The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-09-29
For the Western Democrat.
TO THE PEOPLE OF MECKLEN-
BURG COUNTY.

The period Is approaching "heh TIE FoO-
Die of Mecklenburg County must determine
for themselves whether they will be willing
As a county to contribus. to the construc-
ton of the Wilmington, Charlotte and
Rutherford Railroad.
Under an act of the Legislature giving
them the authority, the Magistrates of the
county have submitted to the people the
question whether they will authorize sub
scrip.ion, in their behalf, Of Sixty Thousand
Dollars to this enterprise. This question
must be determined by the popular vote
on THURSDAY the FIRST DAY or
OCTOBER. All must admit that when
the magnitude of the enterprise is consider
ed-the extent of the Road (bisecting the
county Of Meckenburg nearly thirty miles
the wealth and character of the county
itself-that if a subscription he made at all
it ought not to be less than this amount.
But some misapprehension may exist as
to the terms of this subscription, and what
effect it is to have on the welfare OF the
county.
In the first place, the subscription en-
titles the people of the county to sixty thou
sand dollars in the capital stock Of the
Company, which will be a property held 10y
them for the ultimate payment, to the ex-
tent of its value, of the debt incurred by
the county.
In the next place, the payment for this
stock will be made by bonds of the county,
which will run twenty years. The interest
will be paid by taxation on the property of
tie county, and will be laid 10y the Magis
trates as the county tax is now imposed.
The whole population Of the county is
probably at this time sixteen or seventeen
thousand, and the whole taxable property
of TIE county is nearly fifteen millions of
dollars in value. Upon the whole popdla-
ton of the county tax of 80 cents on the
poll will paw the interest, and a tax Of one
per cent will be sufficient to pay the debt.
Combine the two sources of taxation, and
ten cents in addition to the present axes
on every citizen will discharge annually the
interest on this debt.
But will not great and compromising adj
vantages accrue to the county from the
completion Of this work! 1t will bisect the
county from east to west, and thus give to
almost every quarter of it the facilities Of a
Railroad. An increase in the value of the
lands along the line of the Road may there
fore be expected. 1t will give to the peo-
pie Of the county the advantages of two
markets, and will create necessarily an &C
tive competition for freights between this
Road and the Charlotte and South Caro-
lima Railroad, which will enure to the bene-
fit of the people. 1t is easy to perceive that
this consideration is awakening opposition
to the work in certain quarters which are
interested in suppressing this competition.
The road leading from Columbia to Char
lotte, the S. G Railroad, we have no con-
troll over; and it is well known that that
Road has for many years been in the habit
Of discriminating against the up-country
for the simple reason that she had monop-
oily of its trade. The construction of the
North Carolina Railroad has had some in
fuence on this contracted spirit, but the
effect of the proposed road to Wilmington
must have an influence still more beneficial.
This Railroad will extend far towards
the Mountain region of North Carolina, and
will give our people ready connection with
that healthful country-enable us to draw
from it all its peculiar productions, and to
carry on with it an active and ready trade
which is now conducted at great expense
and inconvenience.
There is another consideration, my fellow
citizens, which l hope you will consider and
feel deeply. This Railroad is in its length
and breadth North Carolina Road. You
are tainted with South Carolina trade,
South Carolina sympathies, and South Ca
rolina attachments; so that in fact you are
regarded as more closely connected with
that State than with your own. This is
unfortunate, but under present arrange
ments it is inevitable. Now, my fellow
citizens, this imputation may be repealed.
You can identify yourselves with great
enterprise connecting you with the most
important sea port in your own State. By
means of it you migrate into North Caro-
lima not only politically but socially and
by commerce. Foreign ties are broken up
aud domestic ones are created and streng-
thened. Pride and patriotism therefore
call upon You to remember your ancient
fame and to be true to the cause of your
native State and your own home.
OLD MECKLENBURG.
September %, 1857.