The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-03-31
COAL FIELDS
Encourascd-Of Great Benefit TO
Wilmington and Charleston.

Our esteemed contemporary, the vii
mintgon Messenger. is urging its read
ers to take herd TO themselves iess
their Charleston neighbors should out
strip them in the race to build up q
great coaling station on the South At
lantic seaboard- The Messenger calls
the attention of Wilmington to the
Marion and johnson City. and the
Winston and Wadesboro railroad en-
terprises, and warns that city that a
great opportunity is before 1t, which
will not be improved unless its bust
ness men bestir themselves. The Mes
senger says:
1T is time the people of Wilmington
were taking some action in the mat
ter OF securing the railroad connection
with the coal fields Of Tennessee, Ken
lucky, Virginia and Weste Virginia. Ii
they do not bestir themselves they will
find, after it is o late to act, .hat
Charleston has secured what they have
been talking about getting for SO many
years-the establishment of a coaling
station, with the necessary wharyes,
docks, chutes and other conveniences
for Coaling vessels engaged in the
trade between gulf and south Atlantic
ports and those of the North Allan
tic and Europe, backed up by direct
railway lines to The coal fields"
After giving IN outline of the Two
railroads afoot, The Messenger says OF
one of them: so it will be seen that
Wilmington has the advantage u
Charleston in the length of haul by
this route, but The difference in favor
OF the former is not enough to turn
the coal this way, unless some induce
ments are held out to have it done so.
The building of the Winston South
bound road, which will connect with
the Norfolk and Western at this point
will give us at least equal advantages
with Charleston, so far as trackage is
concerned" 1t candidly admits that
the object in the construction of these
two roads is to put Charleston in close
connection with the coal fields" but il
does not see why Wilmington cannot
take advantage of the new conditions
n secure part of this business, at
least" The Messenger declares that
Charleston is reaching out for the new
enterprises, and it calls upon Whining
ton to do the same thing in behalf ri
this port.
We mention the matter not to crit
icise, but to applaud our neghbor
Charleston will gladly welcome Will
mington as an ally in the efforts now
making to obtain direct railroad coz
nections between the South Atlantic
seaboard and the coal fields of Virgin.
ia, West Virginia and Tennessee. Their
| will be time enough to enter nto com
petition for the business of the rev
roads when they have been built. The
| duty Of the hour consists in promoting
their construction.
Whether Charleston ST. Wilmington
will be the most benefited by Uhf
building of the roads is a matter TO,
the future to determine That both
ports would reap rich rewards in bust
ness in consequence of the completion
of these enterprises goes without say
ing. For the moment, at least, there
fore, the interests of the two, ports are
Identical. and they centre in a willing
ness to unite in an earnest effort re
assist heartily and intelligenrly the
gentlemeE who are behind the under.
takings which promise to make coaiine
| stations at Charleston or Wilmington
or Doth, psssible in the near future =
| Charleston News and Courier.