Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-18
The Western Railroad.


mooted question with the papers OF Fay
] etteyille. Salisbury and Greensboro, and
that the rouse to Greensboro as we'll as tC
Salisbury having been ordered to be sur
viewed, that the decision of the Stockhold
ers is not regarded as final. We hope this
singular state of affairs results from no at
tempt or desire to levy black on the
part of the President of the Company OF
the officials of the State. This uncertainty,
! it seems 10 us, cannot result from sincere
or honest motives. It looks like trifing
with question of great moment, to go
through the forms of settlement, which
is disregarded in a month afterwards. Was
the meeting held merely to comply with
the charter formally, or did the Stock
holders, being duly empowered, meet TO-
gether to settle the important question OF
the location of the road Is that decision
binding /? Could subscribers be compelled
to pay their subscription money to a road
with any other termini than Fayetteville
and Salisbury ?
The readers of the JOURNAL are aware
that the building of this road to Salisbury
did not have our endorsement, nor has 1t
yet, except secondarily. In the Fall OF
1866, we took issue with the Chamber of
Commerce of this city for declaring for
Salisbury as the western terminus, and our
efforts, or some other influences, changed
the opinions of that body, and its dele
gates to the meeting of stockholders in
1867 were instructed to advocate High
Point as the place of intersection with the
North Carolina Railroad, and from thence
westward to the Virginia line near Mt.
Airy, connecting with the road to be built
thence to Wytheville. Beyond doubt this
was the road which would be most bene-
fetal to Fayetteville and Wilmington, and
to the stockholders themselves. Failing in
this we have always thought that Salisbury
was the next most eligible terminus, as
opening up for the Western Railroad
fair competition for the freights of West
ern North Carolina. In this, however,
and it was the original ground of obiec-
ton to this line, it would have formida-
w
Rutherford Railroad, either by a direct
line to Asheville, or by connection be-
tween Lincolnton and the most available
point on the Western North Carolina Rail-
road.
The delay and opposition to locating this
road to the banks of the Northern Yadkin,
so as to drain the rich valleys of that mag
nifcent belt of country, and adjacent
mining districts of Virginia, has already
lost the advantage of being without rivalry,
even if it should now be determined upon.
The road from Greensboro, which is being
rapidly pushed forward towards Salem,
will divide, for the benefit of Richmond
and Norfolk, the freights and trade of that
section. It is no answer to this objection
to say that freights will seek the nearest
road to water transportation. Such was
formerly the fact, bu. we have seen cotton
transported by rail, almost from within
sight of the spires of Charleston, across the
Cape Fear river at this point to Norfolk.
And last week we saw train ladened with
railroad iron, which was only one of many
which had preceded it and others which
were to follow, which had come from Rich
mond, transported almost in sight of the
ocean, and was destined for points many
hundreds of miles to the South, and
almost as near the coast as when it started.
If there is any special advantage to Fay
etteville, beyond providing convenient
and speedy route of travel northward, for
the Western Railroad to be built to
Greensboro, we must confess our want of
comprehension. The trade it already has
along the present line of road will be divi-
points further North. The road itself
would have to struggle at Fayetteville with
the steamers, and, SO far as it was success
full, would iniure Wilmington. without
benefiting Fayetteville or Greensboro, and
with very little advantage to the road, for
the rates of freight would be very low.
The Western Railroad can only be pros
porous by building up the trade and manu-
factories of Fayetteville, and it can only
do that by being located SO as to bring
Uuslucse W VIC pIdCc, duu IiOG uEalu pOr-
ton of that which i: already has. II must
be located so as to develop new country,
or connect with roads which do, and
which cannot seek more advantageous
markets. Our country is too sparcely
settled to locate roads for travel We
must depend upon freights, and to the in
crease of business along their lines. II
those in charge of the location of the
Western Railroad, for it seems to be an
open question, will act only for the good
of the road and tie greatest good of the
State, we do not think there could be any
delay or uncertainty attending this matter.
We trust their action will be guided by
wisdom and prudence.
John ChInaman.
When the Pacific Railroads pour into
the great heart and borders of this country
the hardy laborers of the eastern hemis-
phere, we have no doubt that great and