Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-15
THE FAYETTEVILLE AND WESTERN
RAILROAD.
A Word to the People of Wilmington

MesSrs. Editors 1t is unnecessary to urge
on the people of Wilmington the impor-
lance of building Railroads. They know that
the industrial development of the State will
depend on the facilities of getting to mar
ket and they know, also, that now is the
time to work. 1t is great nonsense to talk
about waiting for better times God does not
send prosperity as he sends rain, without
our efforts Man is to subdue the earth
which, for sin, was made naturally hostile to
its human lord and therefore, to wait idly
for better times, is to permit the accumula-
ton of opposing forces in the path of in
dustry,
It is the eternal law of God that man is
to eat bread i'll the sweat of his face, and
the untitled soil to bring forth thorns and
thistles and it is only by skilled industry,
and prudent enterprise, with the blessing of
Heaven, that the old wastes are to be re-
stored and the face of nature renewed. Be-
sides, while we are waiting, others are pre-
pairing for the harvest, and trade and travel
will be diverted from the cities and routes
of North Carolina.
But those for whom I write are aware of
this, and my purpose is to offer u sugges-
ton as to the direction of some of their en-
ergies and means.
The Danville road has cut off from Will
mington the trade of large and compare
lively thrifty region and the work in course
of construction to Rutherfordton will not
bring it back. This road will do a great
deal for your city but it will not bring you
the flour, tobacco, dried fruit, butter, &c,
of Alamance, Randolph, Rowan, Davidson,
Guilford, Stokes, Surry, Forsythe Yadkin,
Davie, Iredell, Alexander and Wilkes
But there is road, now incomplete,
which, with those now building, will open
the way for your enterprise into all Middle
and Western North Carolina-and that is
the work finished to Egypt. There is
favorable charter for its construction to the
n. G.. Road at what point shall it ter
inmate, on the latter? Salisbury, High
Point and Greensboro are spoken of :;
but the terminus should be at the first
or last named, on account of other connec-
lions. Your people, anxious to catch what
comes down the Western extension, may
prefer Salisbury and permit me here to
utter caution on this subject.
The Fayetteville road must expect i'm
portant favors from the State, and the
State is heavily interested in the n. c.. road;
and to insist on Salisbury is to jeopardize
the cause with the Legislature, and to ar
ray the Newbern and other interests
violently against our project Rival inter
ests could oppose lis under color of argu
ments based on the general welfare and
who could resist appeals directed against
apparent favoritisnl, building two parallel
,lcto
TALLY at one point, and designed wholly
for the benefit of one point of expectation
Besides, to go to Salisbury is to lose the
immense trade that reaches the North Car
DINA road between that place and Graham,
and to run the Fayetteville road to Green's
boro', is to enable Wilmington to compete
for it on fair terms. Heavy freight could
be sent from Graham and Salisbury and
all the intermediate points uin Greensboro
and Fayetteville to Wilmington, at cheaper
rates than it would cost to go to Richmond
Uin Danville and thus by the completion
of the road as above, Wilmington can get
all she can claim the Fayetteville people
will have straight through route of travel
North the North Carolina road will be
benefited, and every reasonable objection
sllenced. Let as all then agree upon a
point that offers the greatest good to the
greatest number. and that will add i'm
mensely to the trade of your patriotic and
enterprising city and let us go to work.
every man in his place, and we will soon
build the road. Let editors enlighten the
public mind-let every man in Whining
ton, and on the route, who has property or
trade to be benefited, subscribe what his
interests demand and let us bring our
united influence to bear on the politicians, |
and endeayor to induce them to grant what
the prosperity of the State requires.
FRIEND OF WILMINGTON