Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-01-09
Coal and Iron.


Development of State, as shown from the example
of PENNSYLVANIA. which OF all the old States of the
Atlantic Seaboard, alone holds her own, and actually
gains upon her sister States, and this owing mainly
to the Development of her mineral resources Pre-
vious to such development by the construction of
canals and railroads, TO carry the products OF the
mines to market, Pennsylvania was retrogradlng IN
the scale of States New York had passed her and
was rapidly increasing her distance; even the new
State of Ohio threatened pass her at the next cen
sus But before the time for the taking of that Gen.
sus had arrived, the effect of the public improvements
penetrating the mining regions began to be telt; ana
instead of decay and retrogresson, progress became
the order of the day. The census OF 1880 showed
that Pennsylvania had taken fresh start and was
not merely holding her own but gaining upon her
rivals and compeers With little foreign trade-ttle
or no lake trade-no trade with the British Colonies
such as Western New York enjoys, still PennsylVa-
MIA has actually by virtue of her mineral resources
kent gaining upon the great and prosperous Empire
Sta,e-eainpg in relative wealth and population
Let us bear this in mind
Some ardent believers in the magnitude and value
of our deposits of coal and iron in the Deep River
country, contend that they are superior 10 those OF
PENNSYLVANIA OF course, much of this must be con.
lecture 1t is enough for us 10 know that there are
deposits there of valuable character, and 10 an ex-
tent which is practically unlimited. Those best &C
uuainted with such matters say that these mines
be worked with profit provided an avenue to market
be supplied and that the distance which the coal VIII
have to be transported to point of SHIPMENT IS not
so great as TO form any nsnperabe obstacle, not be-
ing as great as the Pennsylvania or Maryland de
posts, now worked to advantage.
This is the state of the These deposits exist
in North Carolina They exist at point convenient
" accessible to tide water. They awaiting de-
veIonempnt by means Of slackwater railroad, or
both VIII they be developed or not? This is
question for the Legislature to answer individuals
ae not able to construct the works without the 40
dltional assis ance of tie legislature
So Ear as the River is concerned, if properly i'm
nroved and fulfilling the ends for which it's improve
ment is designed, It would, we think, be preferable
IN railroad i1asmuch as there would be no loading
or unloading between the original point OF shipment
on the river at The mines, and the final Shipment on
board sea going vessel bound for any northern or
southern port We think that coal could be carried
a, less rates per ton on sackwater, and open river
navigation than it could on any road. But we may
be mistaken. and here are certainly advantages con-
npcted with a railroad which cannot be claimed tor
any inland navigation.
There are undoubtedly advantages and disadvanta-
ges connected with either proJec-the River improve
ment or the Railroad. Both will, in our opinion be
eventually built, and will then pay. The Reading
Railroad and the Schuykl Canal Company, are
both taxed to their utmost capacity TO bring down the
coal of the SchuylkiIl region, and both these works
are enormous in their own way. The Navigation Ia
bors under the dsa dvanage of being closed part OF
the wear by ice, a disadvantage to which our work
would not be subject
We cannot but think that the especial friends of
the Railroad or the Navigation will commit great
mistake if they permit themselves to be drawn into
position of antagonism, or be persuaded to run the
schemes against each other as hostile and contlctng
prciecs No good 10 either, but much evil to both
must be the result of such mistaken policy. There
fore do we sincerely trust that no such policy will
be adopted.
We trust that we will not be understood I'M
friendly 10 the railroad, or inclined 10 strike a. side
blow at it, when we say that, although We desire
the success of the road as well Of the navigation,
vet if we felt that the other must be given up,
and it depended upon US to say which one that
should be, ould go for giving up the road rather
than the river ii for other reason, for the sufh-
Gent one that both State interest and State pride are
interested in the river project The State is already
in so far that she cannot recede without loss. Her
credit is involved in putting through this work. as II
would certainly be humliatng for the State of North
Carolina to be forced to let company from another
section of the Union take great State work out of
III OnSt hnI IoHn
ANYBODY would like this work to be sold out of the
hands of the State and that must be the cense-
quence unless the Legislature comes to the rescue
This work as we have before said has been njured
by piddling, hand tor mouth policy The original
estimate of 1886, 900 was about enough to bring it
decently before the public-hardly more. If mil
lion dollars had been said at once, and everything
from the first done on proper solid foundation from
the rst must be at the last, we believe that the
work would now be paying the interest on the State
debt contracted for building it, we'll as aording
fair return 10 ndvidua al ockholdes, TO say nothing
of the great benefits would be comforting upon the
State The errors of the past the results OF lnex
perience. States companies, and individuals have,
in most Cases. buy knowledge, and pay pretty dear
for it too. All hands in this case, have had to do so
1t is certainly better to make OF this dear ly
bought experience than to spend time in examinations
and recrimnations Above all it is desirable not to
fail again Into the errors of the past. Half doing
anything is worse than not doing it at all. If the
Legislature grants aid to this work it will be the die
tate of wisdom and true economy 10 find out the full
amount necessary to do it tUell, thoroughly and al
omcs not at all. This think all will admit
We think it will pay to do so. We have no doubt
of it.