The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-12-08

"SStWutu W SHdtlotto, u WOuiu UtSeCt tue
State for more than hundred miles, bring.
ing the most remote on either side within
fifty miles Of tho Railroad, and would be
IN favorable location for being extended
still farther west, from the former place,
and to connect advantageously by means
Of Turnpike roads with alllh Northwestern
part Of our territory.
Whilst il would confer these benefits on
the interior Country now depressed and
partially excluded from all profitable com.
merce, the objection has not been over.
looked tina. it does not point Immediately
TO the seaboard Of our own State, and TO
an increase Of the prosperity Of our mar.
kei towns. Let them however not des-
pair. Its advantages will be afforded them
in due season. After the completion Of
the main trunk, branch to Fayetteville or
other point on the navigable water Of the
Cape Fear River, will be Of easy accom-.
plishmen,. Its extension from Raleigh TO
Goldsboro' would be invited by the connex.
ion thus to the formed between Whining.
ton and the upper Country, and eventually
it might realize that scheme of central
Railroad consecrated by the patriotic la.
bors Of Caldwell in an extension from
Goldsboro' to Beaufort. Whether there.
fore we regard il as a single work, or as
the groundwork Of an extensive plan, the
Road from Raleigh to Charlotte appears
to be the improvement which should first
engage our attention and our energies
And | accordingly recommend it 10 the
patronage of the Legislature, to the amount
of one half, or at least two flths Of the
capital, necessary for lis construction
The distance is about one hundred and
sixty miles by the mail route, and the cost
Of the Read and equipments over such route
as may be selected would probably not exc.
eed 100000. As an inducemen, to aid
this scheme, it presents an opportunity for
disposing OF the Raleigh and Castor Road,
as has been intimated in the preceding
remarks, on that topic. A company might
be organized to embrace the entire line
from Castor TO Charlotte, and the road
now owned by the State transferred to
them at fair valuation in pay ment Of her
for stock OF the particulars
of such an arrangement il favored by the
Legislature, no deineation is here requir.
ed. / have already treated Of this subject
with more minuteness than may be appro.
priaIe, in an address Of this kind, because
1t has 8 yet attracted but little of the pub.
lie attention, and from deep impression
Of the utility in allevia,ing the condition
Of our industry and reviving the waning
fortunes of our country it gives
an assured hope of profit on the capita
invested.
have remarked with much salts faction
hat some en'erprlsing persons among our
elbow citizens, have commenced the Nav
CATION of Neuss and Tar Rivers with
Steam Boats Of a light class, aud tina, a
spirit is awakened among the people in the
upper section Of the Cape Fear to open
that River for navigation TO or above The
confluence Of lis main branches. Every
successful effjrt at objects Of this nature
is public benefit and deserves the foster.
ng aid of The Legislature.
II has not been thought erpedien, to ex.
,rcise the power conferred on the Board
}! Internal Improvement by the last Gen.
,ral Assembly TO sell the Club Foot and
Harlow's Creek Canal, and il expired by
limitation with the opening Of your SEES.
sion.
beg again 10 impress on your attention
be Indispensable necessity Of improving
our public Roads. lis little credilable TO
our enterprise and intelligence, that alho'
we are considerably taxed, in the freqlen,
calls on our labor for this object, our meth.
ID Of maintaining the public highways has
made no advance beyond that existing in
Eng land in the time Of Philip and Mary.
II Commissioners not exceeding two 10
each County, we're elected BY the County
Courts with authority TO inspect the chief
public roads, and lay Them off on the most
avorable ground, and were clothed with
authority 10 supervise aud direct the hands
assembled to work them, it would doubt.
ess, tend much 10 their improvement
These Courts should also be invested with
power TO make appropriations from the
County funds to alter and improve the
most difficult parts and to make plank roads
where necessary and practicable, with the
means at their command. Indeed it is
Urged upon your inquiry, whether the re.
cent improvement Of the plank road, may
not be introduced into extensive use in this
State. The simplicity Of their cons,ruc.
lion, involving little or no expense for eg.
the abundance and cheappess of
timber, and their adaptation to the sand
md swamp of the lower, and the clay soil
If the upper Country, recommend them TO
IS with much force.
A Geological survey OF the State 10 more
nan ever demanded, in consequence Of
resh discoveries Of useful and valuable
10 new situations, aud the lmpor.
ant results Of like explorations 10 other
ates.
We have been as yet without any pro.
son for the Moderation OF the condition
f our pauper Luna,ics. Those of the
'oorer classes who have veen visited, with
he loss Of reason, have been abandoned to