| From the Richmond Daily Dispatch |
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| February 28, 1861 |
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| A great Triumph! -- straight route from Richmond to the
heart of North Carolina! |
| Our readers will see by the subjoined
interesting communication, that the North Carolina Legislature, at its
late session, has passed the measure in which Richmond is so
profoundly interested, but which has been so long and so bitterly
opposed, granting a charter to connect, by a short line of railroad
not exceeding forty miles, the great North Carolina Central Railroad {the
North Carolina RR} with the Richmond & Danville Railroad.
It is impossible to overestimate the importance of this improvement.
It opens to Richmond, by the shortest, the most eligible, and the
least expensive route, the garden spot of North Carolina, and of the
whole South; and, by means of its connection with other Southern
roads, it will present the straightest route throughout the whole
Southern country, and secure the whole travel of the South to
Richmond. It remains to be seen whether the enterprise and liberality
of Richmond are equal to the achievement of the brilliant fortunes
which are now offered to it, by contributing the small sum necessary
to insure so magnificent a return. A future of wealth and grandeur is
opening before this city, if it is but true to itself and its
opportunities, such as has never been equaled in the Southern States.
Its immense manufacturing facilities, when a road is opened for them
to a market, will begin to tell with the most surprising effects; and
its merchants, when the door is opened to them by means of direct
communication with the Southern country, will feel the breath of a new
life. This city, the most beautiful and attractive in America, will at
some future day become the most prosperous and flourishing in the
Southern States: |
| Messrs. Editors: Allow me to call your
attention to a charter granted by the North Carolina Legislature
during its late session, to connect by a short line of railroad, the
North Carolina Central Railroad with the Richmond & Danville
Railroad, at or near Barksdale's Depot, on the Danville road. This new
road is to begin at the company's shops — the central point on the
North Carolina Central Railroad, and now a beautiful little village
— thence it takes its route to Yanceyville, thence to Milton, and
then to Barksdale's Depot {this is not the route
the Piedmont RR eventually followed}. By reference to the map,
it will be seen that this is a perfectly straight line, thus affording
the privilege so long sought and so earnestly desired by both the
people of Caswell and adjoining counties, and by the citizens of
Richmond, of connecting by a short and practicable line of railway,
the two railroads above mentioned. Hitherto this connection has been
most urgently pressed in the North Carolina Legislature, but has been
constantly and steadily resisted by every possible means, and
invariably voted down. Now, we have a charter for the shortest, the
most eligible, and last, but not least, the least expensive route.
Most of the way from the company's shops to Barksdale's, it will run
upon a ridge, and need not in its entire length exceed 40 miles of railway
actually to be constructed. Can the cost of this short, but
most important link of railway, exceed
fifteen thousand dollars to the mile? Allowing this to be a full
estimate, its whole cost would be six hundred thousand dollars. Now,
shall such a sum as this prevent its construction? The whole of
Western North Carolina, or nearly so, will be brought within ten or
fourteen hours of Richmond, and its varied products poured into your
market. Can its value to your city, then, be easily estimated? Glance
your eye over the map, and see how it at once opens up a direct line
of travel from your city to the South and Southwest. Calculate the
distances, and see, if this connection is ever once made, if we can
not thus divert the through Southern travel from other and longer
routes, over this line to your city? Your kind attention occasionally,
Messrs. Editors, and a kind word now and then in your columns, and the
serious and earnest attention of the citizens of Richmond, and all who
have its interest at heart, is invited to this new enterprise. Is
Richmond ready for it? Can it be carried through? |
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