Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-07-31
For the Journal.

NO. IL.


South, by the erection of this Rail Road through
Raleigh and Fayetteville, the entire destruction Of
the Weldon Road, as channel of communication.
must be the Immediate and inevitable result, It is
the contemplation of a consequence SO disastrous
10 wilmington and the State, and which success
ful issue of the late proceedings in Raleigh and
Fayetteville, Is SO well calculated to produce.
which led u.s. in our first number, to speak of their
jealousy and opposition. We find it unnecessary
now, to say more in proof of what has been termed
most unfounded assertion" than to call the At
tention of the able individual who has made the
remark, to the plain fact, that should these nro.
ceedlngs take effect. The consequences, we predict.
nave not been disputed. Had there been no Road
already erected nearly reaching to the South Car
DINA line, which would seem to be the most patu-
raj starting point for the continuation of the great
national highway, we can we'll conceive how g
proper regard for their interests, should prompt
the citizens of Raleigh and Fayettevi lie to supply
Inc dehclency, and to continue on to the utmost
point proposed. But every feeling of duty, of in.
now. What, will they say both can be supported
hey Will not, when they reflect that the efforts of
the whole State joined in erecting single con-
Meeting link, would scarcely be sufficient to invite
the confidence of the capitalist! If it would he
found 80 difficult to effect one, were we united.
how far more impracticable will it be to effect
either, when that energy which should be devoted
to the lest plan for the interest of ALL is friter
ed away in petty endeavors to secure the benefit
OF single Localities. Why go to the expense of a
Kali Road over section of country which is TIA
versed by one already! Why peril the large a.
mount Of capital which the State and individuals
have already invested in the same great enterprise?
Why perpetuate a colonial subservience and de-
pendence upon Charleston, when seaport iden-
tilted with us in feelings, and interest, and posi-
ton, stands ready on our own borders to supply
the same wants, and her enterprsing population
calls for our succor? We hold it to be unwise and
our own industry can supply, and unpatriotic to
build up another metropolis at the expense of our
own. Surely Wilmington can have nothing to
object to the fair claim to proper pursuit of their
own interests, which the Observer claims for the
people of Fayetteville but we take it that in this
case their interests and ours arc perfectly ident-
fed. The apparent obviousness of this position
led US TO infer that measures taken in opposition,
proceeded from improper feeling. We now invite
them, in the name Of the common interest of all,
and the best way of attesting the absence of that
feeling of which we complain, to contribute their
countenance and. support to the erection of the
Road from this place.
Proceeding with the original plan of these let
tiers, we will now attempt to sh"w
THE benefits OF THE WELDON ROAD.
In examination of the sort proposed, the
readiest and most accurate way of reaching the
proper result, is that one which is almost imme-
dately suggested, and we now come to enquire.
| st. Through what counties does the Road pass
What proportion do their gross revenue and popu-
laon bear to that of the State, and final y, wheth
er, since the erection of the Road any material in
crease has been observed in both, or either, from
whence we may readily conjecture whether its
extension through other counties would prove a
source of benefit or injury.
It will be seen on. reference to the chart of the
Weldon Road that it crosses the State at its broad
est point, and either passes directly through eight
of its most important counties, or in their imme-
diate vicinity. The Road was commenced in
1887, and opened, we believe, in 1870 Six years
have elapsed since that period, and we turn
to the official returns of the Comptroller General,
to ascertain in what deg,ee the amount of reve-
nue. (Which, with the increased amount of popua
Iaton, form the surest test of the beneficial ope-
ration of any political MEASURE will bear out
in an assumption made in the course of this ex~
animation. &c.. ..-
In the year 1884, three years before the COM
mencement of the Road, the joint population of
northampton, Halifax, Edgecombe Nash, Wayne,
Sampson, Duplin and New Hanover counties,
which, from their position, would seem most ex-
posed 20 the influence of the Road, amounted at
an estimate to about ss,23s. By the census of
1910, 1t had reached 90, 427, showing an increase
of 5,lss in six years slone, which. without at all
referring to the floating population of Whining
ton, some or 1000 more, exhibits fair rate of
$50 and fraction, per annum. 1t is remarkable,
and we wish it borne in mind by the reader be-
fore we enter into an examination Of the best
means of efecting the Road, that so large and un-
precedented an increase of the population of these
counties, unequalled in any others, and SO
great rise in the value of property, amounting
j in some instances to nearly 800 per cent, was
attended by no corresponding increase of revenue,
other than might have been expected from the