The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-22

WdS COlH pielGU 10 WlIuln d SnOTU distance or
Wadesboro, making the total distance
graded up to 1873 about twenty-three miles.
There was a balance of about $40. 200 on
hand from the sale of stock after the com
pletlon of the grading, which was deposited
| bank and not used until the work OF con
structlOn was resumed in 1879.
In the early part of 1879, mainly through
the influence OF President Ravenel, of the
Northeastern Railroad, fresh interest was
awakened IN the enterprise. 1t was deter
mined to give a first mortgage on the road
from Cheraw to Wadesboro' Of SIG, 00C, and
to issue upon the same a corresponding
amount of per cent. first mort bonds.
The mortgage was given IN the fall of 1879,
and they were issued and taken up at par.
Every bond was sold and taken. With the
proceeds derived from their sale steel rails
and the most approved fastenings were pur-
chased, al the old grading was worked over,
two miles new grading. completing the line to
Wadesboro, were built, the trestles were
constructed, depots and turnouts establish
ed, and every necessary appendage added
to the working facilities of the road.
The upper end Of the line is not yet sufi-
GENTLY ballasted to run regular schedules,
but is hoped TO have the whole line finished
to run regular schedules In a month or SIX
weeks.
at present the road has no equipment,
but is to run by the stock of the Cheraw
and Darlington Road, the trains running
through from Florence to Wadesboro. The
weight Of the iron with which the road is
laid is forty-fve pounds to the yard. twas
made at the Pennsylvania Steel Works at
Harrisburg, and was bought at a cost of
$44 to the ton before the price of iron. The
rails are of the best road steel, and are laid
with the most approved angle plates and
HcLh,r oo,noo,, ,noI;,r oon,o,e
rail and holding the track securely in posi-
ton.
The roads runs through Chesterfield
county for ten miles, and for fifteen miles
through Arson county, n. e. 1t connects
with the Carolina Central at Wadesboro,
which runs from Shelby to Wilmington, a
distance of go miles. When the Cheraw
road is built through to Salisbury it will
strike at that place the Western North Car
DINA, which runs now from Salisbury to
Asheville, a distance of 225 miles, and is to
be extended to connect with the Western
system of roads at Morristown, or with the
knoxville and East Tennessee road. At
present, by taking the Atlantic, Tennessee
and Ohio road, a distance of 45 miles, the
Western North Carolina can now be reach
ed at Stat esville, % miles west of Salisbury,
which goes to Asheville. There is an un-
finished link of the road between Asheville
and Morristuwn, mot including the forty
miles of this line over which the trains are
now running which the Best Syndicate is
under obligations to complete, together with
all the other Western connections. This
accomplished. and there will be a through
line beyond the mountains to the West.
The intentions of the projectors OF the
Carolina Central Railroad was to fence in all
the products of North Carolina and make
all the territory of the State tributary to the
North Carolina ports. Before this road was
built the trade of all the western counties OF
the State was tributary to Charleston,
but after its construction the course of COM
merce was changed, and what had formerly
gone to Charleston sought another outlet to
the sea. The new line to the West, which
has been SO happily begun by the compile
ton of the Cheraw and WadesbOro road,
will restore to Charleston her former trade.
AS evidence that the lost trade will return,
during the last season a large proportion
of the cotton received at Wadesboro has
been shipped to Charleston, and the ship
ments will increase as the superior advan.
tages of the market are demonstrated and
the facilities of transpOrtlon enlarged and
made more perfect.
One of the principal cotton buyers OF
Wadesboro' assured me to-day that at least
TO- 900 bales of cotton wOuld be shipped to
Charleston next season from tnaC pOiht.
Between 5000 and 5000 bales were sold at
Wadesboro during the last season., the bulk
of which went to Charleston. | have the
same authority for saying that the trade OF
the city will be increased at least $500, 600
by this new road. Arson county cotton al
ways briggs the top of the market, and Of
ten goes over the highest market quotations.
This cotton will seek the Charleston market
because it is the highest market for the sale
| of the fIer grades of cotton, and the price
paid higher than in Baltimore. Whining
ton or New York.
A number Of turpentine distilleries have
| been established on the lower part OF the
| railroad near Cheraw, and naval stores of
| a very fine quality will be shipped to Char
| lesion. Arson county produces the finest
hay, which will be traded in the Charleston
| market. There is also an inexhaustible sup
| ply of building granite and red sand stone