Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-10-24
The Trade af thi. place.

Every thinking man will agree with us in the asser
ton that tie trade of this place must be considerably
changed and modified, and that soon, if We would
rise to that importance to which are justly enti-
tied, or even retain our present prosperity. From
the very nature of things present trade IN tim
ber lumber and naval stores cannot be very much in
creased and must eventually fall off largely if does
not cease altogether. We know that the country in
the neighborhood of available water-courses rapid
ly becoming cleared of timber, and that in fact
ry raft which is brought down diminishes to some
extent the stock of the article upon which the trade
is based The process of diminution is slower in the
of naval stores but it is equally nay, the
very prosperity of the country by increasing the pop
ulation and consequently the amount of cleared land
must gradually eat into any business founded main
~ upon the products of the Forest. This result
certain as the operation of natural laws.
The questions then arise how this prospective
is to be supplied and what is to be its effect
Fortunately for Wilmington, these questions are
easily answered. The coal from the Deep River the
cotton and other commodities which the Manchester
Road will certainly bring from South Carolina, and
the increased amount of agricultural produce from
the regions with which already trade, afford an
easy and pleasant solution of both The effect
will be good. Let take the county of Edge
combe for illustration Some years since land in
that county was depreciating in value. The naval
store business was going down-so was that in tim
Der and lumber Now, these branches of business
are comparatively unimportant, yet the county is
rich and growing richer by the introduction of an
improved system of farming. It sells largely of cot
ton. pork etc. and requires very little which it does
produce within its own borders. Such must event
ualy be the course of most of the counties in the
Cape Fear region, which will thus support denser
population, and be less dependent upon the north
and west for portion, at least, of its food.
But no sudden transition need be feared or expect
ed. The Manchester Road will bring within reach
of market large amount of Virgin Turpentine land
in Columbus and Bladen counties, and perhaps some
little in Robson which have heretofore had outlet
nothing the bordering Districts of Marion and
Horny and as this land becomes cleared of it's tree.
it will be cultivated in cotton, learn that many
of the South Carolina planters pronounce much Of
the land excellent for that purpose and indicate 9
disposition to go into the culture upon it. The Deep
River Improvement will also bring large tract Of
timber land into market some of it excellent for
king turpentine, ard some for getting slaves It ii
therefore plain that although no very great increase
can take place In our present business founded upor
the products of the forest no sudden diminution OF
stoppage need be expected but rather the 70
a considerable length of time Still the fact is un
deniable that it must eventually fall off heavily ant
that we must be prepared for the change. That ou
sails must be trimmed to meet the coming trade acint
which is destined to blow permanently from the re
gons of cotton and coal. million tons of COAL ant
sixty to seventy thousand bales of cotton per
would supply reasonably well the loss Of some Nava
Stores and Lumber.