Wilmington journal., 1873-01-03

nothing could more completely justify tn,
wisdom of leaving the people OF the States
to manage their own affairs than thu
present condition ofthings in both Louisian;
and Arkansas.
From the Hillsboro Recorder.
The Future Of WilminstOu
The geographical configllration of Nortf
Carolina is such that it has ALWAYS beer
impossible to unite its several parts into any
thing like feeling of common State inter
est and pride. Its eastern extremity eH.
tending out into the ocean, its western end
thrust upon Tennessee and Georgia, its
borders resting upon Virginia upon the one
side, and South Carolina upon the other
the productions Of the State have sought
their markets in the towns of those S, ates
Even the social relations of the State were
almost as much divided as its material pro-
due ions, and tie sections on both Dor lers
seemed to have more natural leaning to-
wards the communities Of other States than
to those of their own. The rivers of the
State, though numerous enough, penetrated
the interior to so short distance that they
afforded no remedy for the evil. Patriots,
men who loved their native State, who
knew her boundless resources and her
varied products, witnessed with pain this
ACSiCSo Va Jul Wv II kJOIto tiiO lOE
those of other States, and they saw that it
was only by artificial highways, their cur
rent could be turned and aept within our
own boundaries. AS far back as 1927, the
Rev. DR.. Caldwell, then President of the
University, suggested line of railroad ex-
tending lengthwise through the centre of
the State from Beaufort to Asheville AL
most this identical line has since been built
and when it is remembered that at that
day there were but three miles of railroad
in the United States, and only thirty-six in
England, and none other in all the world
besides, the boldness and prophei sagaci-
ty of the idea is very wonderful. DIR. Cald-
well, however, was far ahead Of his age, and
long before his plans were taken up and
carried out, the very object of his foresight
was defeated by the construction of trans
verse lines, perpetuating the evils he tried
to remedy. Railroads from Virginia pene-
trate6 North Carolina on the one side, al d
South Carolina on the other, and the en-
slavemeht and dependence seemed to be
complete and irrevOcable. Gradually, how
ever, as the system expanded, and extend
ed farther into the State, new links were
formed, and new connections made, and
the different sections Of the state began to
be drawn more closely together. Step by
step our principal towns were linked to-
gether, and then our own ports felt the
benefit of the change. Wilmington a,
length began to reap the harvest sown long
before, by the faith and enterprise Of heI
wise men. That town has now become q
converging point for an extensive system
of internal ntercOmmunication, the impor-
tance of which becomes daily more appa.
rent. For it. is clear that the energies o1
the age are aroused, that they are far-see-
ing and far-reaching. A plethora of CAPT
tai is seeking employment in now invest
ments. The successful opening of new
highway to the Pacific has stimulated rival
enterprises. The far East has been reused
from its slumbers, and is ready to pour out
its redundant wealth upon cur Shores
New avenues must be opened, fuller modes
of transportation provided. Already tho
Southern Pacific road is fixed fact
Memphis becomes a point on that line, and
that city is nearly in the same parallel a:
Wilmington, and between the roads al
ready extending from Memphis east, and
the w. c. & II. road, there i.
comparatively a small gap. This
filled up, makes Wilmington virtually
an eastern terminus Of the Southern Paci
fc road, while another connection casil,
affected, unites her with the Cincinna'
system, making Wilmington terminus Q
the Northern Pacific also. 1t is not to b'
! expected, CT course, that the bulk, or ever
very large proportion Of transportation
I will find its ultimate point Of deposit here
!; but the position Of Wilmington gives it
! prominence in the return tIaie whicl
! should distance all rivalry. As me,!tione
in former Article, its situation South {
all the dangerous Capes Oh the coast, he
greater proximity to the West indies am
South America, than auS port embraced i
! fl,a poC:fiI, i.,tayio1-
must make her most important entire POI
| for all the productions CT the tropics. I'll
! coffee, the sugar, the salt, the 1nolasse:
! articles Of imperative necessity and COZ
stantly growing IN demand, must be dis
trbuted from this point. The whole gret
West must seek its supplies here, becaus
of the greatly diminished length and Co
Of transportations. Should the work fl
deepening the channel, and Oh the bar t
carried out successfully-as they can l
with regular and sufficient appropriation
the port of Wilmington becomes one Of I'll
best and most accessible harbors on IL
Southern coast.
This is a matter which should be urge
upon Congress with pertinacious vigor, an
through every possible agency. And it
really matter of as much interest to tf
General Government as to the interests
Wilmington, since, when restored to i
original capacity, it furnishes safe harbt
and place of retreat for the national We
sells, as well as for merchantmen. Mr.. Bel
nett's bill for the incorporation of the w
mington and Western Railway Compar
ard the purchase of the W., G. & r. X.
offers prompt solution of other ditticu
ties, and look forward to speedy come
ton with the Mississippi and Ohio valley
The reported lease by the W. s. W. 4.
. of that portion of the North Carolina Ra
rond extending from Greensboro to Gold
} boro', gives promise, too, of flow OF pro
perity from another source. It Is not
be denied that these roa.ls have not aiwa
/ worked in harmony, AMI that Wilmingtt
has suffered for want Of close and prom
connections with the interior Of the Stat
1t may be presumed that the restoration
this communication will be the first otje
, of the new proprietorship.
If the ideas indicated above are carri
/ out, and they are far from being chime
cal, grand future may be predicted
, Wilmington, and she will become, what
4 certainly is not now, an object to be chs
ished and advanced by our State Leg
lature.
? A new smelling process by means OF |
3 trpleum is claimed to be recent lnventlc
r but everybody knows already that anythi
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