The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-08-24

derstood, and shows wha. a high eslmal
they place upon it.
The fist impulse given towards Ra
Road builiing 10 North Carolina, was u,
en- by the Roanoke Navigation Company
, The Of iect Of this company was 10 afJr
water transportation for the produce OF Ii
upper Roanoke, the Dan and Staunlon riy
ers to Norfolk. As soon as the compan
had completed their works at the great fall
and The trade had taken that direction, tn
citizens OF Petersburg. with an en,erpris
and energy truly laudab'e, projected tn
first Rail Road 10 the Roanoke, at Bakel
Situated a nile or two below the lower out
let Of the Ro .noke canal, for the purpos
OF lniefcepting and bringing back 10 them
selves the produce now floating toward
Norfolk. The citizens of the latter place
not 10 be ouidone in The competition for ia
rich boon Of The Roanoke trsdA, set abou
and accomplished what is now known by
he name Of the Portsmouth and Sea bosrt
Raj Road, which terminates immediate J
at the lower end Of the canal, The more la
vorable point ofreceiving The produce, since
It was there landed as matter Of necessity
Petersburg STILL competing for the prize
then projected aud caused TO be executed
what is called the GreenvIle road, branch.
ing of frcm their first road and running
some ID or 8 miles % the X oanoke at Gas
ton, II miles above the terminus of the
Portsmouth road and entirely above the
canal. Thus two extensive Rail Roads and
one short one have been built, for the sake
Of securing the Roanoke trade ; and it is a
remarkable fact that there arc at this time
three splendid Railroad bridges across that
great and rapid stream within the distance
OF some thirteen miles.
Well the people of Norfolk and Peters.
burg are enlightened communities, and un
derstand thoroughly the advantages Of this
trade; aud if il is worth to them the i'm
mense sums they have expended to secure
II, as doubtless il is, Why is not the trade OF
middle and western North Carolina worth
similar expenditures to our town Of Will
mington, or to any other at which il shall
be ultimately concentrated
But the enferprze Of our ne ghbors and
our own dIa,orIness, has well nigh pu, il
out Of our power TO do justice 10 ourselves
and il is greatly TO be regretted that the
measure now proposed by the Legislature
had not been adopted long ago.
Advantageous as it promises TO be, can
dor compels me 10 say that the object con
templaled cannot now be attained TO the
foil extent desired. The Virginia roads,
which have been permitted TO penetrate
The Stale al several points On the one hand,
and those of South Carolina on the other,
mus, draw off no inconsiderabe portion OF
our produces notwithstanding, the interest
OF the State, in relation 10 lis commercial
character, must be grea,eIy elevated by
this measure Of the Legislature, whilst the
competition between our own markets and
those Of the neighboring States will be Of
such decided advantage to our producers,
az in great measure to compensate the
loss GU the transactions growing out Of that
portion of our products which may be car.
RED abroad, for ultimate shipment.
| have SAID thu, the plan before US is the
best that can be devised for the attainment
of the obi ct in view. Ii there was fine
navigab.e river flowing directly from this
place 10 the ocean, doubt whether our
produce could be carried off more cheaply
than by the proposed road, and i, certainly
could no, be done as expedtlously. A rap.
id exchange Of commodities is the life of
commerce, and what possible means Of ia.
clli,a,iug their interchange is al all com.
parable With the Rail RoAdl 10 England,
where Internal improvements had been car.
red to the highest pitch Of perfection
known before the invention OF railroads,
where canals and McAdamised roads IN
tersected the country in every direction,
rail roads have been found so much supe
ror for the purposes oil in,ercommunca.
ton, as pretty much to have superseded oil
other modes. The transportation Of i'm
mense burlhens at the rate Of from 20 to
so miles per hour, has nothing TO compare
with it IN all the world. When the pro.
iect we have in hand shall have been com
pleted, farmer of Orange may mount the
cars with his 10, 30, 80, 40 or so bbs. Of
-four 10 the morning, and find himself 10
Wilmington al night; or if his inclination
should so lead him, in Petersburg or Nor.
folk in about the same time his crop sold
and business finished, he may be a, home
IN another day. TO the industrious man
time is money +; and what an immense saw.
ing of time is made, as compared with the
presen, mode Of going TO market, which re.
quires fortnight or three week OF exposure
10 the cold and rain and mud Of winter, or
TO the heat and dus, of GUNNER how many
cherries, solitary nights at the camp on
the bleak road side, will be avoided and
how many anxious signs and heartfelt long
,nss for the comfortable fiteslds Of home
and cheerful smiles Of its happy inmates
will be saved and ! may add how many
untimely deaths, the consequence Of such
exposure.
Among many striking advantages of rail
road transportation, mentioned in dislin,
guished foreign periodical, | remark one
which is peculiarly interesting TO our coun
try, and to our State especially. 1t has
been clearly ascertained that the same q.
| mount If rom ma rical hnsiness ran he IN r,