The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-09-01
Internal improvements.

u -
The great need of North Carolina is SUI
ficentinumber of Railroads to open to the
world the rich and productive regions
which are now almost inaccessible. No
State possesses greater natural resources than
North Carolina. No State has done so lit
tie to use its resources to advantage. Rich
in minerals, possessing an almost incrcdi-
BILE variety of soil and climate, North Caro-
lima should to-day be one of the most popu-
lous States in the Union.
That she is not is attributable to the be-
numbing inaence of slavery, and that narrow
minded policy which is sequence of slave
~. Slavery is now thing of the past, and
the policy of the State has changed.
The people, profting by the examples of
other States see that before North Carolina
can become great State she must prepare
for greatness. That railroads must be built
to open every section to the immigrant. That
the fertile West must be provided with
means to send forth its products, and that
capitalists may seek suitable places to invest.
Probably no equal extent of country in
the world surpasses North Carolina in the
quantity, quality and variety of its minerals.
Iron, lead, copper, zinc, coal, gold, silver,
and many other minerals exist in large
quantities in various parts of the State. Yet
these vast mineral deposits are of no present
value, and add nothing to the prosperity of
our people. And why9
Because they are so far from the line OF
any railroad as to be practically valueless.
Of what good is it that a mine turns out i'm
mense quantities of the most valuable iron
ore, if there be no means by which to bring
its products to market2 None at all. Its
value consists in its being of use to the
world, and if it is so situated that the world
is unable to reach it, it has no marketable
| value, and is, to all intents and purposes,
worth nothing
For these reasons capitalists, although
looking with longing and admiring eyes
upon the mineral wealth ofthe State, will not
risk their money in places from which they
see no chance of obtaining profit.
To make our mineral resources of value,
and a source of profit to the State, we must
have railroads passing sufficiently near them
to enable their products to be shipped to a
market When this is done, capital will
come as fast as it can be used, and the
prosperity of the State begin.
1t is not so much the number of railroads,
as the judgment displayed in their location.
Thus, one road judiciously laid out would
do more good to the people than five whose
courses were determined without reference to
the advantages of the soil and natural re-
sources of the section through which they
were to pass. And one road, whose course
had been judiciously laid out, would be
of more profit to the State and to itself than
would half dozen whose courses were deter
mined by local favoritism, or left to caprice
There are several roads now building which
will he of the greatest benefit to the State
of which we will instance three-the Yves.
tern North Carolina, the Wilmington, Char
lotte and Rutherford, and the Western.
| Each OF these roads passes through rich
agricultural and mineral regions. These re-
gions will be developed by the mere presence
of the roads, and will attract capital and
population. These in turn will enrich the
railroads, and all will add to the wealth
of the State at large.
One industry begets another, and it is the
amount and variety of its industries which
make a populous State and a prosperous
people.
The West will be the manufacturing por
ton of the State, and the East and Middle
sections will be its merchants, factors and
consumers. Different branches of industry
will spring up throughout every part of the
State; population will increase with almost
wonderful rapidity; and plenty and pros
perity be the lot of our people.
Our seaport towns will become flourishins
cities, and will distribute the products o.
North Carolina throughout the world, and
will in return receive the products of othel
nations.
With these prospects before us, it is nj
wonder that the people of the State are SO
united upon the subject of internal improve
ment.