Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-01-08
OUR TARBoRo, CORRESPONDENCE.
Tarboro'-The Edgecombe House-Captain
Hurt-Tar River-Tarboro' and Will
IIamston Naturalization, &C., &c.

Tarboro'-The Edgecombe House-Captain
Hurt-Tar River-Tarboro' and VIII
uamston Cotton, &C.. &c.
TARBoRo', Dec. 81, 1868.
Dear Journal: find myself this cold
dismal morning at the old home of your
Senior Editor" and as I look out at the
cold and dripping monument erected to the
memory of the heroic Wilson, speaking
of the time when Edgecombe took the
contract for the Mexican war, at the Court
House which has SO often echoed with the
voices of the eloquent men of former days,
=" fond memory leads me back on the
path Of the past, and the TO rms, the faces,
the voices of brave men and bright women
pass before me. But it is not the time to
dwell on the past-those halcyon days of
peace, enjoyment, and plenty the stern
present with its trials and duties is before
us, and we must meet its responsibilities
as best We may.
Tarboro', in common with most of our
towns in North Carolina, has suffered
much by the war, property has been swept
away, fire has desolated her squares, her
brave have gone down in "the shock of
battle, but out of all she is rising with re-
neVed power, and is destined before many
years to assume her former station as one
of the prettiest and most enterprising
towns of the State.
I find located here our old friend Jack
Smith, in charge of the Edgecombe
House" presiding with his usual dignity
and affability, striving for the comfort of
his guests, spreading a table unexcelled in
the State, and by his genial good nature
making all feel at home. "Long may he
wave" and evermore may he be patron
lied
Our old friend, Capt. A. P. Hurt, left
here this morning on trip down the river.
But one small steamer is now running be-
tween this place and Washington, and she
is unable to do the business as satisfactorily
as is desired. Capt II. has new river
steamer, drawing twelve inches light,
which he will either put on Tar or the
upper Roanoke. From your knowledge of
his character as steamboat man you will
at once conclude that if he sends boat
here she will go along and be popular and,
after all, that is the key to popularity in
travel, something that will go along. She
may be clumsy to look at, dirty and ILL
arranged, the pilot drunk and the engineer
incompetent, but if she will reach given
point one hour ahead of anything else she
will take the travel. Look at the Western
rivers-such, however, will never be the
character of any thing Hurt manages except
in the ''go along" quality. Neatness is
his personal and public characteristic,
watchfulness largely developed, and ego
ahead tremendous. 1t is thought that
daily line to Washington will prove a
valuable feeder to the Wilmington and
Weldon Railroad. Tar River has on its
banks the most valuable cotton region of
North Carolina. My own opinion has
always been that Pitt was better cotton
country than Edgecombe with both COM
bined good line can be sustained.
The Williamson Railroad is at a stand
still at present. The difficulty is probably
only temporary. The whole work is under
contract and can be pushed forward rapid
ly when the present obstacle is removed
More cotton is held here than in any
other portion of the State. Why they
will not sell seems to puzzle the most
knowing, as at present prices more money
has been made on cotton this, than in any
previous year; and yet some want more
Thus is it ever with man; reachings for
some undiscovered good in the dark be-
You'd. With which sage remark we close
this page and our communication.
In TRANSIT.