Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-01-26

A time like the present. when our people cramp-
ed for the means TO transact any business, may not
appear the most suitable for calling the attention Of
mercantile community to the necessity OF making
extra exertions for the purpose of securing new
branches of trade. But it is to be hoped that things
will not always be as they are nowit would be IN
reasonable to suppose it. In fact things can't stay
as they are For the better worse, change must
come, and we think the worst is pretty nearly known
let us look forward and prepare for better future
IF over-tradng has been the cause of the present
stringency and depression, the system of rigid curta
ment, upon which the country has now entered, must
soon bring things straight. Somehow or other IN
debtedness will be adjusted, and credit placed upon
newer and irmer basis. In the general revival OF
trade and confidence, Wilmington must share.
1t is in view of this expected revival of trade that
we beg leave to recur to matter to which we have
more than once alluded before-the importance OF
making efforts to secure the trade of the Western
counties of North Carolina by the way of the Central
Railroad now about opening. This place is 40 miles
nearer to Raleigh and points west of Raleigh, than
Norfolk u.s. and possesses the advantage OF 30 cents
per barrel upon freight brought 10 this point over
freight carried to Norfok-no unimportan item we
make the comparison with Norfolk, because that and
not Petersburg is the point to which flour and other
products from Orange, Guilford, and other Western
counties is sent for sale shipment There is also
an advantage of some IA or Is miles in favor of this
place as compared with Petersburg the shipping port
of which place is at City point the James River,
several miles distant from the city, and nearly hum
dred from the ocean.
We make these remarks for the purpose of showing
how the opening of the Central Road places US with
reference TO the Western trade We have ad-
vantages, suffcien: 10 encourage to exeron, and
not sufficient to enable to dispense with the exer-
else of the utmost vigilance.
Everybody knows the extent to which our Virg inla
rivals employ every agency for attracting custom
Every town and every county on the line OF the Gen.
trail Road is canvassed. Cards. circulars, handbills
and other advertisements are scattered broad cast
Need we say that so far Wilmington has not done
anything this way. A Wilmington merchandise
agent even his card would be phenomenon in
most of our Western towns. We take it for granted
that trade is desired here, else much anxiety wout
not be felt in regard to internal Improvements caIcua
ed to bring it
There is another matter. The Central Railroad
connects with the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad
with which it has the same guage. Now, might We
ask, what good purpose served by this connection
and this uniformity of guage: if freight cannot g
through without ranshipment from one set Of cars
another, occasionng delay, expense the breaking O
bulk, injury barrels frequently rendering recooper
age necessary? Why cannot the Companies make
some arrangement for through freight or if they can
not or will not the State which Isl large stockhode
| in both ouoht TO see that thew do.