Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-04-09
SATURDAY, APRIL S. 1851.
RALEIGH AND GASTON ROAD.


The last Petersburg South Side Democrat makes
strong appeal to the people of Petersburg, and
ueciay the merchants, to come forward with their
full share of subscriptions towards the reconstruction
of the Raleigh and CASTOR Road. That paper truly
saws. cut off the trade of Carolina and the counties
of Virginia contiguous to Carolina, and you cut off
the artery which supplies Petersburg with its le's
blood. The people of that town, and its intel-
gent merchants particularly, no doubt well con-
yinced of this fact; and hence the general surprise
excited here by the backwardness of that place in
relation to the reconstruction of the Road. We
learn that, thus far Petersburg has subscribed only
about eight thousand dollars to this work! If the
enterprise be destined succeed not less than one
hundred thousand dollars must be subscribed by that
community. This is the sum put down by all who
have made calculations the subject here, together
with one hundred thousand dollars more, in Norfolk
and on the line beyond the County of Warren.
We have heard it intimated that portion of the
people of Petersburg, jealous of the advantages which
Norfolk must derive from this work, are indifferent
to it, and willing that it should fail They calculate
upon largely increased trade from the South Side
Road, and from the Plank Road running up towards
-
cd system OF wagonng in place of the Gaston Road,
rather than have Norfolk for rival in the North Ca
rolina trade. Is this so! We hope the South Side
Democrat will inquire into the matter, and give the
facts the subject.
All things considered, the people of Raleigh have
already subscribed very fair amount to this work.
The subscriptions here have reached, We learn, some
fifty thousand doars and they be increased to Sc
veuty-ve thousand dolla.s if that amount should be
found indispensable to secure the charter. When the
original charter was granted, the people of this place
subscribed to the amount of at least one-half the
value of their real estate; they have recently taken
onesevenh of their real estate in the Central Road,
and now they have taken onetenh of their real es-
tate in the Raleigh and Castor Road.
What is Granville doing! Do gentlemen in that
County suppose that eight thousand dollars, or four
times eight thousand as their share of the SUBJ
scrptions, will ensure the Road?
We have heard the fear expressed, by gentlemen
we'll informed the subject that if the CASTOR Road
should fail the building of the Central Road will
be thereby seriously put in jeopardy. We hope not
If the CASTOR Road should 60 down, or should become
only Plank or Turnpike Boad, the produce of
Road, would at once seek an outlet at Wilmington,
and in process of time, also at Beaufort; and in ad-
diton to this, the travel for sixty or seventy miles,
from this point and above to Godsborough, would at
once be considerable. That travel would increase,
as it would be an easy matter to run from HILLSIDE
rough, for instance in five hours to Goldsborough,
and thence North to Petersburg or New York. Be-
sides, trust the day is distant when we shall
import OUT goods into our own Cities; and whether
imported into Charleston Wilmington. Beaufort, or
Norfolk, they might be transported inland along the
line of the Central Road, with much more ease and
promptness than many seem to imagine. So, after
a the rebuilding of the Castor Road is matter for
the consideration especially of Petersburg and the
Counties North of this, to wit Franklin, Granville,
Warren, and Northampton.
If it be true that Petersburg fears the rivalry o
Norfolk. in case the CASTOR Road should be recon
struced the fact is the strongest argument that coule
be addressed to the people of the latter City in avo
of the Road. We saw it stated, few weeks since
that the people Of Norfolk would be called to 'hs
polls upon the proposition to subscribe ont
hundred thousand dollars to the work; but, of late
We have heard nothing of this matter, or as to the
probable result of the contemplated vote. We shoule
be pleased to hear something on this subject frou
some of the N NorfoIk papers.
meet;nr u,,s hold at New Bedford. Massachu