Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-24
FAYETTEVILLE, Dec. lG. 1869.

eight miles on the new Chatham Railroad tC
Apex, the present terminus, then fourteen
overland to ,Jonesboro', and from
Jonesboro', again by rail, thirty-six miles
brought me to the good old town OF Fay.
etteville, SO renowned in days of yore fol
the enterprise and prosperity of its inhabi.
tants now also renowned for it's enter
prise. but not, alas, for its prosperity. Thai
went several years ago to enrich that arch.
tiend Sherman and his bummers," some
OF whom, l scarcely doubt, are now in
your midst, thriving on the proceeds ot
their stolen plunder, augmented of late
years through the Vaccinations Of theil
own rascality.
Apex, mere station, lying, L think,
about twenty eight miles from Raleigh, il
the present terminus OF Dr. hawkins De
scheme-the Chatham Railroad. It is mo-
yet completed to Haywood, which is abou
two miles distant, the Haw river interven
ing; nor has there yet been regular sche
dule appointed for this road, although it il
said that one will be instituted early il
January, when there will be a continuous
line Of railway between Raleigh and Fay
etteville, with the exception of the four
teen miles lying between Apex and Jones
boro', this latter being on the Fayetteville
and Western Railroad and about thirty.
six miles from Fayetteville.
When this Chatham road will reach
Jonesboro' is, as yet, very uncertain, and
the general impression is shat it will be
years before it penetrates to Cheraw, the
originally intended ultimate terminus, if
indeed it ever reaches there at all, not
withstanding the assurance of DIR. Haw-
kins, potential as he has always been con-
sidered in railroad affairs. This gentleman,
[ understand, has declared his determine
ton to build his road through to Cheraw
under any circumstances, and has asserted
| his ability to do it without aid from eth er
| North or South Carolina. In view of the
| present state of affairs, it is safe to assume
that if the road is completed at all during
the next fifteen or twenty years, it will be
without the assistance of either Of these
commonwealth, as the Legislature of South
Carolina has lately refused to aid the en-
terprise, and it is we'll known that North
Carolina bonds are fast reaching the pro-
sent standard of those issued by our late
| Confederacy.
AS have said, however, Hawkins has
declared himself able to go it alone, and
| is profuse in his promises of tapping Che
raw at an early day. This he proposes
| to do with the all of the Raleigh
and CASTOR Railroad, which corporation is
to endorse the Chatham bonds to the
| trifing amount of So, 900, 900 thus. &C
cording to the Presidents figures, enabling
! him to complete the sixty-fve miles inter
vening between Jonesboro' and Cheraw.
But whether, if this little scheme is carried
out, the Raleigh and CASTOR endorsement
will make the Chatham bonds of any more
value in the eyes of the Wall street frater-
nifty than are our present State bonds, ro
mains to be seen. l have been informed,
on what deem good authority, that the
Raleigh and CASTOR corporation arc not
as wealthy as is generally thought, but
that, on the contrary, it was compelled to
go into the market and borrow $4,000,
with which to meet its current expenses
for 1868. Gould Hawkins 60 little fur
ther north and lug in the aid of the Sea-
board and Roanoke Railroad and the Bay
Line, he could sell his new bonds in New
York for at least eighty cents on the dollar.
But this he will hardly be able to accom-,
plish, these two lines being controlled by
a Northern interest, and in the hands OF
men who are too cautious to stake so much
upon single throw.
But to come O little nearer home. Presi
dent Hawkins is not yet al Jonesboro', the
point from which he is to commence opera.
tions, with that visionary two millions OF
| 4 ho k0 hot Yllo G
object is to push directly on to Cheraw,
but there is little stumbling block in the
way, in the shape of a clause in his charter,
which requires him to go to the Gulph in
Chatham county. This would be leaving
Jonesboro' on his left and striking nearly
at right angle with the Cheraw line
With his usual diplomacy, however, he
PROPOSES to lease or buy that portion OF
the Fayetteville and Western Railroad
leading from Jonesboro' to the Gulph, all
of which, with the exception of the last
two miles, is now in complete running
order. This purchase Of the road will first
be accomplished by buying up the newly
appointed Board of Directors, matter
which I should judge to be no difficult
) task, provided Hawkins will pay we'll. In
will here evidence. Some days since
, had the honor (D of travelling in stage IN
, company with Col. Scallawag Richard
T son, at present Director on the part OF the
{ state in the Western Railroad. La the
} course of the conversation which neces
/ sarily sprang up between us, this propo
? sition of Hawkins was introduced.
asked if it was probable tha5 he would sue
ceed in his desire to purchase or lease the
road, and received for reply (what other
I could be expected Of such man , g
don't know; money can do almost any
thing nova days."
| "Has the matter ever been brought be
fore the Board %
> Not formally; it has been spoken Of il
session though"
: HAS the proposition ever been mad
to the Board formally" 2"
ssNo, but Sanford, Hawkins Chief En-
gineer has sounded the different mem
ters."
sis it possible that your Board are com
posed of such men, and you one Of them
as would sell the most prolific section O
yoar road to another corporation, thu
sacrificing the interests of the Stockhol
ders as well as of the State %
, '1 don't know; money is mighty scare
and mighty powerful these days, and Cal
! do heap"
S1oh an unhluShiDQ ACKNOWLEDGMENT