Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-02-13

sponsiblllty IN this matter. Ii Juoee
Watts is corrupt or drunkard let him
no longer disgrace the Judiciary OF
North Carolina.
CONs0LI
We publish elsewhere, the remarks
of the Raleigh Examiner in reply to
our article published few days since
upon the question of the change OF
gaugein connection with Consolidation.
We appreciate the kindly expressions
towards the JOURNAL. No paper has
labored more faithfully for the general
prosperity of the State, and we are
glad to receive the acknowledgement
from political opponent. What we
will say in reply to the Examiner will,
we trust, be urged in the same spirit
in which its article was written.
The Journal and Examiner, cannot
possibly differ in their wishes to do all
that is possible for the material ad-
vancement of the people of North Car
Dina, however much their ideas as to
the causes which have brought about
tie present deplorab.e condition OF
affairs may differ.
We certainly have no desire to OPP
pose the completion of great
North Carolina system of railroad
from tie seacoast to the mountains,
and all we have written has been in
huenced 10y the fear that such line
, would not be built, or If built, it
would not be used to add to the bust
| ness of North Carolina towns and sea-
ports. We certainly have no interest,
local or otherwise, to serve in this
| Consolidation scheme, which are not
in accord with the interests Of the en-
| tire people of the State. While we
are always rendy to do battle for the
local interests of Wilmington with
what strength there is in US, we are
glad to believe that We would hesitate
to urge any measure we thought would
be hurtful to the general prosperity.
And we cannot we'll understand how
any railroad enterprise which would
add population and wealth and bust
ness to the principal city and port of
| the State could be obnoxious to the
general good.
We are free to confess, that in COM
mon with a large portion of the people
of the State, we fear very much the
entire loss of the States interest in her
railroads if this plan of uniting
all her public work is carried
t out, and the Consolidated line
is mortgaged tc build two lines to
I the borders of Tennessee. These roads
will cost, including equipment, ten
millions Of dollars, and our estimate
is based upon the opinion of practical
men Who have examined the country.
Still we have refrpined from saying
anything which would throw lamper
upon the bright prospects our Western
friends think they have at last of get.
ting railroad across the mountains.
We say We have fears that " consoli-
dation Will be failure with the beet
management possible in building these
extensions and of raising money
enough out of the bonds that will be
placed on the market-secured by the
mortgage upon all the property the
State owns in her rai1ways-to finish
these connections with the West.
We wish it we're otherwise, fer we
| assure the Examiner. as we'll as the
Legislature, that there is no town or
city within the bread limits of the
State SO much interested il the cop-
pletion of the Western lines as the city
and seaport of Wilmington. All we
have said on the subject has been as
much 70: the interest of our Western
friends as for oilr own citizens.
Is it not for the interests equally Of
the Western producer as the Eastern
merchant that transportation should be
cheap? Is not the farmer of Buncome
and Cherokee as much interested in
| having an unbroken gauge between the
West and East as the merchant at
Wilmington Certainly he is. The
cost of handling produce is as great as
that of handling merchandise. The
delay and vexations are alike anr Dying
to all.
The Examiner thinks we misappre-
bend CT f@il to appreciate the matter
of the gauge. VS. aore We do, for in
it, in cur opinion, lies the danger ia
the scheme-a danger to the vital in
terest of the State. We can see how
the general prosperity of the State
might be advanced by consolidation,
even if the great line should be sold
after its completion. # the interests
of North Carolina are properly guard.
ed there can be no estimating the ad-
vantages to be derived from a grand
lin, of railroad connecting our sea-
ports with the Mississippi and Ohio
vallies. But it, when sold, this line
should be purchased by the same in
terest which now owns and controls
the Richmond & Danville Railroad,
and with a gauge which connects it
wiz, Richmond, and disconnects it
with wiirninstor, we can see how
North Carolina can ana WI lose all
the benefits of this great road, ana
how our State will only be highway
for the etrrQpgh" freight from Mem
phis, to pass along &c Richmond and
the North.
We want no road over our territory,
nsant 10 compete with General M ali one
for Memphis freights en- route to New
York. We want no line worked simply
to carry this freight for the accommo-
dation of the people Of Tennessee, at
the expense OF shippers in Buncombe