Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-02-11
COnsoltIfaL1uu-'sM Monsieur To
AanIn.''

Again..
The Legislature is about to pass another
bill consolidating the Atlantic and North
Carolina Railroad with the North Carolina
Railroad, this time including, also, the
Western North Carolina Railroad. The
bill proposes to mortgage the States in
tereet in the two former roads, and possibly
that of the private stockholders in order
to finish the Western Extension to the
Tennessee line. One of the chief argu
ments in favor Of the passage of the bill
is to prevent the sale of the Safes interest
in the North Carolina Railroad. One
wrong is proposed to be done to prevent
another.
If the North Carolina Railroad is obliged
to be consolidated either with the roads
leading to Norfolk, or with the one to
Eewbern and Morehead City, then as
North CaroIinians we say let it be consoi-
dated with the Atlantic and North Carroll
ma Railroad. But neither good policy
Tor Justice demand its union with either.
We see our esteemed friend, Major JOHN
HUGHES, has been before caucus of the
members Of the Legislature in the interest
of his city in behalf of the passage of this
new consolidation bill. We honor him
none the less for his efforts in favor of
Newbern, and his example in this respect
is worthy of imitation by some of our own
influential citizens who seem singularly
neglectful Of the interests Of Wilmington.
Ma or HUGHES urged the adoption of the
bill upon the Western members upon the
ground that the East had been heavily
taxed TO support improvements in the
West, and had not as Yet received any
corresponding benefit. The adoption Of
the consolidation bill would, in the Majors
opinion, go in some manner towards pay
ing Eastern North Carolina for her outlay
in the way Of taxes towards impro.
wing the West. There is force in this
and we might agree entirely with the
argument, if, like our friend, we had
brought ourselves to think Newbern and
Morehead City was Eastern North Caro-
lima. But as the people OF Wilmington
and this section feel the weight OF these
same taxes, We cannot altogether sec the
justice of legislating against us for tho ben
eft of Craven and Carteret.
And again, land We repeat what we have
heretofore urged that while the people
along the line of the Atlantic and North
Carolina Railroad, including the city of
Newbern, subscribed absolutely nothing to
the completion of the North Carolina
Railroad, citizens Of Wilmington subscribed
one tenth Of Tie entire amount subscribed by
pricate indiciduals. More than one hun
dred thousand dollars of stock in that
Company is owned to-day in this city by
original stockholders or their immediate
legal representatives Is it just to use
the property Of these persons to build up
other cities TO the detriment of their own?
Again, we are opposed to the consolida-
ton Of these roads upon the ground of
public policy. The consolidation of these
three roads from the Atlantic to the Ten
nessee line would create powerful and !
wealthy monopoly, under political man
agement, which would corrupt and con-
troll the legislation of the State. It would |
place North Carolina in the power of this
great railroad, as New Jersey now is of
her great railroad monopoly. The Little
fields and SWepsons, who we hope are
temporary infictions, would grow into
permanent Importance and power. We
would have our Fisks and Gculds in North
Carolina debating laws for the government
of the State. Rather than witness the ex-
istence of a powerful and dangerous rail-
road monopoly in North Carolina, we
would prefer to have the North Carolina
Railroad continue to build up the cities
and enrich the roads of other States which
it has long done under, we believe, hon
est but mistaken notions of good policy.
We do not believe trade should be forced i
from its natural channels in tha intarasts1