Year: 1875

Brother Furman, the mountaineer.
of that sterling sheet, the Asheville
Citizen, thus speaks his good word in
favor of our city and our people in
the observations educed on his recent
visit to the city in the editorial ranks:


We know not only Wilmington, bnt
the entire State must receive good
from our recent meeting in the chief
port of the State. If our brethren of
the quill will but do their duty (and
we are very sure they wilD our entire
State will know more of Wilmington
than could otherwise be learned in q
long time.


OF Wilmington, very mnch can be
said. AS a harbOr, it is the equal of
any on the Atlantic coast, and far su-
perior to many which have already at
taIned immense importance in the
commercial world. Ingress and
egress are always safe and
easyl for the large ocean ves-
sells, while the direct communication
by rail. with the entire country. the
great West, NortL West and South, is
scarcely surpassed by our far more
patronized Northern ports. Several
important railroads now center at
Wilmington, having connections rami-
flying our entire Soutb, and several
other lines terminating at OF tending
to the same point, are Ill prospect OF
completion. Already large steamers
and sail vessels are running direct
from Wilmington to the ports of the
world, the West Indies, Europe
North and South America. Every
opportunity is now offered to make a
North Carolina port the centre of
trade and commerce, not only for our
State, but for the South and West, and
this concentration of interests and
trade only is necessary to make Of our
seaport what New York. Philadelphia
and Boston have become. Wilmington
has claims upon the State which
are too great and too pressing
to be longer disregarded. We
have heard vastly much of estate
PRIDE" Estate lines" &c, &c, but
now is the time for something tangi-
BILE in that direction to be done. We
do not ask that hostile Legislation be
inaugurated against any interest, rail-
road or other; but very much can be
done by the Legislature, and our own
people themselves, to make Whining
| ton what she ought to be, and is des-
tined, sooner or later, to be. Instead
of aiding or abetting fights between
rival corporations, and striving to use,
not only the power of the State, but
the prejudices of the people, to the
| injury of one line that another may
| be benefited, let us give all the moral
| influence and aid IN our power to
arouse a rational, legitimate, popular
| and State sentiment in the interest OF
our own seaport.


The completion of the Carolina Cen
tral Railway gives to our State the
only opportunity left to make Will
mington the entreport of the State
Now extend the Western N. G. Road
to Asheville, Ducktown and Paint
Rock, giving the Wilmington route the
preference, and what was once wisely
desired, viz grand trunk line ira


versiug the entire length of the State


will be realized. The people of Viii
! mington seem thoroughly awake tt


their interests an claims upon the
! people and State, and we are sure viii


spare nothing on their part to deserve


the fullest patronage and confidence o


theirfellOw citizens. Her business mel


are behind none in energy, sagacity


public spirit and enterprise. They worl


and verify are receiving their reward


To Western Carolina do they appeal fo


that support which. while it ma.


build up and enrich their Seautifu


CITY, will also rebound to the greatnes
and prosperity of our entire State, AM


all her people. They promise th


people of the State-merchants an


all-every facility and advantage offel


ed by any port. As to the .21ersoneu
, of her business people and citizens
they are the equals of any in the world
We are altogether proud of our cit


by the sea, and her good people, an
, shall from time to time take occasio
to say something of both. We hop
never to get done talking and writin
: of our North Carolina port, her az
8 vantages and the great cleverness
| hop AifiZana