the line of the road the
new owners will be able to do much
for the country through which the
road runs and for themselves.