Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-09-21
IMPROVEMENTS BY THE STATE.

=
'sss IMPROVEMENTS BY THE STATE.
Has North Carolina acted wisely in investing cap.
ital in schemes Of internal improvements?&
Should she invest any more capital in similar
schemes2
These are important questions, and questions which
interest every citizen of the State If the first be ans
wered negatively, the latter must be answered in
like manner; but we choose the affirmative of both,
and will defend choice to the best of our ability
We know that there are many persons opposed to
all internal improvements by the State; and that these
persons honest in their opposition there can be
no doubt, for they have no motive to dishonesty
And the very fact ofther being honest in their opi-
ions leads us to hope for a change of sentiment in
them for if they be convinced that they are in
error and that the State is and will be benefited by
internal improvements, they will renounce their er-
ror and embrace the right 1t is neither purpose
policy, then to fall out with them for enter
tanning the opinions they do but it is our design to
reason with them and convince them if we can.
The main ground of their opposition is that the
State will be plunged in debt and the taxes of the
people increased to pay that debt. The example of
several States that embarked in wild and gigantic
schemes of internal improvements, and involved
themselves in heavy debts-so heavy that some were
even forced to "repudation us held UP as terror
to warn us against their fate. And we are willing
that this example should be held up before us-not
terror to stay the progress of internal improve
ments but as guide by which may prO6t-a
warning by which we may avoid the rock on which
other States split by squaring our improvements to
our means
What was the condition of our State few wears
ago, and what is still the condition of large portion
of it? Is it necessary for to tell what resources
lie undeveloped and useless in borders? especial
ly in our Western counties? We have lands capa-
BILE of producing the most luxurant crops and which
would be made to produce them if there was any mo-
tive to stimulate our people to it. But cut off from
market, hemmed in and mountain-locked there is no
motive for producing more than Is required for home
consumption. The consequence is that these lands
comparatively valueless, and being taxed accord
ing to their value they yield but little revenue to
the State; and the land owners find it more difficult
to pay this small tax than they would to pay five
times the amount ifthey had market for all the sur
plus produce they would raise.
The Central Railroad from Godsboro' to Charlotte
passes through highly productive section, and so
far, well. But we must not stop at this; we must
extend this road Eust to Beaufort connecting with
the ocean and West to some point to connect with
the Tennessee or Georgi railroads This will form
backbone, as it were, through the centre of the
State-a basis for plankroads branches ofraroads
ramifying into every portion of the State and afford
ing to all people cheap and rapid facilities for
carrying their produce to market. By this means
they win obtain many of the necessaries and luxu-
ries of life, especially groceries the prices of which
are greatly enhanced by the present mode of trans
portation, at much cheaper rates than they can
The saving in the cost of the article of salt alone
will more than make up for the increase of taxation
to pay for the road to say nothing of the many ad
vantages of market for surplus produce.
The present debt ofthe State is, we believe about
four millions of dollars, ($4,0OOOO0) Suppose it is
increased to eight or even ten millions, Shave we not
the resources to pay il? We should consider, too,
that this is not debt like that incurred by war.
debt must be paid every cent of it. out of the
pockets of the people, and there is no return, no
equivalent. But railroad debts one which will pay
itself Our bonds have 80 years to run, and if the
road when completed, clear - per cent it will
not only pay its interest but sink the debt itself
in little 16 years. When that debt is paid the
road will then yield revenue to the State, which
will decrease to that extent the taxes of the people
Other roads profitable, yielding from to 90 per
cent, and why should not prove profitable also
We believe though we are not certain that such is
the case, that the State works in New York yield
| revenue enough to defray the State expenses.
But another important object will be attained; the
tide of emigration from our State will be stopped
We now seldom see family emigrating from the
Eastern part of State where they have railroads
Old Edgecombe a few years ago, annually sent of
scores of her citizens; but we informed that not
q single family has emgrated from that county fol
the last three years. Her citizens find more induce
ments to remain and improve their lands, than t.
seek better elsewhere. Population is what We need
1t is mistaken notion to suppose that our popula
ton will become too dense if emigration is stopped
With proper improvements and facilities we shoult
be more prosperous with ten or twenty times oul
present population. variety of industrial pursuits
now unknown amongst u.s. would be called into re
QUESTION: and all these pursuits so linked togeth
er as to be dependent upon each other-each an ad
vantage to extent to all the Others all woult
be benefited by the mutual aid and dependence. Ag
riculture would receive new impetus-manufacto
res of every description would spring up in mids
intelligence would be more widely diffused, an,
we should soon present aspect of thrift and pro
gress, contrasting strangely with past inactivity
But we have extended this article to a suficien
length. We shall rccur to the subject again-an
keep recurring to it. We look upon it as the mean
of the States salvation; and who loves an
honors his native State, and who desires to see he
cleared from the reproach which has alas! too just
ly,-been cast upon her, shall do all that we ca
to benefit and to elevate her. Salisbury Banner.
SANDWICH ISLANDS. Hondula papers to July 16t
affords gloomy picture of affairs in the Sandwic
Islands. The small pox was raging with great vic
lence, and the unhappy natives were being swept o
by thousands Within single week there were fiv
hundred and twenty ty.seven new cases of the diseas
officially reported This was for only one neighboI
hood, and would probably be swelled to six seve
hundred by the reports from the other districts
islands. The natives are singularly predisposed
disease of this character. Their systems appear
be so enervated and undermined by hereditary tan