The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-12-17
Some "reminiscences OF
Politicians and
Railroads
DIR. JOHN l.. FOARD. AN OCTOGE-
MARIAN.

The jealousy between the two old
politicai parties, prior to the civil
war was 80 great. and the fear OF
responsibility on the part OF some
officials, thet il was almost impos-
sible to obtain very i'm portant legis-
lation when most needed. AS an evil
dence of this fact-when the bill was
introduced 70 charter the Central
from Charlotte 10 Goldsboro. eco
miles lOng and to cost four mill
lions Of dollars. some Of the mem
bers of the Legislature of North
carolina, were opposed to il and
others were afriad 10 do their
duty; though the wings. as a party.
were committed TO internal improve
ments by State or government aid, and
had a good working majority in both
houses, 1t became q question whether
or no the charter could be had. After
II had passed the house, the speaker
of the senate. being a Democrat Chat
f party being opposed to State add and
lived 90 miles from the line OF the
road. The opposition managed a tie
, vote and threw the responsibility on
the speaker, Calvin Graves, believing
he Would kill it; but to the aston
ishmenu of almost everybody, he voted
yea, and made it a law. Though one
, of the best men in his county. and
probably would have been nominated
for governor at the next election. thai
vote caused his party to lay him on
the shelf, and for many years he was
not given n office other han to be
chairman Of three magistrates to hold
) the county courts. But after this anS
other roads were built and became
popular, his party proposed to run hint
for governor, but he declined on ac-
count of the treatment given for Sc
curing the charter for the railroad.
Now at his late day the people should
build a monument in Yanceville. Cas-
well county. to the M of one
of its best citizens, who was not
afraid to do right. Among the lead
ers of the whig party, who were in
strumental in passing the bill in the
House were Alonzo jenkins, of Craven
; and Osborne G.. Foard. of Rowan, a
brother of the writer. In order TO
obtain the million Of dollar of pri-
vate subscription necessary to build
the road, committees were appointed
in every county along he route anl
the best public speakers Of the State
addressed large crowds in every town
on the line; at the last one at Hills
boro, after ten days of faithful efforts.
there remained one hundred thousand
dollars of stock to be taken to Sc
cure the charter. a dead lock seemed
TO be on, and a look of disDair seemed
to be on every face. Amid the gloom
a member of the assembly arose and
moved to adjourn and give up the
: project. Instantly A. 7. jenkins, from
New Bern, cried out: Hold. And pro-
posed that he would be one of one
hundred men who would take the re-
naming 100000 stock. @. CT. Foard,
OF Rowan, instantly replied, he would
be another. John l. Shaver, C.. It.
Brown, E. d. Austin, d. A. Davis,
Cain McCorkle; all of Rowan. and
others of other counties followed until
the amount was secured and all in
thirty mute Two years later a sim
liar scene occurred In Salisbury to
Secure eighty thousand dollars to build
the western extension from Salisbury
to the Tennessee line-eight OF us
and Ga part of those at Hillsboro)
my brother and self of the number
, secured that charter, and gave six
! years of the best of our lives. at a
: heavy cost, to create those improve
mentS. After these and other trou-
bles to secure them, the Central was
leased just Thirty years to a New York
company; later, though six years be-
!, fore that lease expired, that company
: ; asked for another for SO years at the
but by intrigue lobbying, and expendi-
ture of money passed, obtained
the renewal, or extension for 80 years
at an advance of only half a cent,
which afterwards was called the mid
night lease" Since then the company
The Central has 50 managed as TO
run as much Of the travel and freight
to New York and other p as
!, possible, and as little to North Caro-
lima ports, and to hinder or make our
local rates as costly and ag~grivating
as needed for their selfish and re-
farious ends. In addition, this same
company has expanded their roads
!. and power and agreed as to give to
their running force extremely long
runs and double duty which created
unnecessary and invited
the use and abuse of stlmulants and
!. narcotics, all of which are Gin part)
: the cause of SO many wrecks and the
destruction of thousands of live and
millions Of dollars worth of property
. and annually, and to the inquiry OF all
CLASSES of this great country. and
, doubtless the same may be said of
other great syndicates operating in
other States. These and other sins
) committed by the present owners of
the roads created by and for the peo-
! said roads and like institutions to de-
: mand justice or the operation of them
by State or general government. But
when anything OF the kind is men
toned these latter-day saints through
their unclean hands and cry-'Con-
: f1scation," when really the boot is
on the other leg. They are the confis-
Gator, and not the people who created
them, and all else that compos this
republic. Now. these are some of the
reasons why our legislature should be
called together, in extra session, to
: investigate all claimed abuses, correct
: them or give UP the fraudulent leases
of the roads.
: All the reduction of hands and TAX
> ing off trains, etc. is nothing more
than a bluff game! Everybody knows
the railroads should increase double
, tracks. trains and improve accommo-
daticns to secure increased patronage
and safety to the travelling public. as
!, we'll as the shippers. Experience and
:. observation prove that self-interest
dictates that cheaper and better faCil-
l tiles increase patronage. So all this
fuss and feathers on the part of the
Great Southern is only to increase
the already extravagant dividends on
( tbs actual cost of roads. and the wat
, cred stock as we'll. If thought other
I wise, let all the legislatures Interest
ED demand a full, thorough, and
i, complete investigation of the real cost
; of construction and management OF
, all roads bought or leased; come to
l honest terms or recant all contracts
and let the State or general govern
! ment run them in the interest of the
entire ~ ople, as the poStoffces are.
Statewide. y. c.
Our idea OF a good boss is one who
!. can boss without bosSing-