The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-26

had entered q new world. In a vague
way the whole Atlantic and Gulf
coast has been anticipating a vast ex-
pansion OF commerce when the canal
is opened. In a specific way a ire
mendous line of traffic seems to wait
for North Carolina railroads and
North Carolina ports to be ready for
it as soon as the tide Of freight ton
mage shall begin to move from the
older lines Of raw through the newer
route.
The cotton freight of the South il
the big thing of the dozen States Of
the South Atlantic and Gulf section.
But the whole cotton traffic Of tho
entire cotton belt from Virginia IL
Texas, including lint, seed. and seed
products, is not to compare with the
prospective business in coal alone that
,, will be required to make steam for
the shipping traffic expected when the
canal has opened, and which coal
freight must be confined to a limited
number Of roads connecting the coal
fields with the coast.
It is an interesting speculation wha
will happen il the traffic of the world
should turn quickly to the canal. Bal
timore is spending several million dol
a r to provide increased harbor and
dock facilities. The northern group
| Of coa1 roads touch that port, the Bal
AAO AAAS a III dith
the Western Maryland. Portsmouth
and Norfolk. which should take care
OF the GAL brought by the central
group Of roads. the Chesapeake &
Ohio, the Norfolk & Western and tho
Virginian. are not extending their fa-
%cilities so comprehensively. Whining
ton is not making preparation for any
great tonnage. Perhaps it may not
come. Perhaps the men back of tho
Panama canal have misCalCulated.
Probably they have not.
l The Seaboard Air Line has a line
from Wilmington to its connection
with the Clinchfield road at BoStic.
But it is said to be figuring OF q
burg to- Charleston. The Coast Line
mas surveyed a line from Fayetteville
to southern Pines. with the unlo-
Gated end pointing up toward the
West Virginia coal fields. The South
ern has a road from Goldsboro 20
Wllkesboro and Mt. Airy, and might
hitch up with the Grandlines who ara
mountains, and get over to the coal
country. h Norfolk Southern gets
TO Underwater at New Bern and is push
ing toward Charlotte and the west.
There are possibilities. But the
INhncnfeld is the Only road built IN
"dy lldl IL COuIO MANURE tIN5
neavy traffic Of a coal road with salts
faction.
am no prophet. 1 merely make pen
pictures Sometimes they may be TAX
en- as guessing at the future. But
tney are only meant to indicate what
might be ahead.
II | wanted to go into the bushes
OF fortune telling, I would say tina,
wilmington is about to be o~verwhelm-
ed by a great bit OF good fortune nn-
less h villain in the shape of a di-
version OF likely traffic should inter
pose successfully. Doesn't it look that
way?
Isl suppose that the coal needed
: ey the canal should be twenty million
tons. that 1t Should be SO divided tina,
Baltimore and Norfolk should leave
about a fourth OF it to Wilmington
Iano that the fourth should reach, sa,
I'VE million tons a year. That would
|, mean half a dozen ships clearing ever,
DAY from Wilmington with coal, anc
a train OF loads and a train Of empt,
Cars at the Wilmington coal wharve
: every hour Of the day and night
i it liven the old town.
{ Lawrence in hale >>oa-a ,Iooo :,