The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-05
For the Western Democrat.
OUR RAILROADS.

There never has been period when the utility of
our Railroads has been more thoroughly vindicatcd
than during the last six months AS part of gen
eral they have been the of the country and
the Ri ht Of the Government in main tanning its
defence. The business the main lines leading
the capital and to the scenes of chief military
operations has increased beyond calculation In addi-
ton to the legitimate freigh,s, quantities of
domestic goods which came to us heretofore by
and rivers, upon thousand ships and steamers,
thrown upon inland arteries Of commerce. Wholly
for such avalanche of freights, many of
roads have blocked up, until they cannot find
| warehouse them, much less them
forward meet the desires of the public. Our roads
are like cotton and wooden mills and many other
establishments in the country-whout the capacity to
supply the almost unlimited demand for tranSporta-
ton. Their capacities only adapted to condi
ton of peace when the coasting vessels exchanged
the flour of Virginia for the sugar of Louisiana and
when the Government did demand the trans porta-
| ton of large armies and vast munitions OF war.
If all the lines of railway in the ConeGeracy
in the condition of uninterrupted communication, their
! transportation could not equal the demands of the
| Government and the country and the growing de-
mands more than equal to increasing capacities Of
the railroads. The products of the extremes of the
Confcderacy must be exchanged while the lasts to
n greater degree than when peace exists. The whole
| country must therefore have some benefit from the
only arteries of commerce left US, as well as mere
localities. The public should also exercise some
patience and forbearance under this extraordinary
state of things and expect much from officers
who laborng faithfully and doing twice the
amount of business that their roads did before.
If with their limited equi pment, scant supplies and
double business a few accidents should happen it
! should not be considered criminal neglect Of duty.
Nor is it reasonable expect every PERSONS freg ht
be transported in day month. The necessities of
the Government must 0e supplied, and the country
far practicable.
1t does however appear reasonable that joint
arrang might be made between the n. G. and 4
G. roads to expedite the present system of through
freghts Now, while there ample freights going
both ways both roads why not let all cars loaded
for any single point station, be exchanged at Ra
leigh, instead OF unloading the goods in the ware
house, creating delay loss and expense. Let joint
agent be employed to keep account of these cars
and settle the account monthly giving each road credit
per mile for each used on the other road
charge So per day for each days unnecessary deten
tion of each Require all to be returned in
good condition when received save their ordinary
wear and tear.
Both of these roads being controlled in a great
degree oy the State it would appear that such an
arrangement substantially could be made, and would
promote their interest and that of the public greatly,
as we'll relieve the local business of Raleigh This
suggestion is submitted with much Difference to the
respective Presidents and Boards of Directors of said
companies CASTOR.
|
| SUFFERING IN THE ARMY.-We have heard that
many of Col Ransom's cavalry, whose outpost
duty the Potomac is necessarily of the most ex-
posed nature, are yet without overcoats. We had
hoped that all the counties having companies in
this regiment would follow the example Of Cabar-
rus which, before the Winter set in, furnished its
company, Capt Barringers, with complete outfit
of oyercoats and other things necessary for the
cold season. IF the State cannot furnish the ne
cessary Winter clothing, the counties interested
should see to it that not of these brave men,
who SO faithfully performing their duty in a
cold climate shall suffer from their neglect.
We learn also that there has been great suffer-
ing among the soldiers encamped at Ashevllle.
Cannot these things be corrected, and immendiate-
ly?
BY reference to the Adjutant Generals Report
We find that Col Ransom's regiment is made up
from the following counties: Cabarrus 81, Watauga
80, Northampton 20, Ashe SO, Buncombe 6o,
Dupla 63, Mccklenburg So, Macon 50, Wayne %:
Warren 20, Franklin p, Granville -, Henderson
IS, Lenoir IA, Greene IL, Cherokee 10, Craven,
Rowan, Union, each, Allegheny, Halifax and
Washington 7 each, YaGkin 6, Jackson, Sampson:
Wake and Wilkes each, Guilford. Lincoln and
Pitt each, Nash, New Hanover and Wilson 2
each, and Beaufort, BERTHE, Edgecombe, Gates,
Hartford, Iredell, Johnston Madison, Martin, Nc
Dowe Orange, Randolph, Surry, Stanly, and
Yancy | Fayetteville Observer.
We think the Company from this county was
furnished with over-coats.