The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-09

A Great Railroad scheme 10 Open up
Our Port To the Cumberland Coal
Fields and the Cranberry Iron Region
Our Chamber ofCommcrce TO Put In
SEINE Good Work 60 Encourage tho
Project.

/ Project.
In another column we copy from
The Raleigh News and Observer OF
yesterday a letter from Mr.. +. II. Aren-
dell. concerning a great railroad pro-
ject in which Wilmington Is specially
interested. 1t is really a big scheme
and las been contemplated for twenty
years at least.
In South Carolina three different
projects W been set on foot To reach
the Cranberry iron region 81 western
North Carolina and the rich coal fields
OF cas-; Tennessee.
Among these projects was the Ches-
ter and Lenoir Railroad. which was
projected from Chester. :. &. 10 Gram
berry and was built from Chester TO
Lenoir. NC. many years ago. The name
OF this road a few years ago was chang
ed to the Carolina and North Western
Railroad. and Mr.. Arendell mentions
that portion OF its line from Lincoln
ton by way OF Hickory to Lenoir rs
one OF the links in the great protect 10
open up the Cumberland coal fields and
the great iron country around Gram
berry. At present IL is a prosperous
narrow aug road. but IL Is in con-
temptation to change IL TO the standard
broad gauge.
Another OF these projects was the
Charleston, Cincinnati and Ohio Rail-
road. which is in operation from Cam
den, :. c.. 10 Marion. y. c, with n
projected line further into western
North Carolina and the Tennessee coal
nelds. This road il now known as the
Ohio River and Charleston Railroad.
The Messenger is much interested in
the scheme which Mr.. Arendel exploits
50 we'll in his letter. While IL is "A big
thing for Wilmington. II wou also be
a great advantage 10 Charlotte n
other cities in our state and South Car
DINA. II specially concerns Whining
ton. however, for naturally this port
would be the outlet FOR such n railroad
project and We have the advantage OF
connections already existing, as mem
toned by Mr.. Arendell.
Mr.. James II. G~hadbourn. Jr, presi-
dent OF Wilmington Chamber OF Conn
merce, who is ~sojourning at Lincoln
Lithia Springs. at Lincolnton. y. G.,
wrote The Messenger on the 3rd in
stant. requesting vi 10 look out for
Mr.. Arendelrs letter. Among other
things Mr.. Chadbourn says this about
this big railroad project:
1t is proposed 10 widen the narrow
gauge road from Lenoir to Lincoln
ton. This would open up to Wilmington
an immense coal and iron trade. | have
known Of this proposed road for n
month or more, and il will be a great
thing for Wilmington To have IL. as IL
will mean a coal trade equal To that
OF Norfolk"
Mr.. Chadbourn writes us that as
soon as he returns To the city he viii
call a meeting of the Chamber OF
Commerce and lay the scheme before
that body. He thinks the chamber can
get in some good work in this Connec-
ton.
The scheme for this great railroad
project is quite a feasible one. The
fact is. only a comparatively short link
would have TO be built to complete the
scheme. We do not know OF "A project
in the south that opens up such a fine
opportunity for capital as this and we
are satisfied that soone or later the
scheme will be carried out.
Let us hope that the present project
will carry through, and let's leave no
stone unturned to encourage n aid It.