The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-06-27
NO. s26.

retufllS Idken IrOln Tue OOHptrOiler IcpoTt,
the landed property along the N. c. R. R. from
Goldsboro' to Charlotte, was valued in 1858
at $11 ,166, $50; in 1860 was valued at $780,
S22,9 ,976, an increase in valuation by this line
Railroad of $9,656, ,287, or about 80 per GEN.
tum as the increased value of lands returned
to the people of the State, and this line of
railway costing the State for building it only
5000 600.
From Goldsboro' to Morganton, the valu- e
alton of land, alone, in the counties through
which this road passes, in 1858, was $10,-
1884, ,352; in 1860, was $19, ,5e1 1888. Increase
in seven years of $8,817, 1886, or about 140
per centum as increase value Of lands re-
turned to the people of the State.
From Weldon to Morganton valuation of
the lands in 1858 was 81, ,460, 1888 to 1850
was $27, ,044, ,175-making an incre&se Of
$17,63S, ,942, or about 200 per centum return
ed to the people of the State.
From Salisbury to Morganton, valuation
in 1858 was $3,252, ,67S; in 1860 was $6OS3,
702-making an increase of $2,831 ,O24, or
100 per ccntnm returned to the people of the
State. Cost of building this road to the
State, distance of seventy y-nine miles, 81,
$4,000. So that the mere increase of the
value of lands, from building of these lines,
far exceeded the cost to the State for build
ing them. The whole cost of all these lines
mentioned to the State being about five mil
| lions and ninety thousand dollars.
| These are facts, indisputable facts, based
upon the official reports of the Comptroller
of the State. And what do they teach US
They demonstrate beyond doubt, that al
though these roads were built by appropria-
tions secured, perhaps, in many instances
| oo1x 1,x,o ~ ooc,
by majority of the aoh0le number of men,
bers of each House respectively, as now pro-
posed, that the State has suffered no loss, but
has been greatly the gamer by such policy.
He was willing to trust the future as he had
the past. For ninety years the State had
trusted the Representatives of the people
without these Constitutional restrictions, and
he, so far as his reading and observation had
extended, had learned of no despotic acts
growing out of it.
But as gentlemen of the Convention SEEM
ed to wish these restrictions imposed as to
future loans and appropriations, he trusted
they would only contine it to nep works of
internal improvements to be hereafter COM
menced, and not apply it to laws already in
existence, especially the act referred to in his
amendment He had remarked that this
road was State enterprise. Such it was,
and its charter and appropriations had been
secured by the ii-.fal votes of the internal
improvement men of the State. They had
seen the necessity for building this great
trunk road through the State, in order to Sc
cure the trade and travel of the Mississippi
Valley, and thereby impart new life to other
roads of the State. And it seemed strange
to him, after this road had been started for
@aJ fl,x,E nd
| Middle portions of the State had almost o
| network of Railroads secured by loans of the
4 State under the old Constitution when tho
people of the West are looking about them
with view to its completion, if not now, at
some future period, they are met with the
proposed amendment of the distinguished
delegate from Wake, (AIr Moorc) sustained
by the report of the very able gentlemen who
constitute the committee ON the revision of
the Constitution, and arc informed that they
cannot proceed under the old land mark"
but must proceed under new restrictions
They are Informed that the acts of former
Legislatures which pledged the faith and
credit Of the State to the building of this
road, must be virtually set aside, because,
perhaps you people of the West may have
power under the new order of things that is
about to be inaugurated may build this road
and thus do the State great benefit; and to
prevent you from it, while in Convention,
we will provide against such a contingency.
He asked, in all candor. if this was right 2
Was it in accordance with that liberal spirit
which had commenced this great work
He had remarked that this road, when
completed, would secure the trade and travel
of the Mississippi valley, going North and
| Cnptb nfhor Ctatac bo6 aufarafl hn ram
for this goal, and if we hesitate-stop our
railroads at the base of the Blue Ridge, we
NAV expect to be outdone in the race. To
secure such advantages, the Georgia railroad
between Savannah and the west, cost the
State five millions of dollars, and before the
war, was paying into the State Treasury
every month twenty-five thousand dollars
Virginia, at cost of upwards Of fifteen mil
lions, and Tennessee about ten millions, and
he was unable to state the millions and tens
of millions paid by the States of New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Massachusetts,,
to secure connection by railway with the
trade and travel of the west These roads,
before and since the war, as Ear as he had
been able to learn, were paying roads.
The distinguished delegate from Rich.
mond (Ar. Dockery,) when addressing the
Convention, few days since, made tht
statement that something must be done tc
revive the Rail Roads of the State /; that ths
Western North Carolina Rail Road was sink
ing to the State about Thousand dollari
per month, He endorsed all that had beer
said by the distinguished delegate, and fs
vored the plan submitted by that gentleman
with proper safeguards protecting the in
terest of the State. But we must not 81
idly by and wait for other States to secur'
what we would gain by the completion o
the Western North-C Carolina Rail Road. Th
State of Tennessee, since the late civil wal
by an act of her Legislature, had rcnewe'
the charters and made liberal appropriation
to meet the Western North Carolina Raj
Road, at or near nuoktown Copper mine
and at Paint Rock. Instead Of placing cor
stitutional restrictions to prevent futuI
loans and appropriations the State woul
gain by extending her credit to complete b
Rail Road systenl. The inoreased value
her landed interest along the unfinished lin
would more than balance the amount 81
would be required to appropriate. But Il
ffiends of internal improvement do not no
: ask for State aid-all they desire is, th
; these questions may stand open for fhtu
!. consideration by the Legislature, witho
y imposing restrictions in the Constitution.
y Gentlemen Of tho Convention had yote
Y perhaps, when this matter was before W
> few days since, against his then propos
" amendment thinking to favor the plan
le :, the delegate from Richmond. Gentlea
a could be perfectly consistent and vote for
y smendment, and an ordinance which b
;, been introduced by that distinguished dc
y gate for selling out the road to private ca
y panies or corpontions. Should these co
o. panies or corporations fail to build the ros
Sc then it is the wish of the friends of this gr'
p State enterprise to avail themselves OF !
2, provisions Of the acts referred to in
le amendment. he, therefore, hoped that
ne amendment would be adopted BY the Ct