Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-01-17
Fayetteville Rn.i Wilmington.

Messrs EIitors :-Thanhing you for pub
islling my article III yolr paper OF the 18th
alt, and for the very excellent editorial ac-
companyinS it, [ beg to again trespass up
on the kindness of ytnr readers. The only
apology can make is, that this is an i'm
portant era in the business prospects of
Wilmington and Fayetteville, requiring
prompt and united exertion, to reap great
and important commercial advantages -
Permit me to reiterate what has been said
before, that all the trade and produce that
Wilmington will ever get from Western
North Carolina, henceforward, must come
by the Charlotte load and by the Cape
Fear River and its connections West OF
rayetteyille,--i will never come by the
North Carolina Railroad-everything by
that road will go Virginiawards. LII that
view, how important to Wilmington is the
location Of the road West of Fayetteville
It may he 50 located as to carry tie pro
duce from, instead of to, Wilmington, or it
may be 50 located as to be invaluable to its
trade.
| have taken the map and endeavored to
ascertain the advantages and disadvantages
Of each of the routes mentioned, with the
fact staring me in the face, that the Rail
road Company will be compelled to adopt
whatever route they can procure the means
to build on, without regard to the wishes
of friends or accommodation of interests
that they will be compelled, after all, to go
where money carries them. A connection
must be had--they cannot remain at Egypt,
the present terminus.
The shortest line will be from Egypt to
the Company's Shops, on the North Caro-
lima Railroad, (by reference to tho original
charter, it will be seen that the Company
has ample power to go 0nyThere and ecery-
| ,chere, to cross dnv and al the Railroads in
the State,) and thence naturally through
Caswell county to Danville. The writer
can see but few inducements for the adop-
ton of this line. No additional produce OF
any considerable amount could be drawn
in this direction the whole tendency
would be towards Virginia, and as it is pro-
bable that the Chatham Road will be con-
nected with the Coalfelds Road, and the
Fayetteville people will have direct
Northern route, via Raleigh, and can hard
| ly be induced to locate to Company's Shops,
unless driven to it by necessity.
/ The Greensboro route will have many
friends and strong influence. It will be
argued that this is the shortest, cheapest,
and most practicable scheme that can be
adopted, which is likely to bring trade and
travel to Fayetteville and Wilmington; that
the Road can be built in less time, and al
less price, and have more advantages OF
| hat 7
lance will be less than fifty miles, upon the
best known route; that when the Road
reaches Greensboro, it will have connec
lions and be a paying property; that more
subscriptions can be had, and more inter
ests brought to bear than at any other point
that before the Road can be built to Greens
boro', q Road will be completed from Dan
vile to Lynchburg, thus making direct
communication to Washington from Lynch
burg by the Orange and Alexandria Road
and if the Road connecting Lynchbure
and the Covington and Ohio Road (which
is probabIe) is built the shortest and mos
avails bic connection with the cities of the
great West; that Greensboro possesses
| equal, if not superior, advantages for flu
ture extension, Uia Mount Airy to Wythe
vile, or uia Salem, Huntsville, Hampton
vile, and the Valley of the Yadkin anC
Watauga, to abingdon, Va, or the Tennes
see Roads; or for an extension Ella Madison
(the centre of the Dan River Coaliields,) tc
connect with the projected route from
tWytheville to Danville. All these are i'm
portant considerations, and will be urged
with force. The influence OF Danville
l1ynchburg, Richmond, the Piedmont
Richmond and Danville, and Orange and
Alexandria Railroads, will be given to this
route.
The distance to High Point or Thomas
vile will be about IS miles, but the country
is not altogether SO favorable for building
road. Upon reaching either place, there
will be no connection in any direction, ex.
cept by the North Carolina Railroad, but
the valley Of the Yadkin and Watauga will
be just beyond section rich in everything
that is desirable to market town. The