Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-12-16
For the Standard.
THE DANvu,LE CoNNECTION

THE DANVILLE CONNECTION.
MEssRs ED1roRs: The friends and advocates of
the Danvle railroad connection resolved to ef
feet their object by indirect MEANS if they cannot
do it directly-and this too at the expense of the
long and we'll settled policy of the State and against
the interest of every other railroad They propose
repeal of the 37th section of the Internal Improve
ment act which precludes any person or corporation
from erecting any railroad or canal without author
ty of the Legislature. We ask what is this but the
surrender of the highest attribute of sovereignty
jurisdiction railroad property to foreigners?
A privilege which the Legislature has refused to
surrender to our own people, as no person can
lay out public road or erect toll bridge without
first obtaining the authority of the County Courts
Yea more, no person can even erect gate across a
public highway, without being specially authorized
to do So And these free-trade advocates are seek
ing to grant this privilege to Yankee company at
the expense of our own roads and this is what
they call " free trade IN railroads. We intend no
disrespect but we venture to say such Gd captain
dam humbug was ever before addressed to men of
common sense We have heard of, and are the ad-
vocate of the great principles of free trade when ap
piled and practiced by nations but they have no
application to neighbors individuals in our State
policy Ifso repeal the various restrictions to be
found in your statute book and let our people be
free in everything, without restraint or law. But
our purpose was to lay before your readers some
plain facts to show what must be the consequence
of this Danville scheme should it produce the effect
which its advocates say it will That this connection
may have the effect of increasing the through travel
on the North Carolina road, may be conceded,
though no one who understands the present system
of railroads, can believe for moment that the in
of travel will be to the extent its friends claim.
And if it should must not the corresponding loss
fall on the CASTOR and Wilmington roads, in which
the State is directly interested to extent of more
than Million to say nothing of her interest in 9TH
er eastern roads But this is not to be its only eff
feet it will destroy your home freights. Let any
one examine the table of freiShts, which we shall
to this communication, and he will be able to
see at glance what is likely to be its effect.
1t will be seen, that High-Point - miles west Of
miles, three of the most important stations on
the road either of the three much more important
points as feeders than Greensboro. Now the pro-
duce from those points pay freight over the North
Carolina road for hundred and fifty miles,
then continue over the Castor, Wilmington and
eastern roads for more than hundred miles furth-
er-whereas if the produce takest he Danville road
to Richmond as most of it WILL it will pay freight
on the N C. road from IL to 80 miles only. What
is to be its effect is easy to conceive. If the friends
of this connection think it is to be beneficial to
them and the State let the people of Greensboro
and Charlotte get their rich supporters in Richmond
to unite with them in the purchase of the road be-
tween these points, by paying to the State and the
stockholders the two millions which it cost, and
then they could have free trade road to their
hearts content but away WIN your Tree traOe
road made at the expense of the State for the benefit
of Danve and Richmond merchants. If they are
| not willing to purchase, then let the State levy
tax of fifty cents dollar each passenger and
authorize the Directors of the N c. road to increase
their tariff all freight going from Greensboro to
| Richmond which may pass over the road If the
Legislature shall be guilty of such suicidal act as
this to inure her own roads, she may in vain look
out for any further dividends. Let me ask, what has
this free trade Charlotte road to recommend it that
its friends proposing this measure of connection
with so much zeal? We venture to say of the hun
| red thousand bushels of wheat which have passed
over the N. G. road not bushel of wheat or bag Of
cotton has been sent from the Charlotte depot
Let the Legislature listen to this cry about free
trade railroads and my word for it they may look in
vain for the sixty thousand dollars for the sinking
fund from the million of preferred stock of the n
c. road. That road finds it difficult even now to gel
on and pay what she is required to the sinking FUND
and interest on her funded debt. Deprive her o.
this increase and you had as well give up the road
surrender it to South Carolina and Virginia, ant
say North Carolina is too poor to sustain her roads
and pay the interest on her debt Heaven save u
from such calamity and humiliation. We sincere
ly believe, should the proposition succeed to re
peal of the 37th section of the Internal improvement
law and this Danville connection be secured it viii
seriously endangerthe eight or ten millions which tn
State and individuals now have invested in railroa'
stock But we cannot for q moment believe tn
good sense patriotism and love of State of the mem
bers of the Legislature can suffer such measure
to succeed.
A NORTH CAROLINIAN.