NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 1093

HOUSE BILL 1387

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES FOR THE ACQUISITION, PLANNING AND STABILIZATION OF THE HISTORIC SOUTHERN RAILWAY SPENCER SHOPS.

Whereas, the development of transportation has made an immeasurable contribution to all the citizens of the State; and

Whereas, roads, highways, waterways and railroads have played an important role in the economic, social and cultural history of the State from the earliest days of settlement to the present; and

Whereas, thousands of North Carolinians have devoted their minds, talents and labors to the development of transportation and transportation technology throughout the history of the State; and

Whereas, the State has the opportunity to obtain what was the largest repair shop and freight handling facility in the South during the age of steam and which remains one of the last great railroad shops in the United States; and

Whereas, the Southern Railway Shops of Spencer, North Carolina, face imminent destruction unless the State obtains the shops; and

Whereas, the Spencer Shops include both structures unique to railroading and adequate space to present and display other modes of transportation which have played important roles in the growth of this State; and

Whereas, countless North Carolina transportation artifacts are being destroyed or removed to other states for public display; and

Whereas, the Southern Railway Company has agreed to sell land and donate historic structures of the Spencer Shops for the establishment of a State Historic Site of Transportation; and

Whereas, it is desirable to preserve and interpret the history of transportation and to give special public recognition to North Carolina's transportation history; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Cultural Resources for fiscal year 1977-1978 in addition to all other appropriations to that department the sum of eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) and for fiscal year 1978-1979 the sum of eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) in order that the department may acquire, and provide for planning and stabilization of the Historic Southern Railway Shops in Spencer, North Carolina.

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1977.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of July, 1977.