Year: 1873

man when they had the right to locate the road
where they wished, within the limits of the
charter, and were not obliged to give whatever
that one man saw fit to ask of them. And
when, in about Ave years thereafter, there was
proposition made to curve the road east of
town, the proposition was defeated by the
same influence. Our citizens, at that time,
raised q sufficient subscription to pay the
cost OF the change, with the promise
that the road bed would be moved il
the Legislature would grant the char.
ter. But when the charter was put on its final
passage it was defeated, through the influence
above referred to, and thus promise made to
the ear was broken to the hope.


1t was shortsighted act to make the pres
ent location, and has worked as much injury
to the r. r. Company as to Smyrna, perhaps.
In proportion as it has injured our town, it has
sliced ths railroads nose, That is to say: Ii
the road, by coming east of US, had doubled
our population the r. r. business here would
have also been doubled, to say nothing of the
prospective opposition it would have allayed,
in the shape of Bombay Hook enterprises, i'm
proved creek navigation, &c.


We are the most important station, THAT is
the two depots combined) on the whole route,
Wilmington excepted. The fact of the Com
pany giving us the Smyrna Branch" shows
this. But, notwithstanding this act of appre
citation on the part of the Company, it has no
solved the problem. The zone in authority
told our informant that we had not the facitie
we were entitled to- He was aware that ou
citizens had just grounds of complaint, anC
confessed that the little piece of road had neve
given the Company satisfaction. 1t is believe,
that, while it is indispensable, it has never paid
and hence, while it fails to meet our demand
it is a moth to the company. 1t is not to b.


wondered at that our citizens are restive, an,
are constantly looking up other avenues Q
relief; nor is it unlikely that the Compan
should seek to rid themselves of the troubl


and expense of the Smyrna Branch.


Under this state of the facts we wish t


invoke the attention of every citizen of Smyrna


and particularly those interested in the bushes


Of the town, as well as those who are owner


Of land which must be taken, if the line of tn
Railroad be now changed so as to run throug


Smyrna, to the possible opportunity no
Offered of retrieving errors of the past an


securing for our town all the advantages


such change of route of which the shor
sightedness of our citizens and the Raj
road Company at a former period deprive
us. We have reason to believe that
: proper inducements should now be tendere
to them in subscriptions to their capital stoc


which is well known as coed six per csr


iuvestment) and in the price of lands require
for the use of the Company, the Dslawa
Railroad may be induced to abandon the
works at Clayton twhen they can lawfully do s.
and lay the track of their Road through OF


town. If there be any wish on the part
: the Railroad Company to change the line
: their road, as We have suggested is possibl
" that wish will no doubt soon be made know
and we believe, should it be made, it will be IN
: in such spirit of liberality as will induce Il
: Company to direct the change to be made
: the earliest practicable moment.