| From the Raleigh Standard |
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| December 11, 1861 |
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| For the Standard |
| The Connection of the R. and D. Railroad {Richmond
& Danville RR} With the N. C. Central Road {North
Carolina RR} |
| |
| Editor of the N. C. Standard, |
| I know you to be a native North
Carolinian. And everything that concerns the interest and welfare of
North Carolina, concerns you. Then, hear me for my cause. |
| You are aware that President Davis, in his
late admirable message, recommended the construction of a connecting
Railroad from Danville, Va., to Greensborough, N. C. Now, as a
stockholder in the Central Road, I am opposed to the connection at
Greensboro', 1st, because it would be tapping the Central Road too
high up, and result in cutting its throat. Are North
Carolinians, prepared to see a Road built by the Confederate
government that will ruin the Central Road? If they are, let the Danville,
Va., connection be made! But secondly, I am opposed to the
Danville and Greensboro' connection not only because it taps the
Central Road 22 miles higher up than there is any necessity for, but
because it is at least 12 miles further that the Road lately
chartered by our State Legislature from Barksdale's depot to the
Company Shops. I put it to you, sir, if a passenger can reach Richmond
12 miles nearer via the Shops and Milton, than by the Danville
route, if that is not the route the Road ought to run? The saving to
the Confederate Government, if the war continues long, will pay the
cost of building the Road! And look you at the saving to the Central
Road by tapping it at the Shops instead of at Greensboro' -- 22 miles
higher up! Isn't that worth considering? Will the stockholders -- will
North Carolinians -- shut their eyes to their own interest! If
the Milton route (already chartered,) is the nearest, the best, and
the most conducive to the Central Road's interest, will it be
rejected? For what purpose? The traveller can save 12 miles of
Railroad travel from Greensboro' to Richmond, via the Shops and
Milton, and our Central Road can have the benefit of 22 miles more
travel -- why put the traveller to an extra expense, and loss
of time -- and why deny the Central Road the advantage of 22
miles? I pause for a reply. |
| But, sir, this is not all that may be
cited in favor of making the connection by the chartered route from
Milton to the Shops. If I am not misinformed there is a Railroad in
contemplation from the Shops to the Coal Fields of Chatham. This would
give the Confederate government a direct Railroad line from Richmond
to Fayetteville. Let the Confederate government take this fact into
consideration, and go to work and build this Road as well as the
"Connection." |
| We are proceeding to build the Road from
Barksdale's via Milton to the Shops, when that miserable old
fool who disgraces the Presidential Chair at Washington, thrust a
civil war upon us. At the first blast of the bugle-notes of war, the
Caswell men laid down the Books for Railroad subscription, and flew to
arms. Hundreds of her noble sons are now in the field, who have gone
with the intention of conquering a peace, and returning to build this
Road, for which they procured a charter at the late regular session of
the last Legislature. Let us have it, for the reasons above hastily
set forth. |
| Caswell |
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