The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-22

us then assume that the extension Of the North
Carolina Rail Road East from Goldsboro' to Beau
| tort Harbor, and West from some point on said
! Road 10 the Tennessee line, as the most limited
and generally received opinion Of this system.
And let The extensions East and West also be re-
earded as a work Of great utility demanded al this
Legislature. Before undertaking an enterprise Of
such magnitude, requiring such an expenditure of
the public money. The following inquiry natu-
rally suggests itself TO the mind of every tax payer
and thinking man. Are the resources Of the State
sufficient to warrant its construction, without de-
preston 10 The people, or involving the State IN
al enormous debt, which can only be lIqudated
by reputation! This inquiry ops Is the field oil
argument pertaining to the subJrci.
IN luis communication neither purpose, al this
time, to assume an affirmative negative position
upon the above inquiry but simply give the actS,
! and the reader can Judge Tor himself A Bill has
been Offered TO extend The n. c. Rail Road from
GuIdsboro' 10 Beaufort with a capital stock Of
3SGO,O0O, asking an appropriation OF two thirds
from the State. Also Bill to extend The n. Z.
Rail Road from some point on said Road West, 10
some point the L, nnessee line, or TO some
point The lille Tennessee river in Macon coun-
", the Company may determine, after crganl-
zarinn and survey being made. With a capital
sleek of six millions Of dollars, asking an aPpro.
preparation Of wo-ihirts from the State.
Whether or not the above named amounts would
~ s11irl' ut 10 complete the proposed extensions,
l. OF course question OF opinion. And the best
possible dat, upon which to base opinion would
BE- ai1uc"d from he official report OF Ma G"ln,
und,r uhosc supervision and control, the Eastern
aud Western ,xrrnson have been surveyed. The
Engineers report has not yet bcC1 mace.
ijuI suppose the following to be true, as am an
formed. From GodSboro' to GaiunIs point, %
miles cost 81 ,G87 $50; from Goidsboro' to Beau
fort, 90 miles, 81 ,743 900; from GoldsborO' to
LrnnoxviIIe, 100 miles, Sl,754. 047 from Colds
boro' to Shrpard's point, 90 miles, 81 ,663, IL.
Take the average cost Of tie four routes surveyed
SLIP, lsG us the cos: Of the Eastern extension.
On the West there were two routes surveyed,
viz: from Salisbury via the towns OF Morganton,
AShevile, through the Swananoa Gap TO the Ten
nessee line IN the direction OF Knoxville, distance
lS5 miles, cost iractIOn over seven millions oil
doIltrs. The other commencing at Salisbury, and
runs west with the last named survey 90 miles 10
point called the Horse Ford on the Calawba
river, via the town of Lonoir, through the Watau-
"a Gag 10 !he Tennessee line, in the direction Of
JonesUoro'; distance l2I miles, cost fraction
over six million oil dollars
The difference in distance between the two pro-
posed western routes you will perceive is 81 miles;
and in amount will probably be something like
a million Of dollars. The difference in distance
and amount being in favor Of what the Mecklen-
burg people would call the Jonesboro' route. But
see The amount. Take the least western estimate,
and round numbers. Western extension Sc ,Q00,-
600 ;eastern extension 81 10000 Ada So ,0OO,-
600 TO complete the North Carolina Railroad;
makes S6,9I2, 900 TO complete the n. c. Railroad
and eastern and western extension. Two thirds of
this last amount makes five million, nine hundred
and forty-one thousand dollars. TO be appropriate
cd by the Stale, or S5,94l 900 Of State aid to
complete The North Caroline Railroad from Beau.
fort to The Tennessee line.
| have carried the reader from Beaufort to
the Tennessee line and like myself may be some
what weary. | will relieve you and myself by
repairing to the Fair grounds to see Prof EIliotts
aSCensioH@in the balloon.
| am, with respect,
AMICTS.