Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-11-20
The Carolina Central RaiiWaY-1ts
western Connections.
MoRaANToN, N. O.. Octs23d, 1874.

MoRaANToN, N. O.. Oct.23d, 1874.
Editors Lourua1:-SeeinE that the
Carolina Central Railroad will soon be
completed to Charlotte, when that
Company must needs look for further
outlet into the West or Northwest,
suggests the calling to their attention
of what seems to be their best line to
effect such.
As long ago as 1856 Ie,anesse Con-
manu-. known in this State as the ga.
r. & o. Railway Company" desirons
of building their road to effect the
cheapest and best communication with
tide water, started out with location
from near johnson City, on the e. L.
6 V. r. R., and came by way OF the
cele brated Cranberry Iron Mines,
through the Cranberry Gap and along
the side of Leesville Mountain to Nor
canton, intersecting the Western n.
G. Railroad at that point.
Singular as it may seem, this route
is forty one miles shorter than that OF
the Western road by Asheville, with an
estimate cost of t,C0 millions less, and
upon grades, full fifty per cent less:
1t must be apparent to any one that
this line, if completed, would possess
Broad or Western Road route, after
its construction, such as to place II
practically beyond competition.
It is lot needful here to go into ex-
| PLANTATION of the reasons why the Yves
| tern North Carolina Railroad Com
! pauy did not take this route. There
were many. however, such as they
| we're; bnt the lead n nte" was to g.
| nlsn H. M ca .ilirrtne~s as po~s' T
| .: 'nnges. way through the STATE, a.
q State iUork.
Ine writer has the original mann
crypt report OF the engineer, made Il
The A. T. & o. r. r. Co, dat d
"Greenville, Tenn, Nov. Sth, 1880,
| from which the facts set forth here a.
to distances, grades and cost IS OBJ
tanned, and it may be added that from
a personal knowledge Of the country
| through which this line was run, there
IS good reason. to believe that with
time to examine more closely with IN
struments, the location could be I'M
proved sufficiently to materially re-
duce the estimates there made.
From Morganton to Lincolnton dl
rect, will be thirty three miles over
country Astounding in timber ano
| water powers and furnishing com
parati7ely cheap route to build on
| This would give the G. G. Railway
superior connection with The Tennes
see roads at the Cranberry on the State
/ line. from Lincolnton On its presen
completed way, in distance OF .
miles with maximum grades Of 6:} fee
per mile against distance OF IA
miles by Hickory and Asheville t.
Paint Rock over the Western roat
with maximum grades Of 10S feet pc
mile. Any railroad man will know
that the cost of operating the one vii
be less than half that of the other
| But I cannot better express the adj
vantages of the Cranberry route thar
by Quotation from Mr.. DimmOck'
report to the 4. T. & 0. r. Il. Co. be
fore referred to. He asks If NortI
Carolina can hope to commant
the trade of Tennessee by the Ashe
vile and French Broad route, and says
"Certainly she cannot hope TO come III
s'to successful competition with SOut
"Carolina when distances as well q
superior attractions of better markets
ARE adverse to her Independent c
''tilis, IS the we'll known truth that til
COURSE Of commerce, long accuston
''ed to the pursuit of our channel ca
/ HOnly he diverted tkprefrOm hV OF
. r-lr,,, 49,, ;,,crtjl,. ~, IN.
struc'i"I-9 " ,i"S' 20 'I''' VI IA,
I'm antum of the current is inadeQn"'
'to remove, or b. presenting to III
s'strear, nearer AMI less ohstrUc5c
"courSe- 10 in c4u4NY favorable reese.
"voir.' He til-n points ont that b
! the Lineville and Cfnngnburg r"ut
these adverse circumstances may /