Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-08

her people-those whom the Light Infantry left be-
| hind-shal[ be in the " flowing cups" of each and
| all of US freshly remembered"
Tho Best Route
| We yesterday 'bsfed card of the route u'o
Raleigh, Charlotte and Columbia, with some remarks
thereon dissenting from the assertion that the route
| referred to was the best.
Our attention has since been called to recent is
sue OF the South Caronan," containing cores
pondence between the Postmaster Cenelal and the
Presidents Of the Charlotte & South Carolina K. K.
Co., the North Carolina R. R. Co., and the Raleigh
& CASTOR Il. R. Co,-Messrs. Johnston, Fisher and
Hawkins-with comments the same, apparently
by the gentlemen at the head of The above compa-
MES This correspondence, with the annexed re-
marks, contains some reflections upon the Whining
ton & Manchester r. R., that, with all respect for
Messrs Johnston, Fisher and Hawkins and We respect
them highly, we cannot but regard wholly IN
called for, not generous, nor capable of being sus-
tanned by the facts of the case
| The whole gis of the correspondence resolves it.
| self into this desire the part of the companies
composing the long route to get the Postmaster Gen
eraI so TO forward the morning mail from Augusta,
as to throw it into Kngsvle, three hours in advance
of its present time of arrival at that point. For
what purpose why simply to enable the g circum-
bendbus" route 10 get that much advantage of the
mail route; and if the Postmaster General, af
ter forcing the mail ahead at Kingsve would still
keep il from leaving Weldon any sooner, on it's way
North, then they might hope TO be able 10 reach
Wei 1on in time to make the same connection that is
now made by the mail.
Surely, if these companies could have GOT the Post
10 in
position to The contractors for carrying the great
mail than they could compass by means of their
own facilities and resources they would have been
smart and the DE- pariment would have earned char
acer for disinteresedness the expense of its reputa
ton for prudence and business capacity Had the De
partment become party to any such arrangement
it would certainly have been strange treatment L
contracting companies, whose uniform effort to faith
fully perform their duty, and to accede to any pro
position for expeditng the mail transport is a con
coded fact. Of all the companies with which the de
partment has contracts. the Wilmington and Weldon
and Wilmipgt on and Manchester stand ameng TIT
= first as being among the most accommodating ant
least captious. 1t would have offered queer encour
agement to contractors to the Department faith
fully, and would have done queer service to the De
, partment in its future lettings.
When the proposition was originally made to thu
Department CATER the failure of the long route TO &c
the mails taken off the cid and direct route) to short
ent the time TO Kingsvl!le, the Postmaster Genera
> very naturally replied that if the South Carolina R
Road was willing. he had no objection. But the mo
he learned thar it ruse to throw the pas
sengers and ma lis forward three hours into this un
healthy region, without continuing the expeditio
h beyond KipgsvilIe he very properly declined inter
: fering with the schedule until tie Railroad Assocla
ton that will meet al Augusta shall decide upo
If the schedule that shall be run If the Department
desires 10 a faster schedule, within reasonabl
ot limits, the managers of the through route for mail
and passengers will, we feel confident do all tia
a. can be done to comply with It's wishes
Now. to The remarks made in reference 10 tn
ct Wilmington Manchester Railroad and its failure
7e deliver the mails in schedule time, we have only
h. remark, that it is true that this road did wit
one or TWO accidents during the terribly severe weatf
Dr of last winter that somewhat crippled its machine
~ ry, and for very short time dsarranged its oper;
at tons. But all that has long since been more than
meded, and scme four new engines have been adde
in 10 the efficient motive power of the Road, which ca
it now safely challenge comparison with any of tn
d, Roads composing the long line, either in speed
a. certainty of connection not even excepting that gre
State work upon which the treasure of North Carol
rs ma has been treel" lavished to purchase heav
n rails and first class ,euhlnery, and for what?
", Was it ever dreamed that this road in aid of viii,
no Wilmington so literally came forward and nfus
e life blood in lis veins, its hour of need witho
F which this road could not have been built, would
e. the rival of the old roads, built mainly by priya
Of means When the gallant of New Hanov.
ne who drafted the bill chaterng this North Carolir
8 Railroad, fighting for its charter, giving ty
a millions of the States money TO the work, was
as even limited that it was TO be rival line 10 the w
Dr. mington Road, over which he now presdes?
Ia Again, when the third million of States mon
on was asked for, was there any falering on the o.
of Wilmington in granting this additional life blooc
IN Did her sons then believe, for mon ent, that the
would ever be President of that road who wou
of sign letter to the Postmaster General, di.parae
on, one of the roads in which Wilmington had 90 de
fr. an interest!
nd With a straight and level line 1891 miles lor
ere against route of heavy curves 400 miles long,
ng route equally healthy, equally and more commodio,
will still sustain ITSELF though North Carolina shou
nd be used to crush it,
he We leave this subject to-day. eve may recur to
re again, if need be.-Daily Journal 5tA inst.