Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-01-26
A BETTER DAY AHEAD.

~ LElRuttE diQ ID UCIGCE ut1s We IIuSt. ~
ahead for North Carolina. She may now
be regarded as having fully embarked in a
iudicious system of internal improvements
and, for the first time in her history, her
public works are beginning to yield an in
come to her Treasury. The Plank Roads are
all doing well, and charters were granted at
the late session, for more. These are to be
the result Of individual enterprise but the
State must be a gamer as well as the stock
holders, for these improvements notonly bring
more land into cultivation by afording in
creased facilities for getting to market, bat
they enhance the value Of property In the re-
gions through which they run, and thus add
to the public income. The Wilmington Rail
road is at length in o most furnishing condi-
ton, the stock has rapidly gone up in the mar
ket, and handsome dividends are declared, a
portion of which contributes to swell the
amount annually distributed for Common
Schools. The line to Manchester will soon
be finished, and a wealthy and important re-
gion will thus be opened to the cnterprising
people Of Wilmington and in addition to
this, this lincwhen completed must add great
~ to the amount Of travel on the Wilmington
Road. The Raleigh and CASTOR Road, too,
has Just been re-constructed and laid down
with heavy iron. 1t Is now one Of the best
Roads in the Southern country, and, when
fairly under way, it will pay at least six per
cent. per annum (S24,0G0) into the public
Treasury. The Cape Fear and Deep River
Improvement, which was materially aided at
the late session Of the Assembly, is now in a
fair way to be completed at an early day ;
but, above all, we refer with a feeling ~ofsatis-
faction and pride to the great CeRtrat Rail
road, which when completed, as it doubtless
will be during the next twelve months, will
throw open to the markets o. the world so large
a portion of the State. The success of this
work is now placed beyond all doubt. Its
advantages and benefits, we sincerely believe.
will prove to be i~ncalcu!able.
At thelast session of the Legislature appro
n%riations were made for a survey for a Rail
road from Goldsborough to Beaufort, and fol
one from Salisbury west to the Tennessee line
and these surveys, We predict, will be followed
by something more tangible and enduring
There are other improvements in progress
a., or in contemplation to which we have not re
ferred in somauy words; but We are the frien,
J ofcach aud all Of them, and we wish then
we'll.
Il The State has also in her employment
q learned aud competent Geologist and ASST,
tants, who nave been and are now engaged i
turning up and examining her soils, in poln
ING out her mineral treasures, and in bring
n ing to light the evidences Of the power sh
n possosscs-by means Of her water-power, he
r. iron, her gold, her lead, her marble, her graz
lite, her lime, her mari, her coal, and her c
pacity generally to produce from the Garth
e OF becoming one ofthe first States in all Il
ne sisterhood.
In addition to this, a General Superinto
dant Of Common Schools has been appoint
~ the mini ottte S,ate is to be cared for mo
rs hereafter than at any former period. This
Of the capstone of the monument-it crowns
hc with the light of knowlenge.
\ better day is, indeed, ahead. Let US rou
up, one and all, and be ready for it. Let
IS take an active, stirring part in it. 1t con
IL up in the presence of all, as it will shine
all. Courage, then, We patriots who ha
looked for it long-the whole horizon is il
mined by the brightness Of its rising. Al
an time like this, when the old State gets up fir
Of her prolonged slumber and puts on the ga
:. ofenterprise and the frontlet of intelligence
:" when h~ersons, instead of leaving her, to j
py in the general hope for her regeneration,
de as they will rejoice in that regeneration WI
he it comos--at a time like this, we say, there
:; no room for ~fault-inding, for consure, or
+" elimination. Internal Improvements and q
IRIS mon Schools hare become Tie settled police
rth the State. Many Of those who oppose In