Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-10-04
From the North Carolinian.
North Carolina Ar,

surprised entering the grounds with its satisfac
tory progress towards completion. We were quite
struck with the fine, substantial style of the build
ings, and their accurate architectural relation which
will give the pile when completed, very imposing
appearance--and we were pleased with the neat or
der OF the square, and the exact arrangement and
servceable condition of the military stores in depos
tic.
Having frequently heard that the design, the
magnitude, nor the Importance of this institution
were sufficiently understood approximately the peo-
pie Of State, nor those of the other south
Atlantic States, which will derive their military sup
plies from it, at request we have been furnished,
by the politeness of the commanding officer, Capt.
Jas A. J. Bradford, with the following information
in relation thereto:
The ''North Carolina Arsenal" so named in honor
of the State, was recommended to be established by
the military committee of the house of representa-
tives of congress in 1885, of which Gen j. ]. Nc
KAY, of Baden county, member from North Carroll
ma, chairman, in whose report 1t was stated to
be intended to supersede the small arsenal of de-
posite at Bellona near Richmond, Va, (Which was
to be abandoned account of unhealthy locality
and the arsenal of limited construction within the
walls of fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort, Va,
which cramped in space for It's operations, and
in the event of the scgng of that fortress would be
exposed to destruction by the fire OF the segers, and
its usefulness for the fabrication and distribution OF
munitions for the general service be much II not
wholly restricted by their lines of crcum and coun
tervallation. A position for establishmen Mt to
supply the places of these two which should have
easy and safe access to ocean nav CATION, was first
sought unsuccessfully, on the James river in Nir
ginia and the Roanoke in North Carolina. Looking
further SOUTH this position being found to possess
the requisite endCwments, a law was passed by
congress authorisng the establishment here OF an
arsenal of general construction, to be, alSo place
of large deposte for the supply of all the southAt
lantic frontier. Its peculiar advantages for these
objects numerous and important. 1t is secure
from external attack which must come from the sea
from which side on account OF the dangerous
physical character of the opposite coast, it would
scarcely be attempted--but should it be and be sue
cessful the assailants could neither hold their con-
quest return in safety to their ships as the mill
tia of three tiers of intervening counties would have
time to embody and cut them off. Any other men,
ace must come from the nteror-whence, though
not impossible, it is not to be anticipated 1t is sur
rounded by is within speedy reach (never exposed
to interruption of metal, mineral, wood, and all
other materials used in military constructions, which
may be obtained at q cost low If not lower
than, at any similar establishment of the country
In consequence of the cheapness of living in its vi
entity where wOrkmen may procure luxurles for the
price of necessaries elsewhere. the best mechanical
skill for all the operations of the arsenal may always
be commanded, and wages will ever range as low as
ut any other position. Its facilities of cOmmunca-
ton with other portions Of the country and for the
circulation of supplies, already extensive; and
when certain lines of vatOry improvement, now I'M
der construction, soon to be commenced, are COM
peted the latter will ramify to all parts of ex
tended country without ocean hazard! For exam
pie: for communication besides daily mail inter
course in nearly every cardinal direction, which will
Increase with the business wants of the country, 1t
has now, through the great northern and southern
line of telegraph, Immediate communication with its
general head quarters at Washington, whence or
ders for the fabrication distribution of supplies
may be received sooner than at any other place of
construction For circulation it has and will con-
tinue to have steam connection within fifteen hours
time, with the ocean, the Cape Fear river,
which is INSTRUCTED by ice and through the
port of Wilmington where transportation by sea
may always be readily obtained at as reasonable
cost at any port of the union. 1t has connection
with the north via the river and Wilmington and
Roanoke, the Raleigh and Castor, and the Peters
burg the Portsmouth, &c, railroads. 1t Will con
meet with the south, and the far southwest, via
the river and Wilmington and Manchester railroad
which, when complete, will unite with the extensive
system of railroads. completed in progress, at the
south and southwest, by of which it may
place supplies at Nashville in six; at Memphis IL
eight and New Orleans in twelve days. The Fay
etteyile and Western Plank Road will connect Il
with the west at Salisbury, whence distribution
may be made, up the Yadkin river, into northwest
crn North Carolina southwestern Virginia and north
eastern Tennessee due west into eastern tennessee
and the Salisbury and Georgia-line turnpike
into southwestern North Carolina northwestern
South Carolina southeastern Tennessee and north
eastern Georgia. These interlacing connections
make it apparent that supplies may be despatched
hence to all parts of the country, with the greater
celebrity, and without risk of capture or wreck a
sea
AS the nature of the operations to be prosecuted
at the Arsenal may have interest," it may be STATED
that no cannon will be cast nor small arms manu-
factured--the former being obtained by contrac
with private individuals limited numbe
of the latter, under a law of 1905, making Prov
sion for arming and equipping the whole body of tn
militia" and appropratng 100000 annually there
for-but most of the small arms manufacture
at the national armories at Springfield, Mass, an
Harpers Ferry, Va Both, however, will be kept i
store ready for issue when required, and defectiv
small arms will be repaired. All the other, amOs
innumerable appointments of the service, will b
fabricated-such all kinds of carriages for mount
ing heavy cannon in battery in the forts, and tn
lighter guns for field service the various implement
and machines for manHuvrng. mounting and dis
mounting cannon and for handling them in depot
carriages bearing ammunition chests of field bate
res battery wagons to carry tools for woOdrepalr
and duplicate parts of carriages for the prompt re
placing of such as meet damage in the field; loco
motives smiths FORCES, to make the lesser iron re
pairs of field batteries shoeing battery horses, &c
complete harness for battery horses accoutrement
and equipments complete for the several arms
service; the proof of powder and the preparation
every description of ammunition for all arms, &c. ~
Among the many readily accessible sourct
of the chief materials necessary to accomplish a
this work, besides timber Astounding in all direction
Mt distances, there may be named the deposlt(
of semi bituminous coal and of iron in Chatham an
Moore counties, forty fifty miles distant, an
nearly symmetrically penetrated by the importal
dam and lock improvement of the upper Cape Fef
and Deep Rivers and the deposite of iron in tn
ICumberland) county, in the same district, Is mil
distant, and within miles reach of the Fayettevil
and Western Plank Road. The contemplated plan
road to Centre will afford and cheaper acce
to the superior iron of Lincoln and Mecklenbul