Wilmington journal., 1869-07-16
Our Fayetteville Correspondence.


Dear Journal Il had intended writing
you sort of continuation of my former
letter more than week ago, but have been
deferred from doing SO. promised to give
you some farther notes in reference to the
Western Railroad, road which has here
tofoSe been IN weak and incompetent
hands, but which could yet be made a
source of great wealth to Fayetteville and
Wilmington and to the country through
which it runs. Its management, as you
are aware, has lately passed into the hands
of A. j. Jones, one Of your Cape Fear
scalawags, who is principally notorious
from his attempt, III connection with DR..
Sloan, to rob the State, during Governor
Worths administration, which attempt was
happily frustrated through the instrument
tality of his Excelleney.
The new President has the reputation,
among the people of this section, of being
an active, energetic railroad man, and
great expectations are indulged by some as
to its management under his hands. 1t is
true that no one here believes him to be
an honest man, but it is thought, and with
some reason too, that while helping him.
self in the liberal manner reported of An
drew Jones, he will still benefit the corpor
alton. No great change has, however, yet
been inaugurated here, and the complaints
against the inet1iciency Of the road are
still as great as ever. Jones is here but
seldom-the interests of his pocket carry
ing him off to other points quite frequently
and the interests of his pocket inducing
him to visit Fayetteville about once a
month, to draw his salary. 1t is rumored
here that, in connection with Messre.
Drane and Mcdowell. of your city, he has
lately taken ont u heavy contract on the
Western North Carolina Railroad.
There is no doubt if Jones would but stay
at home and attend to his business, that he
would manage the affairs of this road to
the advantage of its stockholders need !
say, to his own also He is a man of we'll
known energy, of excellent business quail
fcations, and Of great experience in rail
road matters, md therefore the people OF
this section are justified in expecting much
Of him. There are many abuses which
need correcting, and many benefits which
are in reach of the road, but of which it
has not hitherto ayailed itself.
You will recollect that at the late meeting
of the stockholders it was decided to make
Salisbury the terminus of the road. This
action of that body-and action brought
about by public proxies-is giving much
dissatisfaction to many round here,
Greensboro being thought far moro eligi-
BILE than Salisbury. 1t is e,..ted that Jones
is himself in favor of Greensboro, aud is
now having On experimental line surveyed
to that point. tits urged that Greensboro is
some % miles nearer than Salisbury !;
that the route lies through far richer
country, and that the points OF connection
are far more advantageous than the other.
1t is not stated how the action of the stock
holders, fixing the terminus ut Salisbury
is to be cotton around, other than by Il
vote of repeal at the next annual election,
but sure it is that no one believes that
this road Will ever reach that place.
spent an hour Of yesterday afternoon
in rambling around the arsenal grounds,
and in viewing some of the effects of Yam
kee malice, as exhibited there. Every one
buildings and stores when they passed
| through here, and this Is an amusing ln-
stance in which their wanton destructive
ness oyerreached itself and left their own
dearly beloved government minus some
half million at least.
Everything here is very quiet and or
der)y, whites and blacks alike busily en-
gagged in the very laudable employment of
attending to their own business Our
crops are sadly injured by the long drought,
aud | fear that many of orr farmers will
not realize half a crop. Good bye.
Yours,
SOMETIMES.