Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-09
NORTH CAROLINA.

4
is an able document judciousy confined to an expo
ston of the affairs Of the State, which are present.
ed in clear and perspicuous style. Most of it is
occupied III urging upon the Legislature the neces-
sity OF extending the Internal Improvements Of the
State so as to increase the facilities Of inlercom-
munication among its people and for transporting
their produce TO market. We copy so much of
this portion OF the document as relates TO the prn-
cpal improvement recommended:
" In surveying territory, with eye to the present in
and OF the people, than ever impressed
with desuon Of facilities for cheap and speedy trans
porlaton In this regard, however unpleasant may be the
admission, forced the conviction that labor under
greater disadvantages than any State in the Union and
be equal competitors with their citizens in our
agriculture, the predominant pursuit among US, until these
disadvantages in great degree overcome The man
who obliged transport wagons no better roads than
ours, distance varying from sixty two hundred and fifty
mi es, the speed Of twenty fve miles per day,
contend for profits with him who has the advantage of rail-
roads good navigation than the spinning wheel with
the cotton MILL Had been in favorable stu
alton in this respect, and had the mpedimens which
bese Us been imposed by human power sacrifice would be
esteemed too great effect deverance and restore
prosperity 1t is therefore theme for the profoundest con-
deraton Of those enjoying the confidence of constituency
ton 10 their interests what be DONE ought 10 be I'M
deraken, to these grievances and place their industry
and labor equal footing with those of their ieow-c-
zens IN other States It must be admitted that, from geo.
graphical causes, the question originally rather diff
cult of solution And our former enterprises in internal i'm
provement having failed from necessary 10 be
commented o. the State has of late years taken
ton in constructing weeks OF this kind and many good cti
zens appear have concluded that further Efforts yan
doom prvation in this particular fixed fate
Meanwhile other States have pushed forward their improve
mens (some of them with rash and eravagant hand, 1t
is true, but in the main with the most beneficial results
overcoming obstacles far greater than any which mpedes u.s.
and obtaining for themselves still greater advantages
in the competitions Of the market We therefore impeled
not only by all the obvious considerations which appeal
ed to in former times but by reasonable sedeience to
abandon further hesitation and adopt system OF i'm
provemen commensurate with the and interest OF the
State Too much should be undertaken at once, but
what may be attempted, Should be thoroughly completed
GAS the commencement of such system, and basis on
which other works may engraed any desirable extent
as our means may from tine TO time permit, railroad from
Raleigh TO Charlotte by way of Salisbury, appears to me OF
the first This scheme has not been much considered
heretofore and derives EAh of its importance from kindred
work, in progress fiona Charlotte Columbia South
Carolina Already from Raleigh norhward continuous lines OF
railroad and steamboat transportation stretch through the
towns OF Virginia and tie great cities Of the North to Port
land in Maine, and Buffalo, Lake Erie. Similar works
also exist, or are in progress, with certainty OF completion
IN the course OF year two, extending fom Charlotte
southwark, through Columbia Charleston and again from
the former of these through Augusta and the interior OF Geor
ga and Tennessee TO Nashville, well TO the Mississippi,
mt Memphis, and to New Orleans by way Of Montgomery
and Mobile Through part of North Carolina alone link
wanting complete the grand chain OF communication from
one extremity Of county TO the other and to furnish TO
the whole nation those facilities of intercourse which the in
bahants north and south Of enjoy in their several sections
The connexion proposed therefore, being II bridge
space now impossible by steam cars having either
end the great highways of the North and the South with
their numerous branches for thousand miles in both dec
uons, promises reasonable remuneration for the outlay OF its
construction from through transportation; and, in mill
tay and other points of vew would be OF great national ad
vange. Had Nature supplied with navgabe rivers like
the Mississippi flowing from Raleigh and Charlotte espec
lively to New York and New Orleans oChareston,
all would perceive the benefit of the junction of the
two through the interior Of the STATE clearly did the ge
MUS OF Clinton that arising from the union Of the Hudson
with the great lakes. The parallel may be yet perfect in
the present state OF railroad convyance but destined TO be
50 at no distant day.
Blu, the foregoing are merely incidental inducements to
undertake this work II is commended great North
Carolina Improvement appealing TO our interest and pride
by arguments which il almost criminal 10 overlook. ls
would open to the market Of the world extensive region Of
the State reaching from The Capital almost the Blue Ridge,
oil great fertility and capacity for indefinite improvement by
reason Of its agricultural mineral, and manufacturing
sources containing in the counties within twenty five miles
Of the most direct than $50 900 souls and within
fifty miles than one-half Of whole population who
are far removed from places Of trade and dependant entirely
on the common wagon and road for all their
Portaiion The occasion will permit me dwell its
numbeiless benefits this regard, which will readily occur
to any who looks the map of the State with The eye
Of siaCsm snd patriot 3D. II would add incidentally
10 the business and value OF one, least and ultimately Of
both, OF our present railroads. Of which the State has deep
an interest," ard make them productive stocks 3D. 1t would
unite The middle and eastern with the section Of the
State, IN domestic trade, and exchange Of productions
cumbersome for the present mode Of conveyance besides ac
tang travel for health aHd social intercourse 4h. BY
running the most practicable from Raleigh Sails
bury, and thence turning souhwestwarj Charlotte would
ttsec the State Tor than hundred miles, bringing the
most either side within fifty miles OF the raroad
and would he in favorable location for being extended still
further west from the former places and to connect adva
ageousy by Of turnpike roads with all the northwest
ern part Of our territory.
Whilst would confer these benefits the interior
try, now depressed and partially excluded from oil proabe
commerce. the objection has been overlooked that does
not point Immediately TO the sesboad Of State and
" an increase OF the prosperity Of market towns. Let
hem however, not despair Its advantages will be afforded
10 them IN due After the completion Of the main
track branch 10 Fayetteville other point the nsvigabe
water Of the Cape Fear river will be Of easy accomplishment
It's extension from Raleigh Godsborough would be invited
by the connection thus 10 be formed between Wilmington and
The upper country and eventually il might realize that scheme
Of Central Railroad consecraed by the patriotic abors OF
CALDWELL IN extension from Goldsborough TO Beaufort
whether therefore, we regard single work. the
groundwork OF an extensive paD the road from Raleigh 10
Charlotte appears 10 be the important Improvement which
should hrst engage attention and our energies And
accordingly recommend il TO the patronage the legislature
TO the Of hail. al least woiths Of the capital
necessary for its construction The distance about hun
died and sixty miles by the mail route and the the road
and