Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-12-02

On Saturday last small party of gentlemen, includ
ing His Excelency, Gov. Ellis, visited the line of the
above road the object being afford the Governor an
opportunity to see the work and judge for himself of
the progress actually making towards the completion OF
the first section of twenty-five miles. Having been
along we will speak of the trip in the first person
We left the Wilmington & Weldon Rail Road wharf
little before ten o'clock on board the General Haree,
the Ferry Boat belonging jointly to the W. q W. and
w. q NJ. r. r. Companies. AS her speed is probably
about the same with that of any boat that may be used
to keep up the communication between the town and
Walkers Ferry the point on the river which forms the
present Eastern terminus Of the Road remarked the
time taken in going up, and found it to be some forty
minutes The point on the river where the road strikes
it, Riverside" as the president calls it, is quite low,
with no appearance of bluff, although at short dis
lance back the road runs through considerable cutting
About mile back is what is called the station.
At the river we found Mr.. Carpenter, Superinten-
dent of track-aying, and Mr. PeteWay with the loco
motive North State and train OF cars freight and box
The run to the head of the road the arhest point to
which track has been aid occupied about an hour and
half the distance being between % l-2 and "a
miles over a road necessarily somewhat rough hay
ing been just aid bat not so rough as we had been led
to expect In a short time it well be consolidated
packed etc. We believe it is less rough than usual with
tracks so recently laid
1t is expected to finish the tracklaying of the first
twenty-five miles by Wednesday the 30th The hands
were hard at work and pushing along with energy. The
present head of the road is in Bladen County. The
grading is finished some ten miles ahead of the track
laying.
The venerable Sayapahaw," as Mr.. Guion calls her,
is up near the scene of operations engaged in hauling
rails crossties ETC., she looks decidedly antedluVlan
The shantes for the hands upon wheels, and are
taken along as the work goes on They appear to be
quite comfortable and suggest the idea Of travelling
Circus
The character of the country needs very little descrp
tion The track, until about Livingston Creek, runs
nearly parallel with and not very far distant from that
of the Wilmington and Manchester Road there is there
FORE little no difference in the character of the coun
try There plenty of lands that would produce gooc
cotton crops but they want draining. There abund
ant fall for this purpose and any amount of mud anC
mari.
Beyond Livin 2ston the Manchester Road defects t.
the Southwest and the Charlotte Road TO the North
west, so that from there they pursue different direc
lions and their lines get far assunder From Living
ston to Lumberton the Road will be very straight
straight as can well be.
Returning, we got back to town about four O'Clock
having enjoyed the trip very much. We forbear men
on of the charming sinuOsites of the Cape Fear Rive
the several and different views thereby presented {
Wilmington Also, of the good things said-of tn
courtesies of the officers of the Road etc. These Wi
be understood We believe the Governor was yer
much pleased with his trip, and the company very
pleased with the Governor