Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-08-28
The Proposed Town Subscription to the
Deem River.

This matter is before our citizens, and must be act
cd upon and acted upon calmly and considerably,
after due reflection Let each man, without reference
to party feelings, former opinions or predictions,
place the thing before himself as it stands weigh 1t
in all its bearings and act his hest judgment may
dictate
This thing of going deeper in debt is serious mat"
ter The town is pressed with taxation. Its people
are pressed. This much we all know.
Few doubt but that the opening of the Coal Mines
to market would give impetus 10 trade. infuse life
into our town, benefit our property and render the
burden of our liabilities easier to bear.
The Deep River Navigation has been a most un-
fortunate work The period of its completion, like
tomorrow, has always been one day in the future
1t has never appeared to grow nearer, but on the
contrary, has rather seemed to rece1e. That, after
Do many dsapponments, our people should have
lost confidence in it, least should have had their
confidence very much shaken, is perfectly natural
and what was to have been expected
We believe that the men in charge of the work
now are business men, who will do all that men can
reasonably be expected to do. We believe that they
have the best interests of the Company at heart
they have the experience of past misforunes, to
predecessors have split. But they have much to do,
and little means 10 do it with. They think they
put the work in boating order to the centre of the
Coal Fields, if the Town will make this subscription.
They can see no other way to get along-hey see no
plan to do without it.
After the experience of the Company for years, we
cannot be bold enough to say that all the plans and
calculations of the Directors will certainly succeed
even with the town subscription They may succeed
4cih that subscription. They cannot succeed Vitout
it. It's success temporarily, SO as 10 place the
Coal fairly in the market and demonstrate the pactl
cabiity of the navigation beyond doubt, would be,
of course, an achievement of value far more than
commensurate with the subscription of twenty five
thousand dollars.
We do not say that this effort will succeed. We
trust it may-that is all. The question simply is
this: Are our people willing to run the risk! That
is for them 10 decide at the polls
There is abundant time to think over it, and we
trust our citizens will think over it carefully. 1tpre
sents on one side great contingent advantage-on
the other a certain additional burden of twenty. five
thousand dollars For our own part were there any
other resource for getting along at all with the work.
we would unhesatingly say No, to any proposition
for mourning additional cent of debt, or necessi
tatng one additional cent of taxation. But really it
appears to us that without this the thing must 90
down, and therefore feel compelled TO pause. and.
st least withhold any opposition, while we must con-
TESS that we not yet prepared to give to the
of subscription any active support. We only want
to draw pubic attention to the matter To ask every
voter to think over the matter, and compare notes
with his neighbours, before making up bis mind.
Of course the vote of the citizens, if affirmative.
will only be permissve in It's character, and the COM
missioners need not, and we suppose will not make
the subscription, unless they feel reasonable assur
ance that the ends proposed can really be accom-.
pliahed.