The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-02-24
The State Chronicle
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\ SCRAP OF HISTORY.
Internal Improvement LEGISLATION In
ISiS.'49.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE

Especial Cor. STATE CHRONIC!EI
GREENSBORO n G.. Feb 20, 1855 In
the year ls4S DR.. Williams, Of Boston.
visited The county of Chatham, and spent
some time in exploring the valley of Deep
RIVER, IN that county, where he opened a
shop at Farmville and found two seams of
tine semi -bltumlnouS coal, divided by
seam of black band iron. The upper seam
was something more than four feet thick.
the lower, two feet thick. DR.. Williams
came to Raleigh while the Legislature was
IN session and brought many specimens of
coal, iron. slate and slate stone with him.
and delivered two or more lectures in the
House of Commons 70 large assemblies of
people. The Doctor spoke in the most
glowing and strongest terms of the re-
sources, richness and value of this mineral
wealth, of the volume of Deep River as also
of the abundance of the coal iron, sc. =
not forgetting to cast sheer on old DR..
Mitchell and Chapel Hill. This lecture,
taken IN connection with the prevalent
efforts and untiring zeal OF DR.. Spence
McChenahan, delegate from Chatham in
the Legislature, and leading members of
both Houses, who were Interested in Inter
nal improvements, created new interest in
the subject, which was, if possible, below
par The Raleigh and Castor, and
hard up" and We're tor the third
or fourth time before the Legislature for
pecuniary aid-havny, as it was thought
and said by many, proven, as had all our
previous efforts, dead failure. To cause
still deeper and darker despondencv to
rest on the minds and fill the hearts of
all the members, the revenue Of the State
proved, AS had been the ease for several
years, greatly deficient To meet the current
expenses. | well remember how the two
roads mentioned, like most of the rail
roads IN other States that had failed,
were abused by the Demagogues of this
State. 1t was "a dark day for the old North
state, never perhaps had any of her sons
seen a darker, for thousands of her most
active and energetic sons we're sell
ing out and emigrating to the North and
and Southwest. But fortunately for this
State and for the cause of Internal I'm
ployementS within our borders, Dr. Will
hams enthusiastic aud highly cxtravagant
lectures and talks inspired new hopes in
the breasts of many if not all the leading
members of the Legislature, which caused
them TO agree to hold Internal Improve
ment meetings at least every other night
in the Commons Hall, where all could be
heard, with such other leading men of the
State as might visit or be invited to Raleigh
And | think | can say, without the fear
of contradiction, that there was never
heard more eloquent and patriotic speak
ing, and IN favor of Internal I'm
proyements in one place, il two months,
than was heard in Raleigh j., the meeting
of lS4S-'49. These efforts eNrutually caus-
ing an appropriation to prove Deep
River, the chartering of the North Caro-
lima Railroad, the relaying ot the Raleigh
& CASTOR, and Wilmington y Raleigh Rail
roads, chartering the Fayetteville Il Sails
bury Plank road, and small appropriations
to improve the Neuse and Tar Rivers,
and chartering the Greensboro & Mt Airy
and the Salisbury X Tarb,ro Turnpike
roads, and chartering the Lunatic and Deaf
and Dumb Asylums at Raleigh, and the
passage of the bill to tax 50 vent sureties,
monies loaned, salaries, mar mage licenses,
with many other articles of personal prop
erty. This was the first grand Legislature
held in North Carolina, and the action
taken by the Legislature OF 1S4S-'49, es-
pecially the members Of the Whig party,
gave the cause of Internal Improvements
an impetus that has not been brought
to stand still to the present time And
! may here add that DR.. Williams lectures
and specimens of coal and other minerals
and eAtravagant representations of the
| abundance and value of coal and other min
erals on Deep River, had much to do with
| stirring up the latent patriotism of Legis-
lators, and causing them to resolve to 20
forward and do or die, as the gallant
and public spirited Wing from Boston
earnestly advised them to do, and not
| longer to follow in the wake Of all tho
/ ,ther States in the Union and be sneer-
/ ed at as the ''Rip Van Wrinkle" of tho
! South.
ID. +. CALpWEiI