Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-02-21
THE IRON HORSE IN WILKES.
A RAILROAD ELECTION TO BE
ORDERED SOON.
Tho Extension of the A. T. & o. X. r. From
Statesrilie. via TaylorsviIIo to
Wilkesboro.
Especial Correspondence Of the Sentinel J

Especial Correspondence Of the !SentincI)
WILKEsBoRo, n. c., Feb. II, 1854.
And at last the glad tidings have
come. Ne longer are the people of
Wilkes county to live in darkness.
Long have we been cut loose from the
outside world, but the missing link is
now undergoing construction. The
last Legislature was generous enough
to give us an opportunity of having
Railroad, and if we can only grade
the road .belive that it will be equipped.
The plan now under consideration is
the extension of the A. T. & 0. r. R.,
from Statesvillc via Taylorsville to
Wilkesboro. The psople of Alexan-
der have voted a SUBSCRIPTION of S22,-
600 to aid in said extension to Tay-
lorsville, and it is thought the work
will be rapidly pushed forward.
AS soon as the road is certainty
to Taylorsyille, our people will doubt
less vote subscription Of not less
than $4,000 to aid in building the
road from that place, and in fact, the
matter is already on foot to have the
election ordered at an early day dur
ing the spring. But | am fearful this
is too soon. According to the charter
the road is bound to come by Wilkes
boro, SO there is as yet no danger Of
its going in another direction from
Taylorsville. | fear our people cannot
st this time be aroused sufficiently to
get out the requisite number of votes.
It will be death blow to us if we fail
t.> 70
why | think the election should be or
dered at some day later, than is now
contemplated. When our people see,
that the work is really progressing in
| Alexander County, then there will be
no doubt about the result of an elee-
ton IN this County.
But should the election be ordered
at an early day during the spring,
then those who make the canvass, can
probably convince the people of tho
reality of the road, and dispel the now
prevalent idea that it is for the politi-
cal advancement of aspiring men. 'Tis
not to advance any man politically,
and it is useless to create q preliminary
campaign for 1891.
For it is done the true intents of
the election will sink into darkness i'll
comparison to the claims and purposes
of the many who will take advantage
thereof And when it is remembered
that the woods are full OF Congression-
al candidates in this (6) district, We
may expect to sec them here and dur
ing this canvass, they will feel so deep
an interest in our welfare, that
they will come into our midst. and in
beautiful and eloquent Language tells us
of our picturesque and valuable country.
This is Why | oppose the election now.
Yet If this will give us a road, [ am
satisfied, for like a venerable old man,
who many years ago was a candidate
for the Senate, at time when Rail
roads were first talked Of and when
everybody didn't know just exactly
what they were, was greatly surprised
when his opponent in an eloquent
speech portrayed the many excellen-
ces of the system, almost convincing
them that his election would insure
Railroads all over the State, in his re-
ply to his young opponent said, "well
fellow citizens, | won't promise you
what | will do, but will say this, that
| am for Railroad, either by sea or
land, which ever is the cheapest way
to get it, ," and the people elected him.
Thus when it is remembered that
We are just on the eve of great ma
tional contest, it will be seen that the
prospects Of success will be greatly
jeopardized by an election at this time.
When the political smokes of the
coming battle will have cleared away,
then will be the right time to ask the
people to vote subscription, for then
it can't be said, that this is nothing
but a political hobby horse, for the
iron horse will already be snorting at
Taylorsville. Then the subscription
J will be cheerfully voted, for our peo-
| pie have given up the long cherished
hope of seeing the completion to
Wilkesboro of the C. F. q Y. V. r.
r. This road would have more ma
terially benefited our county than
the A. T. & O. r. r., for it would
have run forty miles through the CEN
! ire of the county, while the a. I. &
o. will run through only ten miles of
the county before reaching Wilkes
boro.
| And again the Valley road would
have given our people an outlet in the
right direction, the way pointed out
by nature. Our county is fast becom-
ing a tobacco growing county and
Winston is the market the people
want to reach, yet owing to the great
er distance to that point, than to other
markets, they do not generally reach
there. But as we can't get the G. F.
& Y. Y. Z. r., we must take what is
offered us, and at the proper time
Wilkes county will cheorfully respond
to call,
The petition asking an election will
be heard at March term of Commits
| siopers Court SrRfRRIER