The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-09-03

Vexed Problem.
t'The Southern Railway was notified
a year ago this month that unless 1t
did something toward stopping the un-
Just discrimination against this COM
munity there would be something do
ING at Raleigh and that the matter
was entirely up to them for considera-
ton and settlement. They chose to
ignore the warning, for that is what
it practically amounted to, and we all
know what happened at the state cap
ital last winter. I know of this fact
because I sent the letters containing
the warning. I do not wish to take
any credit to myself for asserted pre-
science or for the exercise of any in
fuence upon legislative policies or pro-
ceedings, but the relation between
cause and effect seems to be rather
close in this instance, and, anyway,
there is at least some satisfaction in
being able to say 1 told you so. >
The speaker was Charles H ireland,
general manager of the Odell Hard
ware Co., and the practical head of the
largest mercantile establishment in
Greensboro. He is therefore we'll cal
culated to speak with knowledge and
judgmnet on the subject matter, eX-
pressing his views with clearness and
with evidences of careful thought and
consideration. These views were eX
pressed yesterday at his Office.
confronting this city and at least one
of these must be removed before we
can hope to acquire a more prominent
position on the map. | refer to the
difficulties under which We labor in the
matter Of freight rates. But do not
misunderstood me as meaning that we
demand lower rate for the mere pur-
pose of paying less money to the rail-
r0hd companies. [ believe | voice pub
lie sentiment in saying that we are
perfectly willing to pay any reasonable
rate and to allow the railways to make
enough money for the payment of div
idends If we help them to this ex-
tent. we are also helping ourselves,
since the welfare of the roads will
operate favorably upon our business.
"But what we do ask for, and what
we should have, is an equalization of
rates such as will enable us to meet
competition from other central points
Under present conditions, we are bad
Iy handicapped and all because of the
practical and far-reaching injustice
hot Se,r -, n 1orr
distributor of goods My own house
does a larger business than any other
in the same line throughout the en-
tire south, outside of Atlanta and Sa-
vannah.
''Give me a rate based ON that ac-
corded Virginia cities and | will guar
antee," said Mr.. Ireland with strong
emphasis, to double our business
within year and bring it up to over
two million dollars. What could be
done by this house could also be ac-
complished by others.
''On August II of last year I ad-
dressed a letter to Mr.. Culp. general
freight agent of the Southern asking
him for an adjustment of rates, which
reould enable the business men of
Greensboro to meet competition OF
q other points. TWO days later [ sent
"a similar letter to Colonel Andrews,
one of the vice-presidents of the road
making the same request. In reply
they sent a Mr.. Green to see me and
that very argumentative and pleasant
1or in
my office in the vain endeavor to con-
vince me that the rates given Green's
borO were of just the right size and
that we should be content with what
we had. l told Mr. Culp and Colonel
Taylor, that unless more accommo-
dating spirit was shown the North Car
olina merchants, there would be an up
heaval in the state and that something
would be doing at Raleigh. Tney
ignored the warning and the entire
country knows the result.
s'We do not ask now, and have never
asked, for any special favors. We wang
only such rates as will enable us to do
business on the same basis as is pro-
vided for Lynchburg and Richmond. l
do not know that the management OF
the Southern has any especial fondness
for the Virginia family trees, for the
memory of John Smith and Pocahon-
tas, but l no know that the effect OF
this practical discrimination in favor
of the Old Dominion is injurious to
the business interests of the Tar Heel
and I believe We are acting upon our
inalienable rights in demanding that
we be placed upon a basis Of equality
with our neighbors to the north.
Let me show you in a practical way
los