The banner-enterprise., 1884-04-10
,rsospsetus Of the Wilmington, Wrighssville and
0nsiow Railroad.

w. tf1ce, DE-, Y ice fresloent; --s
Gen. Superintendent; Ii. Dudley, Secretary;
J.. O. Nixon, Treasurer.
The construction Of this railroad is the
greatest enterprise ever undertaken by the
Negroes Of this country. lnaugurated by
the Negroes of North Carolina, who have
succeeded thus far in grading over six miles
of road bed, and are now very near Wrights-
willie Sound with the grading. As o as
this point 10 reachs d it is the intention Of
the projectors to lay the iron, put on rolling
stock, and run cars from Wilmington to
Wrightsyille Sound, where all the natural
advantages exist for establishing one of the
most healthful, attractive and convenient
summer resorts in the country. Here are
miles Of ocean front, with q magnificent bay,
averaging about two miles, intervening be-
tween the main land and ocean-interspersed
with oyster beds, Astounding in almost every
variety of fsh-offering facilities for bathing,
sailing and other enjoyments incident to
Summer resorts unequalcd on the Atlantic.
Indeed, with existing natural advantages,
the building of this road from Wilmington
Ito Wrightsville will soon build up a health
full and prosperous town, the rival of Long
Branch and Cape Nay. With a pleasant,
,healthful summer resort only I miles from
Wilmington, with facilities for reaching
there within twenty minutes, the business
community almost entirely would keep their
families at the sound and with families from
the interior of the State, and from other
States, who usually seek the salubrious cline
Of Eastern Carolina, would keep this short
road quite busy, and would prove a source
of considerable income to the company.
From this point it is the intention Of the
Directors to push the road on to Jackson
vile, Onslow county, pushing through a rich
and fertile country peculiarly adapted to
truck farming. At jacksonville and the Sec
tion of country neighboring the terminus OF
our road is the richest and most fertile lands
in North Carolina or in the South, and will
average more cotton, corn and peanuts to
the acre than anywhere on the coast. The
New River Oyster, the richest favored, the
most healthy and most lucious bivalve found
found in the markets anywhere, though un-
cultivated abound here in inexhaustible beds.
AT New River and vicinity we find an aver
age depth of water in the bays, SOUND and
tributaries, peculiarly adapted to the cult
walton and rapid growth Of the oyster, the
consumption of which is increasing every
year and charging the demand for supply,
and rapidly assuming the character of an i'm
portant factor in the commercial world.
More than three thousand miles Of rivers,
bays, sounds, inlets and tributary streams
along the Atlantic coast, are now planted in
oysters. Over three thousand acres are
planted in the Chesapeake Bay and it's tribu-
taries, which yields more than twenty-five
million bushels annually. Besides the home
consumption the shipment to our inland and
Western States are enormous. American
oysters are also shipped in vast quantities
to England, France. Germany and other
European countries, mostly in cans, but
large numbers are also shipped in the shell.
No one will be disposed to credit the state
ment Of the aggregate amount of capital en-
ployed in the oyster trade, unless they are
more or less familiar with the statistics,
which will confirm the statement. Baltimore
alone employs more than fifteen million dollars
IN canning oysters. In truth it is estimated
from statistical facts gathered that the total
oyster trade of this country, domestic and
foreign, will exceed in the aggregate three
hundred million dollars. l mention these
facts to show the vast fields where the CAPT
tai Of the Negro OF the entire country may
be usefully and safely employed. There are
also in this section of the country vast for
ests of virgin pine, oak, hickory, cypress,
gum, mulberry, cedar, walnut, persimmon,
jnniper, maple, ash and other varieties of
wood whose commercial value will add ma
to the revenue of the road in its
transportation to market. 1t is the purpose
of the Directors, as soon as possible after
the road shall have been builtto Wrightsville,
to build machine shops where our youth may
be employed and acquire an occupation, from
which they are debarred now on account Of
their color. Although the whites are not
excluded from purchasing stock, it is never
thelsss understood that as an enterprise pro-
jsotsdby Negroes, the latter are to have and re-
tain control of the road.
The Company has sus: aimed a very serious
loss by the death of the late Edward f.
General Superintendent, and one of
the principal projectors of the enterprise,
whose energy, zeal and untiring effort con-
much toward the accomplishment
Of the work which has so far been done-but
the work must and will still 60 on. This
dollars per mile, (including rolling stock
The value of the stock is $500 per share,
may be paid in full or by five per
cent. installments monthly. A local agent
and sub-director is chosen in each commu-
iity and commissioned with authority IT, act
IS representative of the company, to whom
The installments will be paid. Every stock
aolder will from time to time receive through
he local agent full information relative to