Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-05-02

from the last NUMBER OF that paper. The Observer,
in introducing this letter to its readers. says:
"GREAr CONTRACT FOR IRON ORE-The reader will
find in the letter which we publish from John H.
Haughton. Esq, Of Pittsboroueh, statement of a.
contract which would be incredible but for the source
from which it comes, viz: that Northern Company
has agreed to furnish on Deep River within two
years after the completion Of the contract of Messrs
DUNCAN, Cartwright Co., millions Of d,llars
'oorth Of black band iron ORE And this is to he
manufactured on the spot, by which its value will
be increased of course. how much we unable to
say, but DOUBTLESS at least as much more. So that
there is to be brought into market, by company
in two years. say fourteen millions of dollars worth
of iron alone, iom this depository of undeveoped
and untold wealth Of North Carolina. We had heard
of this contract, but not with any certainty its
accuracy, before received Mr.. Haughton's letter.
and Cur information that the Northern Company
spoken of expect to furnish all this ore from tract
of less than 300 acres of land which they have pur
chased.
What prospect does all this open to our State,
and especially to this part of our State! Whose
Imagination can compass its full extent?
But this iron interest," immense as it is is but one
of various sources of wealth Deep River The
coal is Of at least equal valne And in addition to
both there are building stone mill stones, soap stone
slate, fire-cay, porcelain clay, timber, and water
power to assist human hands in doing the work ne
cessary to develop all their wealth."
The Observer has not overstated the undeveloped
wealth of the Deep river region, the importance
of the contract referred to. We have reason to
doubt the accuracy of Mr.. Haughtons statement,
and we know he would not willingly misead the
public; but trust his information in relation to
this contract may turn out tobe correct and that the
contract may be carried out His letter is as follows:
"P1rTsBoRoUGH. April %, 1857
MEssRs E. j. HALE Son :-Gent1emen Aware
of the interest you have manifested in the mineral
of the Deep River valley, desire to COM
municate fact which heard recently from relia-
BILE quarter, it goes very far to show the impor.
lance of multiplying the means Of transportation for
our coal and iron asmuch and as speedily possible.
understand that Northern Company has con-
traced to deliver within two years after the contract
of Messrs. DUNCAN, Cartwright & Co., to complete
the improvement of the Cape Fear & Deep Rivers
to the Gulf is done two millions of tons of black
band iron ore, the banks of Deep River at So so
per ton on the spot. Here then is a contract for
$7O0n OOOO for portion of the iron ore of that re-
gion and to be realized in two wears time
This will, when manufactured as it will be here
pay River Company in tolls $70OOoO in two
years, or $3.50, 600 per year and this will be clear
profit, because the propretors of coal and iron are
to be their carriers and to pay us toll per ton
at agreed rate already fixed.
Thus you see what reason the friends Of the Deep
River Improvement have for encouragement and re.
newed exertions for the speedy accomplishment of
that great work, contamination. fortunately soon
to be realized by the energy and resources of
Messrs. DUNCAN, Cartwright Co. who have un-
dertaken it.
But this is not ALL Let the friends of your Rail
Road also take courage; they must now see that
there is enough and to spare of the resources of
Deep River to tax the capacity of both River and
Road to their utmost and that the sooner both
works are DONE the better for the State and all who
feel interest in her prosperity and Independence
fhoro no M TOOL ~
improvement felt by your citizens, any further
hostility; will all have enough to do Let ue
join hand in hand and push the great works that
promise much to all concerned, with all possible
despatch. Such spirit would have carried us Sue
cessfully through the Legislature. Let all hostility
hero after cease.
have great hopes that our people will consent to
raise $4,000 or 800, 900 for your Road, in this
County, and thus follow the noble example of Cum
berland.
When the proper time arrives, I hope to be able
to take the field for your Road and press its claims
with all the ability possess.
Very respectfully yours,
j. H. HAUGHTON"
The Observer accompanies the letter with the fol.
lowing additional remarks:
"In Mr.. Haughton's letter there is paragraph to
which feel obliged to take exception, much as
would have preferred to indulge in only pleasant
comments. He says, "Let there be no longer any
jealousy of our river improvement felt by your c-
zens, any further hostility"
This is putting the saddle on the wrong horse I"
The hostility has been the other side, from the
commencement of the river work. when it was pro-
claimed by one of its principal men that it would
obliterate Fayetteville from the map, down to the
last Legislature when some of the leading friends of
the river took the ground that both river and road
should not, and others that both could not, receive
State aid and therefore worked for the river alone
1t this which obliged the friends of the road to
look n their interests They had LOT the rive
company alone, for eight years, notwithstanding the
threat of Oberation, and notwithstanding the OBJ
structions it had placed in the river to the damage
of citizens of Cumberland hundreds of thousands of
dollars And they would have continued to let the
river company alone, if the spirit which anmatcs
this present letter of Mr. Haughon's had been mani
tested at Raleigh during the late session. But the
friends of the river to have supposed that the
game all in their own hands. Tile Slate House
officers all their friends, and looked coldly
t.. rail road the democratic a0ire puilers about
Raleigh (oih Judge saunders at their head) soere
for them and against us and the Legislature was
for them because unwilling to lose the $3.50, 900 al
ready invested. All these influences would undoub-
tedly have prevailed with Legislature largely de-
mocratic, 1--WE may say largely LocofocoD but for
the developments before a committee of the Leg
islature as to the condition and management of the
Company itself 1t was these developments and no
hostility of citizens, which prevented the river
company from getting successfully through the Leg.
islature."
We invite particular attention to the expressions
which have put in italics in the above extracts
The Observer it seems, cannot refer to the River
the Road without allusion like the foregoing to
"the State House officers " and the Democratic
wire pullers about Raleigh" Such illusions, while
they can be of no benefit to the cause of internal
improvements are unjust in themselves and un.
founded We were an attentive observer Of the
struggles in the two houses for both the River and
the Road We friendlx t both hut We neither