The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-08-24
Enteraa! Improvement.
From the North Carolina Democrat.
North Carolina Rail Road.

: agricultural, commercial aud social int
a es,s Of the State, TO open On avenue of ttat
p. aud more direct intercourse than now e!
lists between the western and eastern pc
tons Of ii. The Advantages which wou
| result from successful carrying out Of ID
, object, IN promoting the wealth and happ
) ness of our people, their union at hoWe an
the responsibility Of he State abroad, hav
been freely admitted at all times by ever
one Who has duly considered the sui lee
aud who has reasoned j ls'ly about IT,
Hence the subject has b. en- acted upon q
various limcs and in various ways by GU
Legislature-bu lne lleclually from made
quale measures in some instances, iuada
quate means IN others. and want of unit
Of purpose in all. No system, unless it b.
the one nov before US, has been offered (,
The public approval, which was calculated
10 bring to lis accomplishment the aid o
any large portion of our fellow citizens.
Ii IS matter of feiclta,ion, therefore, Il
every friend of Improvement 10 every one
who has jus, view Of the true interest o
the State and of his own interest, that the
Legislature has at length proposed plan
at once acceptable TO the people, liberal ii
its provisions, entirely practicable, and cal
cuiated TO accomplish all the benefits of a
reasonable expectation.
THIS projec, Of the Legislature con,em.
plates a diversion OF at least large por
ton Of our export4ble products TO one OF
more Of our own ports, by means Of Rail
Road from Charlotte, (ihe norhern termi.
uus Of the South Carolina and Charlotte
road,) by the wav Of Salisbury 10 Raleigh,
and thence to GoIdsborougb, at which
place IT will unite with the Wilmington road
and with steamboa, navigation on the
Neuse. Thus opening TO Wilmington a
continuous Rail Road route through the
mos, densely populated, mos, fertile and
most beautiful part Of the Slate, for the pro-
ducts Of the vallles Of the Gaia VIA and Yed.
kin and circumjacen, country; and effectiug
a Rail Road and steamboat connection with
Newbefn. At Raleigh this main route is
tapped by the CASTOR road and the system
Of The Legislature contempla,es connec
lion between il ana the Roanoke and Sea
board Road, BY shor, road from the neigh.
boz hood Of LT,le,on 10 Weldon, which will
open 10 our back country the markets OF
Norfolk and Portsmouth by q continuous
Rail Road, and connect at Weldon with
The lower Roanoke al the head OF steam
boat navigation, and thus tablish a direct
and easy communication with the great
fisheries of the State aud the north eastern
counties.
Such i, the scheme Of the Legislature.
To accomplish i, company has been in
corporated with a capital Of SO 1000, 000-
two millions of which the Stale is TO sub.
scribe as soon as one million shall have
been taken by individuals. This is certain.
ly liberal and just on the part OF the State,
aud seems TO call for corresponding Iber.
Atty on the part Of Individuals, especially
on the par; Of the people OF Orange, who
are likely to be benefited as much as any
portion of the people whatever.
Under this impression, and with the pur
pose Of aiding, as far O. my humble efforts
may in this great movement, propose to
offer for consideration such views touching
lis importance as occurred 10 me as being
likely TO promote lis accomplishment.
There mas been, believe, no State which
has arrived a, any eminence 10 wealth, pow.
er and refinement. which has not been com.
mercial and which has not tostered It's com
merce. The profits of commerce are drawn
from the producer and consumer in The pro.
cess OF exchange are the essential aim and
object Of commercial men; are calculated
on every outlay; are subject to none but
accidental losses; are clear gains upon the
labor oil producers, and are necessarily &C
cumulative. Hence the disposable capital
of the world is TO be found, for the most
part, in the commercial cities; whence, in
due season, its influence has always been TO
WITTY aud refresh the sources from which
Il was drawn, carrying back into the in.
terror, improvement, and TO every door the
Increased means of comfort, refinement and
happiness. IL commerce is the source Of
such advantages, and the condition of all
commercial States shows that it is-lhen
to The absence Of il may be fairly atttibu.
ted the absence Of Improvement where
neither exist, and We shall be at no loss TO
determine why North Carolina is found in
the rear of the commercial States Of the
Union, in the Development Of those physl,
cal resources which lie al the foundation OF
wealth, power, and elevation Of character.
She has almost no commerce (properly so
caled) of her own. Her products have
for the most par, gone to build up cities IN
other States, to increase their wealth and
to add to their Importance nor shall we
be a, loss TO determine what is necessary
to be done TO place her in the pathway o.
Improvement her commerce must take q
new direction, 1t must find to a much great
er extent than heretofore, egress and in
gress through her own ports and the pro
fits DO retained at home. And how is thi'
to DO effected ? Why, there is no way IN
der the sun so effeciual as the plan we have
before US, as the scheme it 10 our determin
cd purpose, trust, TO carry out.
Some we'll meaning men place bu, lttl
value on eny plan whose objec. lie to pro
| mote the commerce Of cur own ports
Such notions are not in keeping with tn