Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-11-21
From the Rockingham Democrat
HERMITAGE, Rockingham Co., N. C..
\ 1GSR

open Dan River, for boats, and the most important
facts in relation to the same ,.t
Deemnv your purpose to be, to ascertain "n''e
are the charter rights of the Roanoke Navigation
Company-the practcablity Of the Improvement. Oh
the Dan for steamboat navigation, and the Propile
ty of relying upon its improvement, or OF Adopting
some other plan, commensurate 10 TIC S'oo
:; wants of our section OF country g
I will briefly state, that, during the canvass Q,
1852 nv attention directed to tins SUBJECT anu
at the session of the following Legislature, '"o
iect was closely investigated by me after an exam
nation of the act of incorporation passed In 1917
it was very clear the Legislature had ccdeu 10 tie
COMPANY the exclusive right to improve ana haVl,
gate the Roanoke and its trlbutaries--thc Ian a'
Stanton being the principal ones.
But finding in an amendment to the charter pass
ed at the session of the Legislature i'll 1872 pro-
viso' that required the Company TO make ana COLI
plete their improvements within twenty years. OF
they forfeited all right the portion OF the river
not improvcd; the question which presented ltse1
to nv mind was, what kind of Improvement the
Company was bound to make, within the ne mean
of the charter. The conclusion was 1rrcsStloie 10
nv mind that the Company had Jurlsdictoh as
high up as they had removed log or stone, ana
nayigated boat The Legislature at that time no
doubt believed they were making gGou traoe, ior
they took fifty thousand dollars stock i'll the Com
oany The improvement made by the Compa-
ny, although falling far short of the present dc,
mands of the citizens of this county, has Dceh, anu
still is affordng many benefits.
An experience of forty years, must have iasteneo
conviction in every mind, that steam power Is the
great auxiliary aid to great and profitable inter-
communication for inland commerce. w hateVer
NAV be the opinion in regard to the act charterlng
away the right to the stream, or the Improvement
made by the Company, it is too late now to inquire
into the propriey of the act or the management VI
the Company under it. The only question Tor US
TO solve is how to remedy the evils arising from It.
At this stage of the inquiry, my next course was
to find out if possible whether the Company might
not have forfeited their charter by some omission
of duty, and il not, how high they claimed 10 nave
81, n,o 1olsN To frXy1
the Company their Willingness to sell out their cor
porate privileges, far the citizens OF the coun
ty desired to make improvements.
Consequently | introduced into the Senate a Sc
ries of resolutions having the foregoing purposes IN
view, and had them referred to the Committee on
Internal improvements. The Committee, however,
came to the conclusion, and reported, that the
Company had not forfeited their charter, and had
made improvements high up as Hairstons Ferry
in Stokes County.
The purpose of those most Interested in the i'm
proyement was. to obtain from the Company the
privilege to make such improvements as to run
steamers of light draught of water as far down as
the town of Danvlle, Va.
am inclined to the opinion, that efforts have been
made, by some enterprising gentlemen to purchase
the privilege, come to some arrangement with the
Company to make the desired Improvement but
think all their eXertions were unavalilnS
Being foled in all their efforts to obtain from the
Company any assurance of lettering their condi-
ton in the canvass of 1854, brought the subject
before the people, Of constructing Railroad, so as
to connect the vales of the Dan and 1adkin rivers
This plan seemed acceptable TO the people, and all
concerned in desiring it, with whom l conTersed,
and they much elated when appearances indi-
Gated probability of getting it.
| conformity to what l conceived to be the wish
of the people, introduced into the Senate bill to
construct Railroad, which would have connected
US with the harbour at Norfolk Va, which is we'll
known to be one of the best harbours in all the
Southern countrT. This road to start at some
point on the Raleigh and CASTOR road, which would
have given choice of Petersburg, Richmond and
Norfolk, in Virginia, Newbern, Wilmington, or
Beaufort harbourS, in North Carolina, places of
trade shipping ports. The road was to extend
West, through the rich Counties of Granville, Per-
son. CasyFcll, and to the coal-teldS of Rock
ingham and Stokes counties, and for the present
stop GernIanton, in Stokes county, but to be
continued hereafter in such direction the Legisla-
would deem most advisable the State &c subscribe
two thirds of the capital stock, and individuals
third This bill received the favorable consideration
Of the Senate, and passed that body, but unfortu-
nately failed to pass the House of Commons.
By examination of the locality of the country
through which it was to pass, it will be perceived,
that this road would have been nearly tin parallel
line, between the great commercial cities of New
York and New Orleans, and would have passed
through the richest tier of Counties in the State,
section of country, abonnding with ineXhausta-
BILE supply Of minerals, a salubrious climate, and
where agriculture and the mechanic arts need moth
ing but the energies of her people to be properly
to devclope her rich resources and to
make them contented and happy.
So much for the past--now few words relative
TO the future. As you desire my opinion upon
these subjects, l shall not hesitate to give them at
the same time attach but little importance to them
emanating they do, from an individual so humble
as myself.
However much | mi ht desire to see steamers ]
floating on the waters of the Dan, affording cheap
and quick transportation of freight and travel, to
the citizens living adjacent thereto, the subject is
connected with many difficulties it is very I'M !
certain whether it can be obtained within any reas
enable time, and if ever obtained it is questionable
whether it could be made to answer the public de- |
mand, so that think sound policy would suggest the
propriety of dropping that scheme, and go for a !
Railroad, similar in its provisions to the one alluded
to above, to wit: 1.-The Dan River and Yadkn |
Railroad" enterprise, some other combining |
greater facilities. |
Are we never TO expect our people to emerge from |
heir iethargy, and assert their rights but supiney
submit to their condition, and permit their sister
Counties to monopoze all the benefits arising from
Gail and Plank Roads and other improvements, and
cave us the unpleasant duty of paying taxes for
heir benefit?
Give the Dan River and Yadkin Railroad or
better, and Railroad connection be-
ween Danvile and Greensborough, and we would |
zee new life infused into people, bright faces
'eamDg with joy, at the harbinger of better days.
am fully apprlsed that there are many good cit
zens who oppose any and all improvements, unless
'arrled on by Individual enterprise Is that any
eason why we should sit down and do nothing |
when every one who has kept pace with passing /
vents. must be satisfied that policy has long since |
become an obsolete idea? There is nothing better
ettled than that, all main trunk lines, are to be
1hcor; l. IL