| From the Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, N. C.) |
| |
| September 5, 1864 |
| |
| Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders
of the Western N. C. Railroad Company |
| Statesville, Aug. 25, '64 |
| |
| The Ninth Annual
Meeting of the Stockholders of the Western N. C. Railroad Company was
convened this day in the Court House. On motion of Dr. J. F. Foard,
John I. Shaver was called to the Chair and J. J. Bruner and C. A.
Carlton requested to act as Secretaries. |
| The committee on
proxies reported a majority of the stock represented. The Chairman
announced the meeting organized and ready for business. |
| The State's proxy
was now handed in by Col. A. Mitchell. |
| On motion of M. L.
McCorkle, Esq., the reading of the reports of the officers of the
Company was dispensed with, on the grounds that the reports were
printed and in the hands of the Stockholders present. |
| On motion of Dr. J.
F. Foard, the reports of the officers were received and adopted. |
| On motion of W. P.
Caldwell, Esq., the meeting proceeded to the election of four
Directors. |
| The following
gentlemen were put in nomination: Jonas Cline, of Catawba; A.
Henderson, of Rowan; Dr. J. F. Foard, of Rowan; John Hunt, of Burke;
John Malone, of McDowell; R. A. Caldwell, of Rowan; Dr. John McDowell,
of McDowell. |
| While the tellers
were counting the votes, Dr. J. F. Foard asked leave to read a letter
from Capt. James M. Goodman, A. Q. M. at Salisbury, having reference
to securing forage for the army of Gen. Lee, urging the producers to
send forward all their surplus immediately. |
| Capt. Myers,
Commissary at Salisbury being present, also urged the farmers to send
in bread and meat supplies for the brave defenders of our country. |
| W. P. Caldwell,
Esq., offered the following preamble and resolution: |
| Whereas, It is the opinion of the
Stockholders of the W. N. C. R. R. Company that it is injurious to
their interest to farm out any of the property or franchises of their
Company, to an independent Company, and believing the R. R. Company
can transport all articles over the road with as much safety and
dispatch as the Express Company and believing that all profits of
transportation ought to be made by the R. R. Company; |
| Resolved, That
the Board of Directors are instructed to terminate their contract with
the Southern Express Company, (after giving due notice) and that they
confer with the North Carolina Rail Road Company, and other Rail
Roads, with the view to make such combined arrangements with said
Road, as to insure to all persons safe and expeditious transportation
of their property, money and effects, over the Roads under the charge
and management of their own Agents and Messengers. |
| W. F. McKesson,
Esq., of Burke, responded in favor of the resolution, and
congratulated the Company on the presentation of this measure in an
eloquent and patriotic speech. |
| F. E. Shober, Esq.,
of Salisbury, followed in a few excellent and appropriate remarks. |
| The tellers of the
election returned and reported the following: Whole number of
votes polled, 12,027 -- necessary to a choice, 6,140. Jonas Cline
received 10,411, J. C. McDowell 12,016, J. A. Hunt 8,793, John Malone
9,053, R. A. Caldwell 2,424, A. Henderson 4,269, C. A. Carlton 1,183,
J. F. Foard 127, J. I. Shaver 15, whereupon it was declared that Jonas
Cline, J. C. McDowell, J. A. Hunter and John Malone were duly elected. |
| The discussion of
Mr. Caldwell's resolution was resumed and advocated by Dr. John F.
Foard. |
| The question of
adoption was called and the resolution passed unanimously. |
| On motion of W. F.
McKesson, Esq., the pay of the Directors was raised to 25 cents per
mile while traveling on business for the Company. |
| A debate sprung up
upon the motion and was participated in by W. F. McKesson, S. R. Erwin
and Dr. A. M. Nesbit in favor, and M. L. McCorkle opposed. The
question being called, resulted in the adoption of the resolution. |
| F. E. Shober, Esq.,
offered the following resolution and advocated it, in a few
appropriate remarks, which was unanimously adopted: |
| Resolved, That
the salaries of the President and Treasurer of the W. N. C. R. R. Co.
be increased to $4,000 per annum. |
| On motion of W. F.
McKesson, Esq., that the proceedings of this meeting be published in
the Salisbury Watchman and the Iredell . |
| On motion of W. F.
McKesson, Esq., that the same Finance Committee be continued. Adopted. |
| On motion of W. F.
McKesson, Esq., that M. L. McCorkle and D. B. Gaither be a Committee
to verify proxies at the next annual meeting. |
| On motion, That the
Chairman appoint a Committee of three to investigate the Road and
report to next meeting. Appointed Hugh Reynolds, M. L. McCorkle and T.
G. Walton. |
| On motion, the
thanks of the meeting be and are hereby tendered to the Chairman and
Secretaries for the performance of the duties, &c. |
| On motion, the
meeting adjourned. |
| John I. Shaver, Prest. |
| J. J. Bruner, C. A. Carlton,
Secretaries |