The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-07-14
GOV. BROWN EXPLAINS
". & A. RY. NATTER
Reasons Given For Not Buying
Chattanooga Property.
WAS LEFT 10 HIS DISCRETION
Governor Brown in Message Gives his Views
on the w. & A. Railway Chattanooga
Terminal Question.

AIaIlIav Cain message To the
general assembly, transmitted to both
houses, Governor Brown holds that
the matter of purchasing the three
proposed tracts for w. and A. ternni-
nails near Chattanooga, was left to
his discretion. In support Of this he
quotes the concluding clause OF the
joint resolution. by probably a mar
row construction" the governor says
this might be held to refer only to
the third tract But as ''the two 9TH
ers are too short for the designated
purpose. he said that by necessity
1t applies to all three"
The governor thinks THIS view was
intensified by the fact that indica-
tons were quite clear there was no
money for the purchase in the treas
ury that was not otherwise appropri-
ated
Governor Brown says he would GER
tainly have yeoted the resolution had
he been assured his discretion did
not cover all three tracts.
His objections to the property, per
SIC, are that 1t is subject to overflow
In time Of freshet; that the physical
junction OF the Watkins and Vinson
tracts is too narrow; that Tonnes
see public road crosses part Of the
property: that the lands are below
track level and it would cost upward
of 100000 to level them; and that
the city of Chattanooga is quite like
~ to annex the property some day
soon, which would mean city taxation
on it.
Governor Brown quotes Attorney
General Harris opinion that I'm view
Of these conditions (Which the COVER
nor had recited) there is no money
in the treasury" for the purchase OF
the lands.
The whole proposition to convert
the present terminals in Chattanooga
to other purposes is disapproved by
Governor Brown on grounds of expe
diency.
fH we take steps to abdicate the
advantage might almost say su.
premacy-we have in location at
Chattanooga, why should we not do so
in Atlanta?" he says.
He would not approve selling the
state railroad" he says.
nave always u5l1 10 Inc Wow
that the state should never consider
the question of selling the Western
and Atlantic railroad" says he. Fur.
thermore, in my opinion, no lease
contract should ever be made for a
longer period than 30 years, for the
state ought to take back the road at
least one time in the life Of each
generation and adjust 1t to the then
prevailing conditions Of commerce and
the like"
Tnis expression by the governor ia
gratuitous to the discussion, in which
no proposition is involved to sell the
w. & A. railroad.
Governor Brown says that If the
legislature is irresistibly moved to
buy land "for building or repair shops
near Chattanooga 1t may consider a
tract which he suggests. That is
known as the Evans property, near
Boyce station. 1t cover 234 IL acres
Chickamauga creek runs through it,
and on 1t, says he, is a spring with
100000 gallons daily flow, insuring
plenty Of water "for all purposes
needed for shops and the like" He
has secured an option on this prop
erty, says he, till August 1, from H.
Clay Evans, for $5S,500-as against
$4,000 for 81 acres in the three
tracts that the resolution covered. He
asks the general assembly to name a
committee to Investigate this prop,
erty