Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-06-27
The Railroad.

We have attended the meetings held at the Court
House with reference the action of the town in the
matter of its subscription to the stock of the Will
mington. Charlotte & Rutherford Railroad Company
We have listened to the speeches made. the facts
stated, aad the opinions advanced, calmly and alien
lively, and with an honest desire find out the real
bearings of the case, the difficulties which surround
the prosecution of the work. the projects started TO
overcome these difficulties, and the means by when
these projects are to be carried out The acton OF
The meeting of last night is before the public. he
avowed and understood object of that action was 10
reeve the town subscription from any restrictions or
conditions which might interfere with its being ap'
oiled in tie manner or in furherance of .he mode OF
building the road, as regards route and terminus
which circumstances may prove to be the most prac
ticabIe, it being conceded that these circumstances
lave already shown that the immediate building OF
the road direct into town, as originally contemplated
is impracticable.
It is known that there are two projects brought
forward by the President and Board of Directors,
which two projects now engage the attention OF the
public and of the company. These proJects are
first the building of the road on the direct, indepen-
lent route, as far towards Wilmington as Walker S
Landing, on the West side of tie Cape Fear River,
some seven miles from Wilmington, straight
line considerably farther, we presume ny water
The othe, project is connection with the Whining
ton & Manchester Road, at a point not beyond
Whitesvlle.
The whole matter of the construction OF the ROAD
Is one of deep, nay, vital interest to Wilmington ana
Of great moment 10 the State large 1t matter 10
be looked at from the most plain, common-Sense
point of view, and without reference to IndlVl1ua'
interests or feelings, although we must be conscious
that, while human nature remains what 1t IS ana al
wavs has been, these interests and eeHngs must eAel
their influence STILL it is our part, far as posi-
be to look the thing in the face, tullront and mol
be content with mere sde-face, profile view Ia
proposing 10 do so, we wish 10 discourage nobody !;
we think that the harm in this world Is not the result
of this direct candid course, but the opposite we
think it due to our readers TO give them any facIl'
ties we can, in order to assist them in the lorna
ton of accurate views for every fact TO which their
attention may be called, matter how feeby it may
be urged, is positive point in the investigation
1t could not have escaped the attention of those ac
customed TO analize calculations and estimates that,
in the very able and ingenious arguments OF General
Bynum Intended to show the desirableness and teas-
brlity of the Walkers Ferry route or project, the
speakers sanguine temperament led him to adopt in
every case, the most extremely favorable calculation
that could be made or offered and where no ascer-
tanned data existed to assume that these data when
ascertained would in all cases, justify equally SAN
guine authorizations We all know that by allowing
our feelings carry off, by assuming everything
unknown as favorable BY taking for granted that
everything will turn out want II, anything can
be made look perfectly fair on paper or in speech
But we are equally that such rose tinted show
ngs form no reliable bases for practical action The
thing Just comes to this after all that can be assumed
has been that the town of Wilmington will have to
subscribe about half million of dollars before the
road can reach Charlotte from Walkers Ferry. 1t
! is as wei to know this at An independent
road is desirable we have always advocated the
building of one, if practicable, and if the people
think that they can manage this, and are willing to
90 this amount to bring the track Walkers Ferry,
! it is their business.
IN regard to the Manchester connection, il is not
what we would advocate original measure any
more than the Walkers Ferry terminus We know
that it is desirable that SO long road this Will
mingon, Charlotte and Rutherford Road should run
down to the terminal point OF It's trade independently
If adopted it will be the principle of choice of
evils, the great and primary evil to be guarded
against being The loss of The road entirely. The
Walkers Ferry terminus the Manchester connec-
ton are minor evils not to be compared with the evil
of no road. The inconvenience attending the land
ing of freight the opposite side OF the river are
familiar to business men They are no mere tances
they are tangible facts and worthy of COnsid
Grafton, but still not insuperabIe obstacles. But
the main argument in favor of the Mancheste
connection was offered last night by H. L Holmes
Esq. If, said he, the gentleman Gen. Bynum sees
so easy way OF building the road to Charlotte from
Walkers Ferry, surely the thing must be deubly easy
and doubly certain when the amount of road TO be
built is reduced over sixty miles, for the Manches
ter Road and its friends will agree to carry the roac
10 Lumberton, leaving the town subscription, and al
other subscriptions, free to be applied to the
ton of the road beyond that point.
Without going the full length that DR.. Belamy
does, cannot shut eyes to the fact that there
is force in the objection TO the Walkers Ferry
: terminus, founded upon the risk of building up
rival point of shipment there and it is foolshness
say that the same objection applies to WhieVill
which is an inland town, itself seeking an outlet Il
tde.water. and not as Walkers Ferry would be-
Ie-waler landing, lying between and the interior
ntercepting trade. Certainly in the event of III
Walkers Ferry project being adopted, some depots
workshops, and so forth, must be put there, and fo
= year upon year the whole increment TO our popula
ton In the way of workmen, will be lost, stores vii
spring up there for their supply and the surroundin