Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-01

If the 10Th instant, upon the subject of the
extension of the Western (Coalfelds) Rail
road has brought out reply, as the dis
cussion of this subject must result i'll good
to our city. Our people must not only be-
come impressed with the Importance of this
extension to Wilmington, but also to de-
termine the direction the road should take.
We have previously demonstrated that the
interest of Fayetteville and Wilmington
are identical in this matter, and there can
not possibly be conflict between them in
any scheme based upon their real welfare.
Our correspondent, in advocating Sails
bury as the best point of connection with
the North Carolina Railroad, seems to have
overlooked the fact that we admitted the
same thing ourselves, but that as we ex-
pected, with much more certainty and at a
much earlier period, to connect Whining
ton with the vast extent of country lying
West of Salisbury which will. be developed
by the extension and completion Of the
Western North Carolina Railroad to the
Tennessee line than this road gives promise,
point probably more desirable. But
we cannot agree with him in saying
that after a conn ection is made with
the Western North Carolina Railroad
at Salisbury, that "the products Of all
that rich section of country in the valley
of the Yadkin, and on the line west of that
point, could be placed directly on our line
of road aOihhom danger Of being Intercepted
By rival lines" The Western North Caro-
lima Railroad would not form connections
or make through tariffs with the Fayette
vile and Western Railroad at Salisbury,
which would be denied to tho North Caro-
lima Railroad, and consequently, Norfolk
would be very formidable rival at Salisbu-
ny and points west of that town. And, be-
sides, if we could not command "the rich
products of all that rich section Of country
in the valley of the Yadkin and on the line
west of that point" Salisbury, by a con-
nection at Newton, from Lincolnton, we
certainly could not control it by less di-
rect route, and surely we wonld not be guilt
ly of the expensive folly of building eighty
or ninety miles of railroad to place our
selves in competition with other markets
for the trade of ue1y limited section of
country Immediately around Salisbury.
Our correspondent fears that if this road
be extended from High Point to the north
ern border of Surry county, on the Virginia
line, it might be tapped by road from Dan
vile, thus placing the merchants of Rich
mond and Petersburg some fifty or sixty
miles nearer that section of country than
those of Wilmington. We can only reply
in regard to distance by referring him
to another portion of his own letter.
Fayetteville is nearer, by fifty or sew
enty miles, than these two cities, and
the expense, "with hundred miles Of
water transportation at this end of the
line would be vastly In orr favor" And as
for tapping, we rcnly by referring him to
still another portion of his letter, and say
"we can readily see that it will not be adj
vancing the interests of the" Uesfe1m Rail-
road (Extension) ''to permit any freight
once placed upon its trains, no III Of the
intersection, to leave it at that point, and
that, by discriminating tariff, and other
measures suggested by the spirit of compe-
tition, they would get but a small portion OF
it. Besides, Richmond has already con-
nection with Wytheville, and would hardly
build road from Danville to intcrsect with
this, distance of sixty or seventy-five
miles, for the bare pittancc which she could
command by SO doing.
We are informed by distinguished citi
zen of Surry county, that very large sums
of money will be subscribed in that county
to build road from High Point to the Vir.
ginia line, and that bill to charter such a
road will be introduced in the Legislature
in few days to connect, at its northern
terminus, with the proposed road already
before the Virginia Legislature, to run
from the North Carolina line to Wytheville
From information which we have, we fee
satisfied that, should this Western Railroad
be extended eighty or ninety miles-the
distance to Salisbury--across the North Car
olina Railroad at High Point, its compile
ton to Wytheville would be assured.
We urge these views with no other mo
tives than for the welfare of Wilmington
We desire to arouse our people to the grea
Importance of the extension of this road
and are ready to assist in giving our aid to
carry it to that point which the common
prosperity of those most interested in its
completion demands We have our opin
ions upon this subject, which we have free
ly given, and will be glad to publish the
opinions of others, whether they agree OF
differ with us. Let us discuss this matte
fully and freely. 1t is the more necessary
to do SO, as the meeting held on the 22c
inst, was called merely to accept the act O.
the Legislature, and future meeting will
decide the question of location, or the &C
gives this power to the President anG
Board of Directors. We hope, therefore
the matter will be agitated in our commu
nifty until every citizen will become &C
quainted with its Importance, andwill form
his own opinion, so that when it is to be
decided, our representatives may have the