Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-03-31
The Western Rail Road.

Carolina, Wnlcn promises d l3she - hun
develope the mineral resources OF the State,
TO increase its wealth, and to remunerate the 81
Stockholders, rs the one from Fayetteville to "a
the Coal Mines IN Chatham. And yet no ~
enterprise has been so beset with difficulties, Pr
so niggardly treated by the Legislature, and w
so parsimoniously assisted by many OF those u
who are vitality interested in its completion. or
Its friends so far, have pressed through the al
most formidable obstacles, -they have pulled %
AGAINST wind and tide. Treated with cool D.
ness and indifference by the people III other W
counties Interested in the proJecs,-wth "a
sheer neglect, if not downright contempt by
the majority in the last Legislature, the peo-
ple of Fayetteville and Cumberland, have,
single handed, resolved to accomplish this
great work at all hazards Their indomlta- =
BILE energy deserves all praise. But will the :
counties of Moore, Harnett and Chatham, q
stand a10of from this enterprise VIII they !
not rally to the assistance of its friends, and
carry the work through, with speed and en-
ergy? VIII not the next Legislature, now
that Fayetteville and Cumberland have re
solved it shall be done, come to their help IL
the last extremity !? Surely, if there be a
spark of State pride, of patriotic feeling, OF
Justice, of good will, towards that portion OF
the State, in that body, as We believe there
will be, they will come to the rescue.
At the late annual meeting Of the Stocs-
holders at Fayetteville, the. President and old
Board of Trustees were. reelected The
President presented,a full report of the OPP
~erations Of the Company, of the future pros
poets of the Road and the benefits which
must accrue to the stockholders and the State,
2 as the result of it's completion. From this
l report, we CLEAN a few facts, for tine benefit OF
a our readers. The road will be Armies long
? The cost for graduation and bridging the
n whole route is estimated at $3l4,326 3D.
r, The cost of IRON, laying the track and other
d items, say $227,4O3. To, which we ada
t $685. $50 A for the purchase of rolling
It stock, building depots, machine shops, &c
v to put the road at work making in round
to numbers 5000, 900. or a little over $20,o 0C
p per mile. Our estimate may be too small
in but at all, events, it cannot exceeds Geo, Oo(
n? to build and furnish everx necessary for
at thorough equipment of the Road
is OF this-sum, the town Of Fayetteville in it
a corporate capacity has subscribed 500, 600
- the county of Cumberland slice, 600, AMI in
a dividuals $14l, 232 10. To which add 70
work payable in stock S18,531 II maxim
ay the present amount Of stock 1859, 764 H.
mt All will admit that Fayetteville and Gamble
-ou land have done well. More than they al
Ills well able to do. And yet rather than tt
will work shall fail, they will complete the Roa'
no and mortgage it to capitalists whe. will flu
will nish vnc means to put II in operation EEe
ost this, from the lights before us, would be a Sa
OBJ transaction. But Gight it to be done? WI
ate the counties of Harnett, Moore and Chatham
nix will the next Legislature allow it to be don
Will they permit by their parsiAoniousnes
red Northern capitalists to eoms in. and compile
or a work, costing so meagre a sum, which W
xxi ~renumerate them, so largely, and bring su,
use wealth to the State We trust not-we b
To them not to allow it. Let Chatham, Moo
he and Harnet& subscribe $3.50, 900, and we f
lain. quite sure the next Legislature will magma
imously take the balance of tho Stock. A
our why nota If all the past, all the present,
ook safe presidents and investments he not a Ii
and if science and experience be not at fau
ont II Prot- Emmons and other scientific III
and be net wholly mistaken, then no emf
mes prise has ever been started in the State, g
now ing saeh assurances of safety anil rennme
ton The investments of Fayetteville q
Cumberland, when paid in, if the roadbe
at work, will exempt the citizens almost
our tirely from taxation, antfshou d the Statet;
stur- the balance OF the Stock, it win contrib
ome- aaore largely to the sinking fund by doul
hap shan any other investment it has.
the But where is the evidence? Prof
The mons asserts that within a conSenielt
and tance of the terminals Of this Road, there
Finexhaustible beds of Coal Of the best gu
auto ties, for fuel and any other purposes
witAs which it may be demanded. Actual exp
sieSs,, ment has demonstrated the truth Of his
and port. The demand for this article, althol
: abe now immense, is constantly Increasing.
nee prospective completion of this Road viii
the signal for the employment of any amo
h lie Of capital necessary fr mining this article
and deep River to- any conceivable extent ]
ming road when completed with a single track
be capable Of transporting to- Faye
still vile Annually, 100000 tons. Should
pratt Road see proper tocharge 81 per ton, thi
tn lone would keep the Road in order, pay
,roag expenses and divide 10 to 2 per cent to
/, the Stockholders. Even the charge of 81
Who ton. would enable its owneBS to put it at
idol on the Ocean, at a cheaper rate than any
rush- er Ceal in the world, yet II would be bad
ah,,ds icy TO Keep up that rate, if it could be 8
homo for less
In close contact with the Coal, are VEN
SON Iron ere of the very best qualities, almost
i tho terminable ; and all the necessary mean
ng an mi%Rs aSa slneithg AYE a. hahu' -
,ctiye two sources alone, furnish the most an
y and guarantee for constant aad profitable emp
.pd ment of the Read. Add to these tke