Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-05-06
Western Extensions.

nnce to the Western n. 4. and the Wilmington omar
lotte and Rutherford Railroads.
That but one main line should cross the mountains
for long years to come, we look upon as seevldent-
We have our doubts whether the time ever will come
that two lines will the ridge at least not On the
route to the Tennessee lne Ula AEheville. The time
nay come when road will be built up the valley Of
the Yadkin crossing over and connecting with the Nr
gnia and East Tennessee Road somewhere not far from
Abingdon Va but this will be good long while yet
In the meantime, the two main stems Of the Western
North Carolina, and of the Wilmington, Charlotte and
Rutherford Roads, are pushing upwards towards the
mountainsthe one aiming to cross at the Swannanoa
Cap when it does cross, the other at the Reedy Patch
Cap hepont conveyance being somewhere West the
Blue Ridge in the neighborhood of Ashevie in Buncom
be county. Both these works must necessarily advance
very slowly, and for part cannot see how either
is going to get the ridge at all without further aid
It is contended and with truth we believe that road
can be run through the Reedy Patch Gap with maxi
grades not exceeding 90 feet to the mile and this
for very short distance and without the necessity of
resorng to any tunnel at all. On the other ncthat
surveyed for the Western North Carolina Railroad
heavy and expensive tunneling will be necessary and
this too without obviatng the necessity for grades hea
yier that those necessary to overcome the Reedy Patch
Wlthout tunnell
Why then if it is desirable to get railroad across
the Ridge should not the most feasible plan be adopted?
Why if the Reedy Patch Gap is the cheapest and best
should not the Western North Carolina Road and the
Wilmington Charlotte & Rutherford Road unite their
forces to make Joint road through that gap instead OF
ooshly trying to cut each others throat thing which
they may accomplish but without doing any good to
either or to the State.
AS for the French Broad Road, we do not feel much
scared about that Our southern neghbors do not feel
like pouring oat money any than we do, and really
we see little chance of that road being built any time
within twenty years. It is right strong hand to bluff
and bragg WITH but that appears to be pretty nearly all
that there is Of it just now
I'VE recolect how this question was discussed
during The last session Of the Legislature of North Car
Ona and indeed prior to that in the canvass 1t arose
upon the proposition to dispense with the section feature
in the charter of the Western Extension. Under exist
ing circumstances-that is to say the State being al
ready pretty we'll H. and there being pressure in money
matters, we did not think that this movement would be
wise or expedent especially another road was push
ing along almost parallel for some considerable portion
Of its course We were more anxious to see difficulties
harmonized-the chance Of ruinous competition avoided,
and permanent interests promoted than We were to see
things pushed ahead of the and resources oil the
State We think that the day is not distant when
the Ridge will be crossed by North Carolina Railroad
after fair understanding and arrangement shall ba1c
been arrived at and this too before the French Broad
or any other South Carolina Road pierce the noun
tain barriers through our territory
We think that before the meeting Of the next Legs
ature nay OF the earliest possible moment, those inter
estcd in having control Of matters connected with the
Western North Carolina and the Wilmington Char
lotte and Rutherford Roads ought to meet together and
devise some plan by which their efforts can be COM
bned, and at least, mutual injury be avoided, which
under any circumstances hardly be the case without
fair understanding.
This question Of a Western extension is a delicate
one So also is every question that involves the incur
ment of debt Such questions not be fairly decided
unless due attention is paid to business considerations
Our friends in the mountains sometimes talk pretty
rapidly They have been talking pretty rapidly OF late
days That is their look out. 1t is certainly their priv
lege especially geographical position has heretofore
deprived them to considerable extent of many of the
modern facilities of transport and INSTRUMENTATION
But is useless to talk hard feel hard against the
people of the East on that account 1t do no good
that we know Of
For .our part, we only pretend to express only ouI
own views upon these matters. The whole question Of
crossing the mountains by railroads. is an experiment
considered as financial operation. Its incidental ad
vanages are the only that be looked to DIS like
y to afford any adequate return for the larger Outlay
almost ndispensably necessary for such purpose.
The chances Of a return must depend upon the fac
of these lines forming link in the great chain connect
ing the centres of production with those of exchange
as the lines by Chicago the Lakes and the New Yorl
Railroads do, or as the Pennsylvania or Baltimore ant
Ohio Railroads do with the Ohio country and the who'll
Mississippi valley So with other lines OF this charac
ter But even the great Empire State herself canno
make money on her t1co lines AT the one end of tn
Pennsylvania Central is the great city of Philadelphia
at the other the thriving and large manufacturing
city of Pittsburg, and the head OF navigation on tn
Ohio with railroad communications rapidly multiplying
vet the fact is that if goods and passengers IN transit
between New York and the West did not take the Penn
sylvania route the road would not and could not pay
The State of Virginia has the same tale to tell
Now with all these facts before eyes, ought we
North Carolina to be precipated, or allow ourselves
be hurried away by feeling Can we ought to think
to mountain crossings in close proximity to each othe
when the great State of New York cannot sustain tw
lines to the Lakes paying Investments Is it not OF
duty to see that all chances of future difficulty
moved so far as the nature of the case admits W
can afford no rivalries between our public wOrks-w
have had too much of that already Excited talkn
will do no good. Cool judicious action must take i
place
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