The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-29
From the Fayetteville Observer.
MANUFACTURING IN NORTH CARO-
LIMA

Having occasion to go to Virginia recently,
passed through Leaksville, and soon came to
what is called the Leaksville Factory, belong
ing to Gov. J. M. Morehead.
Being attracted by the magnitude and num-
Der of buildings, stopped few hours to look
round. Here was large stone building, the
cotton factory, constructed in the most substan-
tial manner, and of the most durable materials.
1t is situated at the mouth of magnificent
canal, leading from Smiths river, and operated
by the largest and finest metal wheel that
have ever seen. Near by are the oil mills, -four
mills, and saw mill, all operated by the water
of the same canal, which appears to have a fall
of at least Is feet, and at a slight expense
could be made to propel millions of dollars
worth of machinery.
After surveying this immense water power
and canal, capable of being made to control
the entire current of Smiths river, | looked
around upon the hills that iut in towards the
manufacturing establishments, to see the neat
and substantial dwellings - some brick and
others frame-where the hundreds of laborers
and their families live, who earn honest and re-
spectacle support from the capital here invest
ed. The store-house and factory appear to
have been built some years, and all the estab-
lishments and plans show that intelligent en-
terprise and capital have accomplished much
here for the benefit of the country, when such
improvements were in their infancy in North
Carolina. Seeing such results from the sagacity
and enterprise of an individual when there was
no prospect of railroads in that portion of North
Carolina was naturally led to reflect, what
this portion of the State might become, with its
rich lands, Astounding in iron and coal, and its
immense water power, with the advantages of
railroad? But this would not suit your Will
mlngtOn neighbors, and hence the people of
that portion of North Carolina must be denied
the benefits and blessings resulting from such
an improvement. In rejecting upon what
have witnessed and learned, am satisfied that
no man in the State of North Carolina has been
more identified with her material interests than
j. M. Morehead. He has been, and probably
Is now, identified with the farming, manufac
turing, mechanical, mercantile, and education
al pursuits of the people of the State He
knows their wants and interests perhaps better
than any other man. He has done more to
give impulse and success to the internal i'm
provement system than any man in the State.
The North Carolina railroad would never have
been constructed, had he not taken hold of it
and brought his potent influence to raise the
means and put the work forward, almost to
completion. Within six months or less, he
would have had the road completed. But here
low party malignity had to do its dirty work.
1t forced him to resign that position, which he
had filled with such signal ability, that it might
reap the rewards due to another 1t was an
act of black ingratitude, and some of its perpe-
traitors are now reaping its better fruits
He did more to build the Atlantic and North
Carolina railroad than any man in the State.
Although he was not the President, he sub
scribed the money, and did the work, and to-
day, l am told, owns more stock in the road
than all other private stockholders collectively.
Yet he has never even been rendered Direc-
tors place in the Company. This is base in
gratitude, and places the Company in no enyi.
able light, although do not suppose that Gov.
Morehead wants any position on the road.