Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-06-28
NORFOLK AND THE NORTH CAROLINA
TRADE.

Our readers are aware that, what was once call
ed, the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad has
been disposed OF for a mere trifle to a Company,
composed chiefly of Northern capitalists, and that,
under the new name of the Sea-board and Roam.
oke Railroad, it is about to be thoroughly reno.
waited, laid with new and heavy rails, extended
to Castor, and make to equal any improvement
OF the kind in this country. This would place
Norfolk within about ten hours of Raleigh. The
prospect OF the construction Of the great Central
Rall Road, WeStwardly from Raleigh. has turn
ed the attention OF the citizens Of Norfolk TO the
trade OF that part Of the State, TO Charlotte, and
thence South and West to the Gulf and the Mis-
SisSippi.
The usually sedate people of that CITY have had
their lmaglnationS inilamed with the contempla-
ton Of an amount of trade, seeking an outlet at
their port, which would make it the second city
Of the Atlantic slope. Under this glow of excite
ment, they were called upon, Monday last. to
pass upon the question, whether the Corporation
should subscribe $4,000 10 the stock ofthe
Sea-board and Raleigh Road. We have little
doubt the majority was found in favor Of the sub
Scrlptton. We shall regret 10 hear such a result,
as We'belleve Norfolk mistakes her true interests
in furthering a work which must be one Of mere
ly local beneft-and which, even were she TO
keep aloot, would be made by funds obtained
elscwhere-instead Of looking 10 the great enter
PRISE IN which we are engaged-an enterprise,
which, if any thing can, is 10 redeem the State
and make her a great city.
She hopes to unite herself with a line Of Rail-
roads passing through Weldon, Raleigh, Salisbu-
ry, Charlotte, Columbia and Branchvile to
Charleston, forming a segment of circle SOS
miles'in length, with its two ends resting on the
ocean at Charleston and Norfolk. The great line
OF Railroad, through Georgia TO Tennessee, touch
es the line, above mentioned, at Branchville.-
Can she get any Of the trade thus brought TO
Branchville, a point which is only 60 miles from
charleston and 500 miles from Norfolk (? The
very idea, we submit, is too absurd to merit discus
sion.
But this is not all. Chaleston, thus secure of
an immense trade through her connection with,
tennessee, enters the field of competition for the
trade OF North Carolina. Salisbury is about the
middle ground. From Salisbury to Charlotte
VIII be a section.ofthe proposed Central Railroad
OF North Carolina. From Charlotte to Charles5
ton are two roads one los miles and th...,er
$50 miles IN length-the grades generally de-
Scendlng-glvlng Charleston advantages of a
hlghly important character. 1t is certain that
charleston will compete with Norfolk far beyond
the middle ground.
But, there is still a another element in this
OPSi"tIe dSdiIlSl 4\OllOlk' ID Vic
system OF improvement, now projected in North
Carolina, Raleigh will be united with Whining
ton by a Road only 100 miles long-while the
distance Of Norfolk from Raleigh will be no
miles. We need not say it is the universal opin-
ION IN North Carolina that the trade which comes
TO Kalelgh from the West will go Wilmington.
And, tbs in the face of all these sources Of
powerful competition, that Norfolk is TO spend
her resources 10 construct, or rather rebuild, her
Road to Weldon-a read which has once been
tled and proved a total failure.
But, in order to take the view most favorable
to Norfolk, we have supposed "a most violent
supposition y
LIST. That Norfolk has raised the means to re-
build her Road to Weldon and an additional
piece of new road, II miles long, to Join the Raj
eigh. and Castor Road.
I'd. That $500, 900 has been raised TO rebuild
the Raleigh and Castor Road and o
Sd. That the Stock has been subscribed and
the great Central Road Of North Carolina, 21O
miles long, has been completed. -
Without these Norfolk has nothing to rely on
that she did not have when her Road to Weldon
was in existence, and when she found that it
would not pay enough revenue to keep Itself in
existence.
Norfolk is at the mouth ofJames River. Let her
look TO its valley as her natural tributary and as
the only Road "a tbp Great West lei her look