The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-05-11
The Whole State Interested.
Wilmington Messenger.


Under the above heading the Char
lotte News contains an editorial on
the proposed establishment of a coal
ing station at Southport, and in it
states facts which show that the Cape
Fear seaport has come into much
prominence OF late as desirable To-
cation for a coaling depot for ocean
steamships. 1t seems that other per-
sons besides those interested in the
WinstOn-SOuthbound road have
their eyes upon that town.
AS the News says, should the South
bound road officers determine to place
their cOaling station at Charleston,
Southport will still be there and it
seems that there are other persons
who have had their attention at
tracted by her great advantages as
a coaling station. If we do not get
the Winston road it will not be long
before another railway is built which
will connect our seapOart with the
coal fields. But we do not want to
wait for the second venture. We
want to get the one first built. We
fort to secure the one because there
is the chance of getting another later
on. What we want to do is to put
Southport to the front with her coal
ing station and deep-water, land
locked harbor, the best anchorage
and the most convenient port on the
South Atlantic coast for ocean ira
versing vessels.
The fact that there are other per-
sons looking to this port at the
terminus Of Il railway system will
have weight with the Southbound
people il. determining where they will
locate their terminus. Should there
be coaling stations established at
Southport and Charleston the former
would soon demonstrate it's superior
ity over the latter and would secure
by far the larger part of the patron
age of steamers passing up and down
the coast, or from Gulf ports to Eu-
rope. We fully believe that the differ
ence in advantages of the two ports
is go greatly in favor of ours that the
establishment OF station at Charles
ton would not prevent another being
located at Southport in the near
future; but were the first placed on
the Cape Fear it would so completely
supply the need for a coaling station
on the South Atlantic and would be
found SO convenient for the steam
ships that there would be no attempt
to build another to the South of us.
On the subject ofthe application to
the governor for information by
Northern capitalists regarding South
port the News says:
Governor Glenn is in receipt OF q letter
from a prominent New York capitalist
in which he states that he and several
Northern financiers will visit Southport
| at an early date with view to con-
structing railroad from Wilmington to
Southport for the purpose of establish
ing a coaling station at Southport. The
gentleman writing the letter asked the
governor to define the attitude of the
State toward foreign capitalists. In re-
ply Gov. Glenn emphasized the fact that
North Carolina invites all classes of cap
ital to come here and gives every assur-
ance that it will be protected and appre-
ciated
This Is another movement entirely in
dependent of the Winston Southbound
roilroad project, which is being engineer
ed by Col. F. T. Fries, of Winston-Salem
The whole State seems to be aroused to
the Importance of having this South
bound road seek terminus at South
port instead of going to Charleston, as
was first intended. Gov. Glenn is bring
ing his official as well as personal infiu-
ence to bear in behalf of the Southport
movement and Col Fries and the others
at the head of the negotiations have as
sured him along with others who have
interested themselves in the matter, that
the Southport proposition will be given
due consideration and If it is deemed ad-
vantageous to defect the road to that
port it will be done
While it is sincerely hoped that the
Winston Southbound road will be built
and that its terminal will be at the North
Carolina seaport, it is nevertheless fact
that the advantages offered for a eoaling
station at Southport are still there and
it will not be very far in the future before
capital will be invested there in develop
ment OF the greatest possibilities OF the
State.