Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-10-16

wealth and strength. In all these
elements. as we'll as in population
and enterprise. Wilmington will be
doubled, tripled and quadrupled. i'll
few years, and Norfolk, Savannah and
other cities on the coast, will no
longer be ahead of our rapidly grow
ing city by the sea. That these state
ments. so full of interest to every Will
.ningtonian, and which ought to excite
the pride of every North Carolinian in
behalf of this largest and most pros
porous city in the State, are not vis-
siOnary, but are reasonable and we'll
grounded, look at the vast and innu-
merable resources, and tremendous
mines Of wealth, ready to be poured
into the lap Of Wilmington as soon as
the magnificent enterprise of this road
is completed. We utter the authorita-
tive assurances of those authorized to
speak, in saying that at a very early
day the road will be completed to
Charlotte, one hundred and eighty
eight QSS) miles from Wilmington.
Thence on the Western Division, fifty
miles further to Buffalo Greek,
within four miles of Shelby, the line
measuring two hundred and thirty
eight (23S) miles (from Wilmington to
the foot of the mountains now about
ready for the iron horse. As this Car
olina Central Road taps at Charlotte,
the system of railways, five in number,
converging at that city,it will necessa-
rily draw the rich products of the
Great West to Wilmington, where i'm
provements now going on in our river
and harbor, so auspicious for good, will
make our port one of the best and
most attractive on the Atlantic coast.
It is demonstrable that this is the
shortest line from Charlotte to tide
water, by tifty-two miles, as against
Charleston, one hundred and sixty-five
as against Norfolk, and is ninety-fve
miles shorter than to Richmond. The
location Of the line, through vast and
endless resources of timber, agrlcul.
ture, and rich minerals, with feeders
and arms stretching in all directions.
no one who examines the map of the
country through which it passes and
sees its actual and prospective con-
nections, can fail to admit that it will
not only Ee the great trunk line be.
| tween Charlotte and Wilmington, but
| that it will build up our city as above
indicated. Then let our merchants
| and all our business men take hope
and vie one with another,in every way
encouraging this road and in making
wise and enterprising efforts to bring
trade, freight and travel to our city
We are about to begin, as this road
approaches completion. new era ol
prosperity and greatness as city,
Facts and statistics, the relation be
tween cause and effect, the history ot
railroads in this country, unite witt
the lessons of experience and the
teachings of political economy and the
laws Of comm cree IN proving
these statements to be correct. We
need more OF faith, energy and deter
mjnation; more of correct appreciation
of our facilities and resources; more Of
city pride and State pride, and more
of grateful regard and sustaining sup
p }rt of those leading men in Whining
ton, the Cape Fear, and the whole
State, who now, as in the past, veal
the armor of patriotism, state pride
and an u1compromising devotion tx
the moral, material. educational, ant
internal improvement interests OF
| North Carolina. ONWARD.
October 6, 1874