The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-10-08
"Awakc, arise, or be forever fallen y,

eSted-
awake, arise, or be forever fallen ="
Mr.. Editor Your article in Saturdays paper
has attracted my attention, and especially. the
paragraph italicised. With YOU I sincerely wish
that every citizen of the town could give il hrs
serious considerations. The time has now arrived
when some definite action must be had in order To
resuscitate the almost prostrate condition of this
town, and 1t must he evident to all, that without
immediate action its fair prospects are forever
blasted. Are we then 10 stand still, with arms
folded and inglorinusly permit all our prospects TO
be %blighted, and all our former fond aniicipations To
vanish into AIR, from our own inactivity aud want
ct enterprise Let onr citizens reflect seriously
upon our present condition, and they can come TO
no other conclusion. than that unless something is
done, and that speedily, to improve our condition,
our town will sink into insignifcance and our
property become worthless.
Heretofore our great reliance has been placed
on the public works in our immediate vicini,y.-
But events 90 To prove that we must rely on some
other source; we cannot expect the same amount
OF work as heretofore the establishment of other
Yards and other causes will prevent this. Our
industrious mechanics must look to other sources
for employment. What then can be done to i'm
prove the present condition of Portsmouth. IL we
look North and South, we find the citizens of eve
ry important iowa connecting themselves with
the interior by means of rail roads and canals
~ ~ CD'liIuOuSl iHe OF raj Tua0 VIII soon
be completed to the Tennessee river and The
connection of Wilmington and Charleston, by rail
road, must greatly increase The travel on the Allan
tic r0n'es. Independently of travel, the opening
OF the British ports creates a great demand for our
staple productions. Already is our country reap
ing advantages of free trade. The reduction of
the tariff in England, and the failure of their
crops. have caused a great demand for our wheat
and corn. and consequently an increase on the
price. The amount of wealth which the advance
adds 10 the capital of the country, and which
mainly goes into the hands of our farmers can be
easily estimated. By means Of the rail road onr
town has been connected with the grain growing
PORTION of North Carolina, and can be made the
greatest corn market in our country. 1t is but
reasonable TO suppose, that the receipts of the road
would be greatly increased by the increased de-
mand for that article.
now invite the attention to the condition of
III rail road. 1t is useless to enquire why it has
been brought to it's present condition. The in
quIry now is. can il be Tevived-can il be made
Ia realize what was once so fonJly aniicipated ?
This road originally cost nearly a million and a
hall OF dollars. II rs now the property of the
State, and the next Legislature will decide what
shall be done with it. II, then, any action is to
be taken by us, il must be done before the meet.
ing of The Legislature. 1t is true, this town is
greatly in debt; but if it can be shown, that by
increasing our liabilities we may ultimately Iiuni.
date our debt and render the town prosperous,
should we hesitate2 Let me then. ask our Gill
zens, IT This road is again put in order and man
aged properly, will it not produce as much reve-
nue. as heretofore? May we not reasonably ex-
pect that from the rail roads which are now being
constructed at the South, that The number of pas
Sengers will be greatly increased, and that the
transportation Of produce will also be greatly in
creased, from the causes which have been enume
rated II may, then, he fairly concluded that the
receipts OF the road will far exceed what it has
ever done. But let me take what the road has
produced, in order to make a proposition, and also
to assume what [ think will be required to put The
road in good order. Such is the condition of our
country, from the abundance Of timber and the
IIghtness OF the grades, that thick bar iron will
answer as well on this as the heavy II irnn nm
other roads. 1t is estimated that 5000. 900 will
be sufficient TO put the road in order To Weldon-
and it is admitted on all hands, tina, s3O.OOO
year will be sufficient TO pay all expenses, and to
keep it in order.
The receipts Of the road in one year 81, 900
Expenditures.
Interest on 100000 10000
Ot1ceT's salaries, repairs Of road,
workmen IN the shops. agents, road
hands and interest on the amount
wh'ch the State may charge for road,
which will make the receipts ST.. 900, and the ex
Penditnres $4,000, and if this be a correct esti.
maze. " would, OF course, leave a clear profit Of
S2l'OOO annually. Now, I ask again, is there
any reason TO a%Pprehond that the road will not a.
gaia produce This amount? On the contrary,
may we not inter, that the receipts will greatly
go beyond The amount estimated : Bot the road
even in its worst condition has produced moi lose
than $4,000 a year. If, then, il should prodnce
only this SUN, still it ought not to be permitted In
go down, for The continuation Of the road most
necessarily increase the value Of our property, and
the prosperity Of the town.