| From the Yorkville (S. C.) Enquirer |
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| March 14, 1861 |
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| The Dallas Connection |
| We have received a private
letter from another friend in Dallas, who speaks enthusiastically of the
proposed railroad connection between Yorkville and that place. He says
that it is the object of the Gaston people to extend the road so as to
tap the road from Charlotte to Lincolnton; and perhaps it will soon be
extended to Newton, as the people of that county are anxious to have a
connection with Dallas. He adds that this road will prove to be the most
lucrative in all this region of country. |
| This letter informs us -- and
we have received the same notice from other sources -- that the people
of Gaston will hold a railroad meeting at Dallas on the 23rd; and it is
desired that York be represented there. A cordial invitation to be
present, is extended to any and every person who feels an interest in
this important enterprise. |
| The earnest agitation of this
project now, under the pressure of the hard times, is but one of a
thousand evidences of the awakened interest which is felt throughout the
mountain regions, in greater facilities for travel and trade. All round
us, from Rabon's Gap to Salisbury and Dan river, the arteries of
internal commerce are pushing themselves into the ancient dens of the
bear and panther; and ere long the remotest vallies of the Blue Ridge,
which have listened for ages only to the scream of the eagle and the cry
of the wolfe, will be made vocal with the neigh of the Iron Horse and
the busy wheels of teeming industry. The Blue Ridge railroad is but the
exponent of a desire throbbing at the heart of Western Carolina, to tap
the prolific trade of Tennessee and Kentucky. The citizens of Greenville
and of Spartanburg entertain a like desire; and the extension of the
Greenville & Columbia railroad, and of the Spartanburg & Union road, is
perhaps only a question of time, and not of importance. The "Western
Extension" with a destined termination at Rutherford, in designed to
divert trade from Charleston via Yorkville, and to feed
Wilmington via Charlotte. The latter town is rapidly out
stripping us in prosperity. Why? Because it is alive to the incalculable
importance of railroads. Charlotte is thrusting forth these magic
conductors of trade in every direction; and they enlarge her business as
naturally as the innumerable rivulets of the mountains swell the
majestic current of the Broad or the Catawba. |
| The practical question for
Yorkville and York District to decide now, is, whether they will suffer
the present opportunity of promoting their welfare, to slip through
their fingers. The neighboring towns are competing with each other for
the mountain trade. Shall we let it go without an effort on our part?
Dallas desires a connection with Yorkville. Her road would be valueless,
if it terminated at the line. Her people are now aroused. The
acquisition of their charter by Mr. White, was a bit of unlooked-for god
fortune. All they lack now in Gaston is the hearty co-operation of our
citizens. We sincerely hope that they will receive it in unstinted
abundance. |
| We are aware that some of our
citizens prefer a railroad to Shelby. Granting this preference to be
judicious -- and of this we have our doubts -- the thing is at present
impracticable. It requires concert of action to build a railroad of any
length; and no one is dreaming of a road to Shelby at the present
juncture. It is farther, too, to this town than to Dallas, and a road
thither would cost much more money. The people of Shelby have no charter
for a road to the line, and are not offering us the least co-operation
It is doubtful, if they wanted one, whether they could push a charter
through the North Carolina Legislature. The question then is, not which
is preferable, a road to Shelby or one to Dallas; but whether a road to
Dallas is desirable at all. Of this there can be but one opinion |
| The Columbia and Charlotte
road {Charlotte & South Carolina RR}, and
the South Carolina road, are both deeply interested in the consummation
of this enterprise. For this reason they are likely to take stock in the
road, if it is not all secured beforehand by individual subscriptions.
We design enlarging upon this idea in a future article. |
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