-4
VOL. XX III.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1!H5.:
'3;
XO. VI.
- , 1 . - , ., ,
PLAN FOR SIX
PUBLIC
A Strong Array of Facts and Figures Touching
Upon This Vital Question
No Increase in tho Fund Necessary,
Says Mr. Outler Charge That Too
Much is Now Expended For School
Machinery and For "Other Pur
poses." K; rVal to The Caucasian.
The people- of North Carolina are
plMrcI, through their State Constitu
tion, to p four-months' public school
term, and they are willing to be taxed
without, ftint for that purpose, but they
want these taxes equitably and eco
nomically expended. The public school
fund now amounts to nearly two mil
t on dollars annually, which i3 by far
tho largest fund which the people are
required to pay for any one purpose in
the State, and they are especially de
sirous that this vast sum shall be so
expended as to give us the longest
school term possible in order that the
children of the State may be the chief
t.enr notaries of the people's taxes,
and not the numerous school officials
who dispense this fund.
It -i necessary to have proper su
pervision of our schools and these ofil
rrs should be paid an amount com
mensurate with their work, but the
vxpfiKlitures for this purpose should
not ir.rrease year after year faster
ihan t' c school term increases, for the
rhild'en, and not the distributors of
the school fund, are the special ob
jff s 'or which these taxes and appro
pri Lions are procured.
Yco much money has been spent in
the recent past in our State, in the
name of public education under the
list "other purposes," and not enough
has b'en expended directly for the ed
ucation of our school children.
The money now being expended an
nually for our public schools, includ
ing State and local taxes and the $200,
000 appropriation, should in my judg
ment, give us a six months' school
term over the State instead of the
seventeen weeks which we now have.
State Superintendent Scarborough, in
his recommendations to the legislature
of 1895. found on the first page of his
biennial report, says: "The total re
ceipts as reported by the county treas
urers for schools for the school year
1S9.VDI were $777,079.29. This sum as
shown by the reports of the county
superintendents, gave for the same
year a fraction less than thirteen
weeks. This falls short of four months
by over sixteen days. A calculation
will show that the sum of $12,500 is
rfquircd for one day. Multiply by six
teen and we have $200,000 needed to
carry the schools to eighty days." It
therefore appears from the estimates
made by Superintendent Scarborough
in 1804. that $977,079.29 was the amount
required to furnish the children of the
State a four-months' school term. In
1904. jdst ten years later, our school
fund was $1,908,675.00, which is about
twice the sum required in 1894 for a
Tour-months' term, and would give us
an eight-months' school term, provided
the number of schools and the salary
of the teachers and other expenses
net increased since that date. The re
ports show that since 1894 the num
ber of schools have increased less
Than 10 per cent, and that the salary
of the teachers have increased less
than 7 6 rer cent, but that the school
fund has increased over 150 per cent,
therefore, it appears that "other ex
penses" have consumed the greater
part of the increase in the school fund
since 1S94.
The following information gathered
from the biennial reports of our State
superintendents will throw some light
on suggestions above, and will prove
interesting to all friends of public edu
cation :
Year
y,84 .
18S7 .
1890 .
1S94 .
1S36 .
1S98 .
1900
1901
1902
1903 .
1904
School
Fund
. $5S0.3 11.60
. 647,407.81
. 721.756.38
. 777,079.29
. S24,23S.0S
. 988.409.11
.1,031,327.94
.1.119.746.17
.1.484,921.34
.1.584.222.13
.1,903,675.00
School Cost
Term Per Day
57 1-2 days $10,000
60 days 10,790
60 days 12,000
64' days 12,141
62 days 13,300
70 days 14,120
73 days 14,120
77 days 14.500
52 days 18,108
53 1-2 days 19,000
85 days 22,431
The above statistics show that since
1S84 the cost per day to run the public
schools has increased nearly 125 per
cent. The total school fund for all
purposes about 250 per cent, but that
the school term has increased less than
50 per cent.
The following table will give the
number of children in the State of
school age for the years named:
No. of Children
Year of School Age
1884 515,404
1887 566.270
1890 586,668
1894 . 601,900
1896 34,185
1898 628,480
1900 659,629
1901 .. .' 667,981
1902 676,612
1903 678.556
1904 686,009
The above shows that the number of
school children have increased only
about 30 per cent since 1894, and we
have shown above that the cost per
day has increased since that time near
ly 12." ner cent and the school fund
over z.jO per cent.
We give below the average salaries
of the Tiublic school teachers, white and
cote 1, tot me, 1900 and 1?04, at fol
lows:
yat. White tfiacher. Col teacher
MONTHS
SCHOOL TERM
188S.. $25.00 a month. $22.50 a month
1900 24.78 a month. 20.48 a month
1904.. 29.00 a month. 22.22 a month
It will be observed from the above
that the salary of the colored teachers
have not increased since 1886, but have
slightly decreased, and the salary of
the white teachers have increased only
about 16 per cent since 1886, but that
the cost of each day's schooling has
increased about 125 per cent and the
school fund about 250 per cent.
Now let us compare the expenses
of cur public schools for the past five
years:
m
-3
CO u
& A
8.7.2
33
iss
-i -(
a 0
a.
! 8,469.12
9,494.75
8,678.09
17,162.67
15.611.89
18,018.61
a
o
a
V
a
o ir
a
. 3
$21,173.25
21.421.74
23,596.85
34.483.83
39,434.20
48,636.90
00
o
8
u
JS
ct
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
$40,744.41
46,451.25
63.883.56
73,865.16
74.944.04
85,054.45
The above table gives us Interesting
information. It shows that county su
perintendents get money two and one
half times as much as they did only
live years ago. It shows that county
boards of education are paid more than
twice as much as they were in 1899,
and it shows that the expenditures, not
itemized, but appear In the list of ex
penditures under the term "Other Pur
poses," have more than doubled in the
short period of Ave years, as shown
above.
In 1901 the nnmber of public schools
taught were 7,858.
In 1902 the number of public schools
taught were 7,888.
In 1903 the number of publis schools
taught were 7,824.
In 1904 the number of public schools
taught were 7,817.
Consequently there were not more
schools taught in 1904 than 1901. in
fact fewer were taught, but the school
fund in 1901 was $1,119,746 and the
school term was 77 days. In 1904 the
school fund was $1,903,675 and the
school term was only 85 days, therefore
the school fund was $788,928 more in
1904 than in 1901, and as there were
only eight days more school it will be
seen that the average cost of each day's
increase in the school term has cost
the tax-payers of our State $9S,616.
We have seen above that the average
cost of a day's schooling in 1901 was
$14,500, and therefore to have increas
ed the school term eight days at the
cost in 1901 and prior thereto, would
not exceed $116,000, but since the sta
tistics show that these eight days did
cost $788,928, it therefore appears that
$672,928 more was expended for this
eight days' increase in the school term
than it would have cost the. State any
time prior to 1901.
The total school fund in 1894 was
only $777,079.29 and that sum gave us
64 days school in the State; and just
why it has required $788,729 to increase
our school term only eight days since
1901 is not clearly understood by the
ordinary layman.
All this fund may have been judi
ciously expended, but these are strange
figures, and especially so, when we re
call that there were fewer schools
taught in 1904 than in 1901, and more
remarkable still when we find that the
teachers of the State receive less than
$150,000 of this $788,928 increase. "
Since our State stands near the bot
tom of the list in illiteracy, it seems to
us that we should see that every dol
lar of our school fund goes to educate
the children and to c"ecrease our rate
of illiteracy, with the strictest economy
possible in the expenditures for "other
purposes." We should be just before
we are generous. Like the poor, we
need the necessities of life before we
are supplied with any of its luxuries.
Expensive school houses, rural li
braries, high priced teachers and high
er priced superintendents all do very
well, but far more important to our
State, to its reputation abroad and its
citizenship at home is that our enroll
ment in the public schools be increased
and the length of the. school term.
This will decrease our rate of illiteracy
and prepare our children for citizen
ship. The writer of this article is a friend
of public education and desires to see
every child in the State qualify himself
for citizenship prior to 1908, and there
fore wants no background steps aken
in our educational system, but there
are features in this system that are
open tA comment and perhaps criti-'
cism, and he has directed the attention
of the public to these articles which
have appeared recently in the State
press. The department of education
have prepared two answers to one of
these articles, the first article appeared
in the News and Observer of January
5th and the second appeared in the
same paper of January. 13th, and two
statements appeared in these answers
that are open to comment.
The State Superintendent says: "The
city school fund is not included in the
above calculations, nor was that fund
included in the fund on which Mr. But
ler based his calculation for 1898i-1899.
The reports of receipts of city schools
were first included in the State su
perintendent's report 1901-1902."
In, this statement there is error, for
by reference to Superintendent Me
bane's report on page 155 the item for
disbursements of city schools appears
and was Included in the total school
fundrand, therefore, the total ichool
CONSPIRACY OF
GREEDY COMBINES
Tht President Foils Their Scheme to
to Rob the Treasury The Presi
dent tq Take a Southern Trip The
State's Interests Suffering Sena
tor Pritchard's Record Contrasted
With That of the Democratic Sena
tors A Cabinet Place For the
South Are Congressmen Violating
the Law at Attorneys f The Pro
gress of Railway Rate Legislation
Why Southern Congressmen Are
Not Supporting the President in
This Great Fight The Great
Work of UlP Agricultural Depart
ment. Washington, D. C, May 22, 1905.
Special to The Caucasian.
All North Carolinians will be de
lighted to know that President Roose
velt has decided to take a trip through
the heart of the South early next fall,
leaving here probably about the first
of October. The President will make
at least one stop- in North Carolina,
and If he makes only one it will be at
Raleigh where he will deliver a short
address.
This Southern trip will extend as far
as Arkansas. The President will stop
a day or more at the home of his ma
ternal ancestors In Georgia, where his
mother was born. During his stay in
Georgia he will be the guest of Senator
Clay, when the President shall have
finished this trip he will have visited,
since he has been President, every
State in the Union.
THE PRESIDENT BALKS A SCHEME
OF A GIGANTIC. GREEDY
COMBINE.
The President and Secretary of War
have instructed the Isthmian Canal
Commission that in leasing or purchas
ing ships and in buying material and
supplies for the construction of the Pa
nama Canal, to make such purchases
abror.d in the markets of the world if
reasonable prices could not be secured
athome from domestic concerns. This
order has raised a howl from the greedy
combines who had entered into a com
bination and a conspiracy to hold up
the Government for enormous prices
on things needed. The trusts and com
bines have tried to make it appear
that the administration in taking this
action has violated the principles of
protection for American labor and Am
erican industries and swung right
about face towards free trade. Of
course, this howl, from those who have
prepared to rob the Government, will
not deceive any, except those who de
sire to be deceived. The President's
action in this instance is bold and
courageous as it has been in all other
matters. The result of this action will
not be the purchasing of much mate
rial abroad, but it will force those who
were preparing to rob the Government
to sell supplies at a reasonable price.
THE STATE'S INTERESTS SUFFER
ING. The failure of the North Carolina
Senators to come to Washington
promptly and to save the Gettysburg
Battle Field commissionership for
North Carolina, has caused consider
able comment and complaint on the
part of North Carolina.
The North Carolina troops were not
only in the hottest of the fight at the
great battle of Gettysburg, but they
advanced further into the enemy's line
than any other troops. Besides, it is
well known that North Carolina furn
ished more soldiers to the Civil War
in proportion to population than any
other state. Indeed North Carolina fur
nished more troops than she had
voters. The State had only about 110,
000 voters and furnished more than
120,000 soldiers. Indeed the record of
the North Carolina on every battle
field is one of the most remarkable in
the history of the world. In view of
these facts it is too bad for the State to
lose this commissionership.
A STRIKING CONTRAST.
A prominent North Carolinian, com
menting a few days ago upon the State
losing this commissionership, con
trasted the present conditions with tho
success of Senators Pritchard and But
ler when ther were in the Senate, in
caring for the State's interests oa
every occasion. So wide awake and
zealous were they in securing every
thing possible for North Carolina that
it was a matter of frequent complaint
and comment cn the part of Senators
from other States that North Carolina
was getting more than its share.
This complaint was frequently made
when river and harbor bills we:e pass
ed. It clso was made when appoint
ments were being made to positions for
the District of Columbia and elsewhere
where the appointees could be selected
from any part of the Union. ,It was
also made when appointments were
being made for the Spanish War.
.On every occasion North Carolina not
only got her full share but, as we have
said, complaint was made by other Sen
ators that she got more than her share.
Senator Pritchard succeeded in getting
President McKinley to offer to General
Hoke of North Carolina, a position as
major generrl. He secured the appoint
ment of Judge Osborne on the Court of
Private Land Claims. He secured the
appointment of Judge Adams as Chief
Justice of the Choctaw and Chickasaw
Citizenship Court in the Indian Terri
tory. He secured the appointment of a
Minister to Persia and a Miinster to
Liberia and a great number of consuls,
among them. Consul General Gudger
at Panama, who has just recently been
made judge of the canal zone strip.
Senators Pritchard and Butler also
secured an appropriation for the Guil
ford Court House battlefield the estab
lishment of a fish cultural . station at
Edenton, and the establishment of a
biological station , at Beaufort for the
whole United States.
These are only a few of the many
things accomplished for the State. The,
North Carolinian, referred to, In com
menting on thee things, said that the
preient Senators would have to get a
considerable move on them to make
anything like men ft record.
A CABINET PLACE FO THE
SOUTH.
It is current rumor and e!i known
here in Washington that there will be
many changes In President Roosevelt's
cabinet during the coming year. In
deed, several changes will probably
occur within the next few months. It
is not improbable that there will be
nearly an entirely new cabinet within
twelve months.
This being so the South should cer
tainly be recognized for a cabinet posi
tion, while these changes are being
made, and there is no States in the
whole South that should be considered
for that place in preference to North
Carolina. There is a great Industrial
revival going on in the Old North
State, and it is abundantly rich in
natural resource a, and there is no
reason why it should not soon become
one of the richest States In the Union.
With this Industrial 'development,
the sentiment in favor cf protection
and in favor of Republican policies
generally, is rapidly growing. There
fore the selection of a cabinet officer
from North Carolina would be a lust
recognition of these conditions, and
it would do much to hasten the pro
gress of such events.
ARE ANY CONGRESSMEN VIOLAT
ING THE LAW?
There is more cr less talk here about
rumors that certain Congressmen are
appearing before the Departments for
clients as attorneys. It is difficult to
lelieve that there is any foundation
for such rumors, because if any Con
gressman should be so ignorant as not
to know the law, he could not have
failed to. be familiar with the recent
indictment of Senator Burton of Kan
sas for committing this same offense.
He went to the Postoffice Depart
ment, or wrote letters there, in the
interest cf certain concerns who were
fearful that a fraud order would be is
sued against them preventing them
from using the mails for their busi
ness. Of course it Js the duty of a Con
gressman in his official capacity as a
Congressman to go to the Department
in the interest cf any of his constitu
ents whenever justice demands it, but
to appear there as a paid attorney
would be to sell his political Influence,
which is not only wrong in principle,
but in direct violation or the letter of
the law.
Of course a Congressman who
should appear before the Internal Rev
enue Department for an illicit whis
key distiller as a paid attorney would
violate the law to the same extent
that Senator Burton violated it in
appearing before the Postoffice De
partment. THE GREAT WORK OF SECREARY
OF AGRICULTURE WILSON.
Not only the Administration, but the
whole country," is to be congratulated
upon having such a man as Secretary
Wilson at the head of the Department
of Agriculture. It Is hard to estimate
the value of his practical administra
tion to the farmers and all agricultural
interests of the country. He is a njan
of great common sense, progressive
ness and has besides collected around
him a number of most practical and
valuable men, who devote their time
to making experiments and investiga
tions to advance the agricultural in
terests of the nation.
One of the greatest discoveries
within a century has been that soil
which is poor in nitrogen can be en
riched by inoculating the' soil with a
bacteria, which' will cause all legu
minous plants to greatly enlarge their
roots, by breathing nitrogen from the
air and storing it in the soil in the
bulbous part of the root. They have
found that by thus inoculating of the
soil that the common cowpea bulbous
soul will be about double in size, thus
storing twice the amount of nitrogen,
as the ordinary cowpea in a poor sandy
soil, which needs nitrogen worse than
any other kind. This discovery will
practically double the amount of crops
that can be raised in such soil and of
course will greatly enhance the value
of such land everywhere. This discov
ery is a god-send to eastern North
Carolina and to land everywhere that
is wanting in nitrogen.
THE REGULATION OF RAILWAY
RATES.
The movement started by President
Roosevelt to secure the enactment of
a law that would justly regulate rail
road rates and stop rebates, as a rem
edy for the great trust evil, as well as
to lower the burden of high freight
rates on all the people is gaising
strength each day.
The great mass of people in the bus
iness world who have so long felt the
oppression, but who were helpless to
remedy the evil without the help of the
Governments are rallying to the sup
port of the President. Besides it is to
the credit of some railroad men that
they-have been frank and honest
enough to admit that there should be
such a regulation in the - interest of
shippers. Of course, the hope of the
railroads, that are determined to fight
the President, is to block the passage
of such a measure in the Senate, but
It is not believed that they can con
trol enough Senators to stifle such a
great measure of common justice. .
A NORTHERN DEMOCRAT AR
RAIGNS HYPOCISY OF
SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS.
The failure of Southern Democratic
Congressmen and Senators to come in
to the support of the President In his
fight for regulation of railroad rates
and the curbing of trusts has been
much commented on recently.
This recalls a notable speech made
by Congressman Baker, of New York
State, just before the close of the last
session of Congress. He severely ar
raigned the hyprocacy of Southern
rtamnrrati leaders for their treachery
in the last campaign; He said that the
real Democrats of the North aid not
want Turtle Parker for a candidate.
That the trusts and Wall street sent
August Belmont and David B. Hill
down South to capture the Southern
nf.TTnrrti leaders for Parker, with
the promise that they should have cam
paign funds and offices as the price of
their tutravi of Drincinle. - He said.
turning on his Democratic colleagues,
that "You Southern Democrats made a
arA forftsd Judas Parker on the
Democrats of the Kettb and West,
and the mattti tjf we peopit every
where repudiated " the bargain and
HIV!
No Pout hern IVmucratic leader has
yet attempted to answer the charge.
The Washington wrt made the same
charge in a 141 eg editorial recently
and no Democratic organ has dared to
reply.
tiOXTB STATE CtOPS
Conditions For Past Week s Given
Out by the Department.
Heavy rains continued during th
past week, generally ceasing tn the
west on the 16th and la the east oa
the 17th. the average precipitaloa,
about 1.00 Inch for the State at large,
was slightly above normal The rain
fall was unfavorable for growth, sad
kept the soil so wet that work cduld
not be resumed until quite late In the
week. The temperature continued high
at first, but fell below the normal dur
ing the latter portion, checking growth
and positively Injuring some tender
crops, especially cotton. The mean
for the week, however, averaged nearly
2 degrees above normal. On Thurs
day, under the favorable Influence of
dry, clear and cool weather farmers
resumed the necessary work of cul
tivation with vigor; crops were very
foul in nearly all sections, but the
work of killing grass and weeds made
good progress, though another week
of dry weather is necessary to enable
the farmers to thoroughly clean all
crops. Growth has been rather slow
during the week, but crops continue to
look fairly well.
Planting cotton is now very nearly
completed; some replanting is neces
sary where grass oade so much head
way that fields cannot be cleaned with
out Injuring the cotton; these will be
plowed over and replanted; chopping
cotton Is well advanced, but not yet
finished; good stands are generally re
ported; the low temperatures during
the latter portion of the week caused
some cotton to turn yellow and die.
Corn planting is not finished, lowlands
having hardly been touched on ac
count of their wet condition; cultivat
ing corn is proceeding, good stands have
been secured, but most fields are still
very foul; there are many complaints
of damage to corn by cut and bud
worms, to the extent of even ruining
the stands In places. A large portion
of the tobacco crop has been trans
planted, but the work has not been
completed in the most important cen
tralnorthern section of the State,
and here, on account of Inability to
transplant due to the wet, unprepared
lands, many plant beds are overgrown
and nearly ruined; early set tobacco
is being cultivated and appears to be
doing well. Reports on the condition
of wheat, oats and -rye continue to be
favorable, with comparatively little
damage by rust or Hessian fly. Clover
and meadows are fine. Peanuts are
coming up nicely. Many sweet potato
slips were transplanted during the
week; Irish potatoes look healthy, but
the damage by the potato beetle seems
considerable. Garden and truck crops
are in fair condition. Reports on the
condition of fruits are rather diversi
fied; in the west, a fair, even crop of
both apples and peaches is indicated,
while In the east considerable dropping
of fruit is reported, though probably
not more than is usual at this season;
cherries are ripening and wild black
berries have set fruit nicely. The
strawberry season Is practically over
except in the west.
Rains reported: Goldsboro, 1.26;
Lumberton, 1.92; Newbern. 0.30; Wel
don, 1.14; Wilmington. 0.40; Hatteras,
1.60; Nashville, 0.98; Greensboro, 2.00;
Raleiga. 1.24; Foster, 1.50; Lexington,
1.24; Wadesboro, 1.75; Angler, 0.87;
Moncure. 0.29: Ramseur. 0.11; Char
lotte, 1.50; Ashevllle, 1.40; Marion,
1.53 and Settle, 2.40.
Clay Grubb Shot.
SnHal Mondav morn
ing about 9.30 o'clock. Clay GFubb and
riaronco Thnmnson. the star witness
for the defense in the recent trial
here, drove in a gallop to Salisbury,
both wounded all over tne Doay ana
bleeding very freely.
Forty-five minutes berore, DOtn men
were shot from ambush two miles
across the Yadkin river between Mr.
fimhh'B home and the toll brldee.
The men were driving along feeling
secure from attack in ODen daylight.
When least expecting it, Mr. Grubb
felt a sharp pain about the head,
heard simultaneously a shot as of a
pistol. Both Messrs. Grubb and Thomp
son looked back and three more shots
were fired. Mr. Grubb thought a rifle
or n nistol was used, but all the
wounds appear to be from large No.
2 shot.
On being struck, the men whipped
up their horses and drove rapidly to
Salisbury. Their top buggy was nn
ed with shot and one of the horses
wna struck. There was a wound
"through his forehead, a flesh ground
nniv. and another shot went througn
the flesh of his chin. He was struck
in the shoulder, in the hand, the el
bow and his face was bloody, loung
Thompson was struck first in the
hands the flesh beine considerably
llacerated. In his back there are seven
tmnchnt wnimrta and he suffered COn
Rtderahlv. He was much the worse for
the experience. Mr. Grubb has 13
wounds and Mr. Thompson 10. rx)rcy
eight marks were observed in the bug-
Mr. Grubb recoenized one or his
assailants. He Is a desperate negro.
Nat Crumo. and was bribed once be
fore to shoot Mr. Grubb, when the
prisoner was released Saturday, he re
marked upon returning home that he
was not nneasv about anybody's at
tacking him except this negro. Crump
once worked for Mr. Grubb; they leu
out and Mr. .Grubb whipped him. Since
then the negro has been on the look
out for him.
Mr. Ornhb was warned Sunday of
a possible attack. Oscar Walser, who
first communicated Obe Davis offer
of $50 for, the slaying of Grubb, also
foretold him what was about to hap
pen again. Mr. Grubb went to bed
early last niehL locked everything se
curely and slept soundly. He had no
fear of attack in the aay-ume, ana
was not prepared to do battle with the
murderers. The only weapon about
them was a small pistol In the foot
of the buggy.
Ox Hitched to Sislgh.
yh novel spectacle of an v ox
hitched to a sleigh was see'h on' the
itreets of Westminster Vt. during
th winter. Mr. Farccam. of tht m
distrie! was the rrr.
Ifflil
Why Was a Road Paying t?000
Leased Fee $4X000 Per Year -Mr.
Wooten Wants to Know An Inter
esting History is tKe R4 -Ua Ntt
Receipts Ar Increasing at tm Rate
of S&jOOO a Yr It l Rented Fa
Less Than Half It, Value.
Kinston. N. C. May JO. lfOJ.
To the Caucasian:
Living on the line of the Atlantic
& North Carolina railroad and fami
liar with Its history. I nurpu ' five
a brief sketch of its managemmt.
The rosj was completed to Qolds
boro in the spring cf 115$. The peo
ple of New Bern, on the ISth of April
gave a big dinner and trains came
from every road in tbe State and
brought a large crowd. Dr. Hawk
and H. W. Miller delivered addrewes
New Bern has ever been noted for
her hospitality, but on this occasion
she simply surpassed her-If.
The original stockholders of the
road never expect In their day to ever
receive any dividends, but the money
they gave they considered as a dona
tion, which they were willing to make
for tbe prosperity of the State. M)
father. Council Wooten. waa one of
the original directors appointed by
Governors Bragg and Ellis. The roac
hardly xaid expenses, and I have heard
him say that he and Mr. I C. lies
rcond, a director from lenolr County,
gave their note to the bank for $35,
000 to get money to run the road.
The men of that day were pit riot It
and they were willing to jeopardlw
their property for the State.
Col. John D. Whltford was the firs.
president, and was a very competent
one. He was president until altei
he war. In March, 1862. the yankee.-4
captured New Bern and the trains ran
ao further than Kinston, so about two
thirds of the road was in possession
of the Yankees.
Mr. E. R. Stonly, a republican ol
New Bern, was the first president af
ter the war, and was a good officer. At
that time, all the road could do, wa
to exist. Nobody thought of a dlvl
lend. Colonel Humphrey was presl
Jcnt a short time under Governor
Brogden. When Governor Vance wa.
elected in 1876, he made Major Johi.
Hughes of New Bern president. Ir
1S79. when Vance was elected Sena
tor. Jarvis succeeded as Governor and
Colonel Whltford was made President
I was a director during Jarvis' whole
administration of six years.
During Whitford's administration.
about 1881, the road was leased tc
W. J. Best. In consideration for the
lease of the road Mr. Best proposes
o build an air line from Goldsborc
io Salisbury, and connect with th
Western North Carolina railroad. Th
proppsed read would have gone
through a fine country that had no road
and would have been of untold value
'o the State. Governor Jarvis wa
in favor of leasing the road to Best
md get this new road built and tbm
levelop the State. It was a coble
and patriotic idea cf Governor Jar
iris, and he was actuated by the pur
?st motives. I had no faith In Mr.
best's ability to build the road, foi
I looked upon him as an adventurer.
md that he simply wanted to get con
trol of the Atlantic & North Carolina
tailroad to get what be could out of
t. I being appointed by Governoi
Jarvis, I would have been glad tc
arry out his policy, but I could not
io so believing as I did that Mr. Best
would net be able to build the project
?d railroad, so I voted against the
eifce and subsequent events proved
that I was right, for In a year Best
ave up the road and surrendered the
lease.
' Tbe road was in a dilapidated condl
tion, no improvements having beer
made, so Colonel Whltford had t
spend all the money he could make t
put the road in condition to do bust
ness. Pending the consideration of
the-' lease, the directors met at More-
head City, and Governor Jarvis was
present, but he made no effort to la
luence any director and Induce him
to vote for the lease. He left each
man to exercise his best Judgment at
he saw proper. Some governors woulc"
have threatened those who were thur
thwarting bis policy, but Governoi
Jarvis did no such thing. He is a no
ble, patriotic and a great man.
When Governor Scales was elected
Governcr in 1884, he made Washington
Bryan president. His policy was to ira
prove tbe read. He mortgaged the
road for three hundred and fifty thous
and dollars to buy Iron to replace the
old iron. At the time I thought this
was an unwise step, for the old Iron
would have answered for several
years.
In 18&8 when Governor Fowle war
elected, he made W. S. Chad wick, of
Beaufort. presidenL His policy was
to practice the most rigid economy,
make no permanent improvements. He
accumulated money and declared
dividend the first in the history of
the road. He was heralded as the
great Napoleon of railroading. He
managed the property well, so far as
economy wan concerned. The truth is
there never has been a day In the
history of the road when it was in a
condition to declare a dividend, for
the earnings ought to have been ap
plied to permanent improvements and
equipping the road.
Messrs. Hancock and Patrick. Gov
ernor . Russell's appointees, pursued
the same policy that Chadwick did,
and declared a dividend, for If they
had not, there wonld have gone up a
howl, that the Fusion is ts were incom
petent.
In 1893, James A. Bryan was made
president, and continued president for
five years. He reversed the policy c
Chadwick and said the earnings should
be put unon the read. He was right
in this, but the trouble was he did
not make judicious use of the money
is hiv Improvements.
Without going Into detlili. I nil!
mentjrn only a few of the agror
tweets a tasi taat wew Isj-?.
!! Wilt a arbo t Oolltbaru fee
$!J.niae tt 4 erT. faf
I itard a k44fevra mn say mt a
illt a larr arra.MM at !V4a. a
trail stati&a bttwrra OoUN&tt a4
jiGrsac that rt fj.i . b a
fir fcoadrsi 4llar b triM aav
strfrd; t-t aUat at
New Item a rha. that was
act a4e4 at prtt. At oOier iut
stations c tttirt vuueataceat ar-
ttcKtse. when rbarrr wl4
aav deac Thea b Umtfet ta at
at Morehs4 sad wfxfU fatrnkraa
on It la tmprovenwut. ttveryt4r
knows abeet the fre hoard sad 4rta
ag at that hotel, A committee s
appointed by Governor Arror la ta
vetttlgat the affairs of tb rmd, Gt
gentleman, who was a t, a4-
milled Ifcat he had frre boar for hla-
tf and fSKily. bat si4 bia fvtr
to the hotel r worth 1U lie was
asked what erir & ret4ertd. ast
he said he was general ratertaloer.
Ftp pa wre scaatrvl tadlscrimi
nately.
At tbe stockholders' taetlsg r
Rrrati tn his rrpurt la ixa. t4l tbe
osd waa In a deplorable roaSUka and
oul have to borrow money to ml
It la a rrojr rundtnaa for
butlnr. Aftrr reading; his rrrrrt
here went up throughout the State a
ftntBd for a lase. At a ptl
ng -n tre flrt Thursday la Hepteni-
ber, l0t. a lease was male to tb
Mow land Improvement (Yrarnr of
Abode Island.
After the lease was mad the stock
bolder met In Nrw Hern on th fourth
hursday In September tbelr annual
nesting. Mr. Bryan. a rri!de!, sub-
nitted his annual rrpo't. This re-
rt was published In the NVva and
Observer, a paper friendly to Governor
ycock. In its Usue of tbe Slth of Sep.
emlH-r. 19u4. In Ids nrport Mr. ilry-
n says that the gnw a earnings of
the road during tbe preeiedlag ten
ear under Chadwick. Hancock. and
atrlek were fl.iVM.390.02. Tbe gross
amlngs for the five j itri of Bryan's
administration were $1,3S1.1J.8, or
itbln 9197.2O.04 rf the total gross
samings of the ten preceding years.
t will ho jwn that tbe road wss In-
reasing In business at a rapid rate.
Ir. Bryan says that the annual ater-
tge Increase rf emings during tbe
lve years of his adm'nlitration was
28,754.12; he sayR that during th
ast year of his administration, l$o4.
he earnings of the road were fill.
122.10. being an incrosne over tbe
urnlugK of 1S9. the last year of Pal
irks administration of 1143,770 fiO.
dr. Bryan says that the last year of
its administration the net earning
f the road, after paying Interest, ex
penses, permanent Improvements, new
qulpmcnt. machinery, real estate and
-rood land were f7s.S29.Cl.
In speaking of tbe leane, be rays
bat for the first twenty years the ren
si is $S3.916.0o per uinuiu. which Is
24.913.G1 len tbsn the road earned lu
1904. Now think of that, and then
he earnings ct the- road increasing
it the rate of f28.7S4.12. a Mr. Bryan
-ays. per annum, so at that rate tbe
oad in 1905 would earn fKi7.5a3.7J:
.o the property Is leased for one-half
ess than It Is earning, with an annual
ncrease of f 28.651. 12 would you call
hat a good business transaction? If
be Fuslonlsts haJ lease! It at that
.ate, the Democratic leaders woult
lave said get your "rei-ahtrts' and
cur guns, and drive out the Incoiapo-
:ent rascals.
By this article I don't Intend to cast
my aspersions upon Mr. Bryan, for he
s a gentleman and a scholar and Is
my friend. I have simply given the
facts, and the reader can form his
iwn conclusions.
C. S. WOOTEN.
Bryan's Accounts Considered.
New Haven. Conn., Special A bear
ing upon the account of William J.
Bryan for f 2,500 for services as admin
istrator of tbe estate of the late Pbilo
S. Bennett, was conducted here. Tbe
estate had a vslue of f 29 1,000. with
f67,O0O yet to be received from the
firm of Bennett. Sloan A Company, of
New York, of which tbs deceased was
a member.
Killing on Excursion Train.
Crandall. Tenn., 8pec!aL In a
hooting affray on an excursion train
Monday night near this place, George
W. Flsk. an employe of the Tennessee
Lumber Company, and formerly of
Williams port, Pa waa shot and ia
stantly killed by Will Parsons, wbo
is supposed to have been firing at an
other man. At a preliminary bearing
today. Parsons was bound over to
court.
Gayntr-Green Judgment.
Montreal, Special. -Judge La Fon
taine, the extradition commissioner,
having had time to prepare bla Judg
ment In the case of Gaynor and .
Greene, Monday remanded them until
next Monday, when ha expects to be
able to band down his decision.
Three Injured in Hotel Fire.
Dallas, Texas, Special. A special to
The News from Sherman says that in
a fire -which destroyed tbe Texas
House today the following were In
jured by jumping from the windows:
G. B. Galtney, one rib broken, and ex
temal injuries: William Kiley, severe
cuts In foot; John Perry, back injured
and body braised.
17 Tunnel Workers Killed.
Vienna, By Cable. According to
news received here from Ylesen. la
8tyria, 17 persons have been killed by
an explosion caused by fire damp tn
the Bos ruck tunnel there today. The
explosion took place in the lower gal
leries on the southern side of the tost.
neL There were 17 men In the tunnel
at the time, and It la feared. that all
have perished.
- , . .. "" """ .
Rojestvensky's ships are reported to
have left Indo-Chinese waters, sailing
northward, Sunday. .
Bishop Favors Child. Labor Law.
The b'fhop of Elcde Island Is tak
Ing a prominent part e the present
agitation for a stricter child labor
law, now JrCiS la fU t?ta JtriiU
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