The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-24
Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad

The wisdom and foresight of the projectors of
the old Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad
are now demonstrating themselves The late
Francis Grice, Esq, who was naval con-
structor in the q. $. Navy, then residing in
Portsmouth, is entitled to the credit of origi-
mating the scheme, or giving it an objective
form, which he did in an article which he
wrote for the paper at that time published in
Portsmouth, signed 'Do IT." The old road
however, went down, and it was given away
TO Northern Company, and the present Sea-
board and Roanoke Road chartered in its
stead, Portsmouth was too poor, or too
wanting in enterprise, to rebuild the road, and
Norfolk, blind to her interests, refused to
touch the work with forty-foot pole and
it went out of the control and management of
both the cities forever. Under the present
efficient Company and managers it is now
fairly on the high.road to prosperity, and is a
work of vast advantage to "our common har-
bor.p The freight and travel is daily increas-
ing, and itmay be said to be an indispensable
avenue Of intercomm unication with the Old
North State A vast amount of merchandise
is transported from Norfolk merchants to the
interior, and the products of the Old North
State, with which this road communicates
are shipped in large Quantities and brought
down to "our common harbor, at the doors
of our merchants, or destined for shipment
North by way Of the steam communication,
which is so abundant, prompt and efficient
1t is intellectually to the interests of the two
cities to sustain this road, and bestow upon it
all the patronage within their control. 1t
d. likewise cemmends itself to the regions of
country in North Carolina which are reached
by it. .'. -iis - ...a .s.- .st
There is a scheme on foot to consolidate the
North Carolina roads so as to divert the freight
to Newbern or Wilmington But such di-
version is not desirable, nor to the real inter-
ests Of the people of North Carolina. Their
-, produce is brought now expeditously and
safely to the seaboard, and shipped with
promptness and speed to the Northeru mar
i kets, and they can with grelt convenience to
themselves. receive their supplies from the
Norfolk merchants, which are larger and more
varied than at Newborn Besides this, the
dangers Of shipment, delays and increased in
surance are avoided, which form very mpor-
tant items in the estimate of relative advan-
tages The Seaboard Road is really North
. Carolina road when viewed with reference to
the convenience and facilities which it pre-
sents to the consideration of the North Caro-
lima people. diNs5 $50. }.54.i
This is apparent from the encouragement
now given to the road, which proves that it
+, is with them the most popular avenue of
transportation; and so long as it continues to
afford the facilities which it is now yielding,
it will retain the patronage which it is re-
ceiving and which is destined greatly to in
! crease There are really but four great sea-
ports on the Atlantic coast-Norfolk is one
of them and her ADVANTAGES over New bern
are duly appreciated by the North Carolina
patrons of the Seaboard road-and will con-
tinue to be SO valued, if they consult their
own interests. @t
In fact, "our common harbor" may be re-
garded as a North Carolina harbor, for all
practical purposes--and in contributing to
build it up, the North Carolina people, with
which the Seaboard road communicates, are
only building up their own interests-they
consult their best advantage, so long as they
continue to use the Seaboard road, as the
safest and most direct means of transporta-
tion of their products 10 the seaboard (