The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-12-20

ton than a road from Elizabeth
town to st. Pauls-which latter
proposition,i it was stated, would
mean loss of considerable busi-
ness to Lumberton.
Those who favor the bond issl e
to build the road to St. Pauls
claim that Mr.. McLeod's pro-
posed road will be nothing more
than a tram road to get his tim
ber out, and that he will not
build from Elizabethtown to
Lumberton. Mr.. Mcleod states
positively that he will build, if
the bond Issue s defeated, a STAN
dard gage road between the two
towns; that he now has a force
of men at work at a cost to him
of about $40 a day; that dirt will
be broken this week and that he
can have his road in operation in
four months.
The fight is on and it promises
to be hot one.
1t sounds mighty good to talk
of railroad direct from Lum-
berton to Elizabethtown, but the
people will have to be shown be-
fore they will lend aid or comfort
to any opposition to the bond is
sue in Bladen which will abso-
lutely assure the people of that
county a railroad. A bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush.
From Missouri are the people of
Lumberton in this matter and
they will have to be shown. The
question naturally arises, What
absolute guarantee will be given
that the road will be built? It
is a cold business proposition and
the people will demand an abso-
lutte guarantee. There is dis
position to ask Mr.. Mcleod for
such a guarantee and it is hardly
probably that any action will be
taken by the people of Lumberton
unless such a guarantee is given.
Mr.. McLeod's statement in re-
gard to what he proposes has
been given. Some are bold to
say that he will simply build a
road from Bellamy to his timber
lands or Dublin and that he will
never build to Elizabethtown-
that he cannot do so; that if the
: bond issue is defeated in the
hope of this road being built Mr..
Mcleod will make large demands
onElizabethtoWn and Lumberton,
if he should build the road; and
that even if he should built the
road he could rot operate pas.
t senger trains between the two
towns. 1t is regarded by some as
, simply and purely scheme tt
5 defeat the road to St Pauls; anc
5 the proposition to extend the
Raleigh & Southport to Eliza
bethtown is regarded as simply
another scheme for the same pur
S pose.
e Two railroad propositions, i
t was remarked at the outset, con
K front the people Of Bladen. Be
e hold. there are even three.
;. Saturdays Raleigh News ant
! Observer has news story abou
d the extension of the Raleigh {
!, Southport Ry. to Hope Mills from
a Fayetteville. President J. A
k Mills of the Raleigh & Southpor
d in an interview with reporte
j. of that paper states that this ex
o tension is now an assured fac
|, and that it will be only a ques
d ton of a short time when the ex
n tension will be continued to Eliza
:. bethtown, provided the presen
= plans are carried out. Survey
= ors will be employed at once t
,r select the route to Elixabethtown
e The survey to Hope Mills, a dis
r. tance of 7 miles from Fayette
a. vile, has already been made an
l. the line practically agreed upon
The work of building will stal
N soon after the first of the yea
ID and will be completed as rapid
Or as possible.