The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
The chief necessity that is essential
for the success, progress and adj
yancement of a city are its railroads
and shipping facilities, for without
these no city ever grew to prominence
or commanded trade in excess of that
Immediately surrounding 1T.
The accommodations for freight and
messenger TRANSFORMATIONS at Elizabeth
City are unsurpassed in that entire sec
ton and are furnished by the Norfolk
and Southern railroad, which trayerses
the entire Albemarle section from Nor
folk. Va. to Belhayen, y. G.. Transports
ton is also furnished by steamers which
ply between Elizabeth City and Norfolk.
va. and also the steamers Muse" and
.'Newbern'' which leave Newbern and
make connection with the Norfolk and
Southern at Elizabeth City, carrying
both freight and passengers. The people
are also looking forward to the open
ing of the Albemarle and Chesapeake
Canal which is being constructed by the
Lake Drummond Canal and Water
Company. a corporation backed by Bal
timore capital, and when completed,
which will be about June the first of the
present year will be twenty two miles
in length with ten foot of water and
running from Elizabeth river in Virginia
to Pasduotank river and thus connect
the AlbemElrle Sound and the Chesa-
peake bay and will thus enable
cheaper freight rates TO and from Eliza
beth City.
There is also projected railway on
foot to run from Elizabeth City across
to some station On the Norfolk and Car
DINA and thus open up section OF ter
ritory which is unsurpassed in fertility,
the banks of the Nile being barren
wilderness in comparison, and It VIII
give a western outlet to the trucking,
lunber and the great fishing industry
of the section surrounding Ellzabeth
CITY and will enable the people of Ra-
LEIGH 10 feast on shad for breakfast
which has been caught the previous
night in the Albemarle Sound. Inc
Elizabeth City Economist" in re-
cent issue referring TO the proposed ral-
way says:
We are pleased to hear that the bus
mess Mems Association or this town
are taking interest in a railroad con-
nection between this town and western
North Carolina. and that they will, at
nm early date, give official sanction to
the importance of the connection, ANA
tender favor and cooperation on the
mart of the business men OF the town
We know some of the struggles we had
tn encounter when the Elizabeth City
and Norfolk Railroad tnow Norfolk ana
Southern was projected. We know the
antagonisms it overcame, and we know
something of the inducements we had
to offer TO railroad contractors then ana
now. We know that those who opposed
the building Of the road from Ellza-
beth CITY to Norfolk, helittled our
freight resources. ridiculed our people,
and said that the local traffic would not
'.pay for the oil to grease the aXies OF
the cars" Our people were united anu
earnest and Elizabeth City, by It's ener-
gy determination and influence, peat
back our traducers and built the foad.
Now see. and the lamp OF the PAST oe
orr guide for the future The y. ana
s. r. K. is said TO be one of the best
having roads i'm the country. II draws
its fruitage from the North Cafollha
agricultural and piscatorial resources
of our lands and water courses ne
course OF the road is not through the
most fertile sections OF our country.
When the y. and S. X. II. was estab-
6shed. there was not a hundred dollars
worth of truck products in our section,
now II has grown into thousands ana
hundreds of thousands. When it was
established the fishing industry was an
infant that lived and died IN the Spring
of the year. 1t is now perennial. 1t Is
\ bustlimg business from January 70
January. The population of Elizabeth
City has doubled since then. It's busl-
ness has trebled 1t is on its grand
march of destiny.
"A railroad from Elizabeth city 10
Drum Hill on the Norfolk and Carolina
would run through country 81 uhshr-
passed fertility. 1t would run through
the Tadnlore section of upper Pasquo-
tank and through the Middle Swamp
section Of Gates county. With a Ter
minus at DRY Point" or near by, IT
would tap the fish trade ut the lowest
protected and safe harhor on Pasqho-
tank river. and with the favor ana good
will Of our business men and other clii-
zens it would have the advantage over
all competitors.
Our people and business men mold on
their hands to this new road and bid It
welcome. We were never more in earn
est. Never before have we had slch
inducements to offer. Never before mas
our town been such potent factor IN
human affairs. Never before has 1t Of
fered such an alluring banquet to CAPT
talists or enterprising men,.