Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-25
WHY NOT. GOVERNOR .

With arbrariness that WOULD British landlord
the people, Governor Brown
cur declines why he has refused contrary to public inter-
expressed will of the legislature purchase for
the Atlantic railroad which is the states road
valuable and easily acquired terminal lands at Chattanooga
Why explain you responsible to the
people Georgia your of their aars Are they
not entitled word of explanation when you nave
failed to seize on their behalf opportunity that would
their welfare through decades to Gomez Did
not the last legislature specifically appropriate seventy
purchase terminal andsY there
enough money the treasury there not enough
money weeks for you out the command
general assembY Then why your airy hoyoiy loness
refusing public any concerning the mar7
The people of Georgia naturally curious such sit
uation The present Chattanooga
value Indeed has been conservavey estimated that the
state could rent this property much
the entire state road now brings
At the time the state given option land To-
facilities sixty dollars By vacatg the for
e the time retaining it investment and NOV
ing the terminals would have
trade which eventually would have ftted each
than the annual rental of the Western and Atlantic railroad
That opportunity which alert real estate would
have jumped That the opportunity which lay WITHIN the
governors reach
The question of buying these originated during adj
former Hoke Smith In the
legislature he recommended that they be acquired without delay
That 1908 In 1909 the legislature heard the of
special committee whose members had gone Chatta
and had thoroughly Investigated the situation This
mittee reported that held option the land at most
markable fgure-abOut sixty thousand dollars
Straightway the legislature passed bill authorizing the pur
of the lands appropang for that purpose seventy thou
sand dollars only originally considered
but also certain other strips might be secured
This action of the general assembly became substantially
mandate upon the governor The lands had been The
great profit which the deal would to the had been
The need of terminals had been made The
of and the had declared the lands
ought be bought and had made adequate provision for their
purchase.
What clearer direction authority could the governor
quref Yet in the face of the legislatures command despite the
golden opportunity held the he has obstnatey
fused month after month take until the
the property has expired And what his when
for explanation?
Z haven't the al intend o
And don't choose to give reasons
That substance governors people
business interests he has faccidly neglected
gracious Remarkable logic day when
supposed for the good of whole
monwealth
Long before those options expired there
enough the treasury take advantage of them There
from nearber licenses which would
spite the predictions of bankrupt excheque there much
than enough furnish the seventy thousand
saFy to get these lands .. =. .....-
And though the options have expired the governor
doubt them simply by showing half much energy
ming back this opportunity he showed lethargy losing
The Western and Atlantic railroad belongs all people
of this state 1t is their property just home
they have paid for They collectively to be sure but it
right demand of their executive their business
agent and public servant that this property of theirs be
for them justly They have right to why
tunity to increase its value has been let slip.
Why do not act this important you refuse
to do anything in the premises? What your motive Governor?
The people of the state would like know why instructions
ignored