Wilmington journal., 1875-01-29
HOyFOR THE WEST.

her connection by rail with the Mis-
sissippi and Ohio Valleys, and the I'M
provement of the River and Bar. We
are glad to believe that both are In
fair way of early solution. And IN
this event we see no reason to DOUBT
the rapid increase in our population,
commerce and wealth. With un-
broken lines of communication or
Cincinnati, Louisville and Nashville,
and with vessels drawing eighteen or
twenty feet of water loading at our
docks, we may look for populous and
prosperous city.
For this consummation we shall
labor in season and out of season. Ii
our own people cannot help them
selvs, we will gladly hail capitalists
from abroad who are both willing and
able. Nor do we expect these men to
invest their money from motives OF
patriotism. They expect and we hope
their ventures will be profitable. We
are satisfied that North Carolina and
Wilmington are incidentally benefited
1t is matter of congratulate that
our friends in the Western portion of
the State are becoming fully alive to
the prospects of railroad connection
with our port, and begin to realize
that the Carolina Central Railway Of
fers really the best, surest and earliest
opportunity of railroad to the coast.
They see live corporation, even
during the present financial pressure,
under which all the unfinished roads
have succumbed, gradually extending
its Western terminus. and stretching
out its arms beyond our mountain bar
cerned, it not only offers the quickest
but the only connection which 1T has
any prospect of making In its com
pIetion and successful operation Will
miDgton's future is linked more close
ly than in any and all of her
other links of internal improvements.
1t is with pleasure that we publish
the following letter from our friend,
who has given such attention to the
matter as entities his views to the
consideration of those interested. and
We know that it will receive their at
tention:
FEW SUGGESTIONS TO MR.. MATTHEWS
AND COL. FREMoNT-A NEW ROUTE
TO THE WEST.
McsSrs Editors Recent events
have directed the attention of our peO-
pie to the above gentlemen, and while
much is expected of them, it is plea
sure to think they show themselves
equal to the occasion" Our people
| are much in the condition of King
Richard, who offered his kingdom for
/ a horse we offer our kingdom for an
/ iron horse, aud think both parties to
! the transaction will be benefited.
/ The Carolina Central Company hav-
/ ing finished its grand enterprise-the
connection of Charlotte with Whining
ton by rail-now seeks other worlds
TO conquer, and very naturally have
/ selected the undeveloped, and ne
I elected counties of Western North
Carolina as the next field of their op-
eratious. How to get there is the
question with the company. It is pro-
posed to purchase the Eastern Divi-
sion Of the W. n. G. Railroad from
( Salisbury to Asheville. Then build
from Lincolnton Oh the G. G. Road to
/ Hickory on the W. n. @. Road, COM
/ plete from Old Fort to Asheville,
thence down to Paint Rock.
Let me see If [ can't suggest bet
ter way-at any rate cheaper way.
It is by yof the Spartanburg (S. c. }
and AsheviIle route. This latter Com
pany is now building, and will have
completed by Spring, the first section
OF it's road, to the foot of the noun
tains in Polk county, a distance of 25
miles from Spartanburg. There re-
mains only 48 miles to Asheville, 20 of
which is paratively light mountain
work; the other IS miles are aston
ishlngly inexpensive, responsible con-
! tractors now being anxious to take the
2S miles at the engineers estimate,
viz: S150,0OO
The first section, now under con-
struction, terminates at what is called
the Blood House. From the present
! terminus of the G. G. Road to the
! Block House, in an almost westerly
! direction, is 50 miles, running entire
! ly on ridge, atordIng the easiest
grades and very lightest work. I am
informed it is fully as fine a grade as
that from Spartanburg to the Block
| House, a distance of 254 miles, the
entire cost of the grading of which
will not exceed $4,000. SO you can
form easily an idea of the probable
cost of this route. One million thr, g
hundred thousands of dollars, accord
ing to estimates, will build and equip
the road from the Block House to
Asheville. Estimate the 35 miles
from the G. c. terminus to the Block
House to cost, say 100000, we have
{ bill of one million seven hundred
thousand dollars ($1, 7O0,OOO)
Ry the Hickory route estimate the
| &c miles, complete. ......$ 25O.OOO
From Old Fort to Asheville, 400, 900
Cost of ". n. G. Road. -. 100000