The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-05
IMPRESSIONS oP A TRAVELLER
TRIP on THE y. e. RAILROAD.
August J, 1856.

We make the following Interesting OK
| tracts from letter in the New York journal
of Commerce of July III, written at Column
bia, s. c., over the signature of The Wan
derer." and dated June 28, 1856;
My proposition now s., to lead you from
Weldon, over another route through North
Carolina, tn Columbin; and ! invite y0u
and your readers, to accompany nae with
obsrrvant eyes aud willing minds; and the
distinct understanding that We do not at
tempt to prejudice one interest for the ben
eft of another. Oar olicct shall be TO relate
the truth, as i: occurs to us.
While sitting in the omnibus which con-
veys through passengers from the rail
road to the station at Washington, and re-
fcctimg in regrctful silence upon the long
separation yet to occur between my self
| and my better self, was addressed III quite
| an ingenious and intelligent strain, by
! stranger; and, upon mutual Identification
with North Carolina, we became comPan-
ions. Ny companion was bound for his
residence at HilsborO, some twelve miles
North of the State University Of North
Carolina.
After sleeping soundly in tho cars from
| Aqua Creek, we broakfasted at Peters
burg; came over the poverty-like soil OF
| Virginia in that section Of the State, until
we reached the rich lands of the Roanoke,
in North Carolina, extending to Weldon.
| And here, at Weldon, commences our new
route of travel.
| At two O'Clock p. NJ, after q fine dinner
at MoCdy's new and clearly eating house,
| we took the cars of the Weldon and Raleigh
Railroad; and after passing through good
oakland farming country. where tar. pitch
| and turpentine, though extremely valuable
to the world, are not known, we reached
the beautiful embowored little city of Raj
eigh, the North Carolina seat of govern
ment, where the large granite State house,
with its collonadc fronts, and almost every
private residence is overshadowed by groves
of tall oaks in full summer green. The
granite of which the fine capitol is built,
was taken from a quarry about two miles
! from the town /; and the capitol stands in a
square of $50 to 200 yards in diameter, and
surrounded by an iron fence. The oaks of
the square are tall and spreading.
While speaking of the capitol of Raleigh,
| it may be ms well to state, for the informa-
ton of those who do not know the fact, and
for the honor of North Carolina, that she
was the first State of the American Union
WHICH had sculptured and paid for fl splon-
did Italian marble statue of Washington.
1t was the work of the great sculptor Can
ova, and cost some twenty thousand
| dollars. 1t was seated on an Italian mar
! bic pedestal, clad in the Roman toga,
and holding a tablet and scroll in the left
hand, and a pen in the other. The marble
of which the whole work was composed was
white as snow. It was destroyed in the
conhagration of the old Capitol, about TWEEN
five years ago. You may know all this,
but your readers do not; and hence this
historical synopsis.
| After a visit to some business men at
Raleigh, good supper at Col. Yarborough's
hotel, and treat with piano music and
singing at the house of friend, l slept
soundly at No. Al, Yarborough's, on fine
bed; aud left the next morning at half past
nine, on the North Carolina Central Rail-
! Road, for Charlotte, accompanied by my
young friend, who left the cars at HILLSIDE
rough; after which, Judge B. of the Supe..
rior Court, who entered the cars at Hills
borough (strictly burrow among hills) be-
came my companion and instructor. as far
as Charlotte.
Raleigh contains an Asylum for the
| Deaf and Dumb; and an Asylum for Lun-
atics. about 700 feet long, has recently been
completed on one of the oak clad hills near
the border of the town, and is occupied by
n number of inmates. 1t presents quite an
imposing appearance viewed from the town.
believe it is State institution.
The country after leaving Raleigh, be-
comes more and more interesting; and the
eyes of the travellers are gratifed by the
alienation farms, well cultivated; tall oak
woods, intersPersed with luxurious under
growth; fields of grain, ripe for the sickle,
or covered by green corn and extensive
open oak woods; handsome residences sit
uated in large groves of tall oaks; small
streams and rivers, and hill and dale with
out termination; the soil being red and
brown. Like that of most Southern hill coua-
tries, even to Texas inclusive.
Much of tho scenery near the Yadkin riv-
er reminds me of the country from Plain
| field in New Jersey to the Delaware, Dor
dering the New Jersey Central Railroad :;
butJersey has, nowhere, such elegant groves
and woods of tall, large, spreading oaks, as
are to be seen bordering the North Carroll
ma Railroad; and there is enc fact connect
ed with this road, which ought to recon-
mend it-Aye. three facts. Ist. 1t has DO
/ trussel work TO give way, to let the cars fall
through or burn up. I'd. The bridges a.
cross the rivers are strong, and rest upon
stone pillars. And Sd. 1t passes through
4 II