Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-12-29
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
wILm1Neror, N. o., FRIDAY, DEC. 80, 1854.
On wednesday we had the pleasure of listen


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On Wednesday we had the pleasure OF listen
ing avery able address upon the subject OF railroads
in this State, delivered before the Chamber OF Com
msrce and the citizens generally, by MIR. Thomas,
Senator from the extreme western district In this
State Mr. Thomas speaks with the fullness and
accuracy which perfect study OF his subject, and
complete mastery of it, alone can give. he insists
upon it that the State hope to keep pace with her
nerhbors in the race for trade, wealth. and CONNER
cia Importance, only through the use of equal tac-
ties for the transaction of such trade, and equal
avenues for its transit and that such are not
to be found simply in roads carrying passengers
through the State but in direct communication be-
tween the west and the seaboard bringing down the
products of agriculture and taking back the merchan
disc which the producer may want in return for such
products: such are the class of works, alone, by
which great results have been obtained in other
States-by such alone they can be obtained in this
by railroad running from the East to connect with
the Tennessee Railroads, at point near about the
same as that at which the Charleston Rabun Gap
Road is designed to connect with same system Of
Railroads giving connection with the whole West.
ern system. with chance for the trade, or portion
and Southwest He believes that no great line OF
Railroad can be fully successful until it shall have
secured for itself such connection with the great
West. This position was illustrated by the expert
ence of every State in the Union
Mr. Thomas pointed out on the map the various
lines now in course of construction and illustrated
his own ideas by reference 10 the position OF things
around us.
Mr.. Caldwell, of Guilford, being called upon, ex-
pressed his full conviction that the feelings OF the
people in his section along the Central Railroad are
favorable to this place. and that their desire Is to
trade here-that it is mistaken idea that the trade
of that section inclined to the Virginia markets in
preference to this, must necessarily 60 to those
markets 1t is fairly within the reach of Whining
ton, although energy and exertion, on her part will
be necessary to grasp it. MIR. Caldwell offered some
remarks in favor of his project OF banking already
Swallowed forth over the signature of Reform" MIR.
Haughton, of Chatham, gave some explanations IN
regard to the state of the Deep River improvement
The opinion of the present Engineer, Mr.. Douglas,
whose position in his profession beyond doubt, Is
that the ultimate success of that work is unquestion
able, at an additional expense of between two and
three hundred thousand dollars and that, with this
expense the work cannot fail to make ample returns
for all the money invested. The that the
work had been abandoned any idea of its abandon
ment being entertained, he repudiated totally un'
founded in fact. Those best acquainted with the
work were never before so fully satisfied of its feast
hlitY and usefulness. Mr.. Douglas believes that the
plan and execution of this work have been far, t.
some extent, detective and that its comparative fail
ure, up to this time, has been owing wholly TO these
iYf ho
The river he regards as better adapted to the purpo
SEES OF sackwater navigation than any with which ht
is acquainted. By the way, some two or three years
ago we ventured to express something OF the same
opinion, and for it pretty bitterly assailed BY
Col Thompson the original engineer of the work. tt
whom the defective plans, insufficient estimates, AM
general defects of the work, mainly, If not wholly
chargeabe, and then Col. Thompson was endorsed BY
those who must motU see how far the result as wei
as the opinion of competent engineer has borne u
out
A gentleman, not member of the Legislature
whose name we do not know, said that man bein!
ca sad remarked that Sampson was strong mai
and Solomon was a wise man, but yet neither O
them could pay money unless they had 1t. VIVA
Wilmington wanted in the first place was money
banking capital-and then she could take fres
start in the transaction of her present business, an
in making efforts to attract more. We must say tina
we agree with him; Banking Capital is among GU
first wants-if not the very first.
Much good WILL We trust result from free inter
change of opinion between the mercantile commun
ty of our place and the members of our Legislature
as there must always result from such free nterchang
between men having the interests of the State g
heart, and who can mutually communicate informs
ton to each other The remarks of all the gentle
men were listened to with interest and satisfaction.