| From the Yorkville (S. C.) Enquirer |
| |
| March 7, 1861 |
| |
| Yorkville and Dallas
{Yorkville, S. C. and Dallas, N. C., about 25
miles apart} |
| We append a letter addressed
by an intelligent merchant of Dallas, to Mr. Rose, President of the
King's Mountain Railroad, on the subject of a railroad connection
between our town and Dallas Our people do not, we think, fully
appreciate the central position of Yorkville It is directly on the route
of the Ari Line Railroad, connecting Washington, Georgia, and Charlotte,
North Carolina; and if that much talked of road is ever built, it should
run by Abbeville, Laurens, Union and Yorkville. Again, we are on a
bee-line drawn from Charleston to Morganton, the centre of the mountain
regions of North Carolina. In the letter appended, our people are only
asked to build a road to the North Carolina line, a distance of 15
miles; and the cost of the road at $8,000 per mile, the cost per mile of
the King's Mountain road, would only be $120,000. The people of Gaston
will connect with us at the line, and extend the road to Dallas. A
charter has been secured, and a road is in process of building to
connect Lincolnton and Newton, the latter of which towns is on the road
which is soon to unite Salisbury and Morganton. After all these roads
should be completed, there would remain only a small gap from Dallas to
Lincolnton -- a distance of but twelve miles -- to complete the
connection between Yorkville and Morganton, and enable us to tap the
mountain region at their most important outlet. If the road, as the
letter intimates, should be extended towards, or even into Virginia, it
would only conduce the more to our business prosperity. |
| Mr. White is a very
intelligent and energetic gentleman a member of the late North Carolina
Legislature, from Gaston. He secured the charter of a road from Dallas
to the line, under the belief that we of York ha a charter to connect
with them. This is precisely the case. The charter procured at the
building of the King's Mountain road, grants the power to extend that
road to any point on the line of Cleveland or Gaston. Our people, then,
may go to work instantly; and we hope ere long to hear the neigh of the
Iron Horse at the foot of King's Mountain. |
| The advantages of this
connection must be obvious to every one. Railroads always stir the
communities through which they pass, into new life and activity.
Business increases, lands rise in value, and not to speak of the staple
productions of the country, all the minor articles of the dairy, garden
and farm -- butter, eggs, apples, potatoes and everything of the kind --
become more and more marketable and valuable. |
| Not the least among the
benefits to be derived from railroad facilities, is the advantage of a
daily mail. In this age of increased reading and intelligence, every one
would be glad to have a railroad near him, and daily communication with
the great centres of news and of trade. The road would likely cut the
line somewhere within the first two miles westward of Grier's store.
Will not our good people along the route bestir themselves? All, from
the poorest to the richest, are interested. Let every one who can
possibly do so be prepared to take stock in the road; and success, we
say, to the Yorkville and Dallas connection! |
| Expecting to urge this matter
again, we will close this articles, which is designed more to attract
the attention of our people to the project than to argue its importance,
by simply appending the letter above alluded to: |
| "Dallas, N. C., Feb. 27, 1861 |
| Dear Sir: Through the energy and
perseverance of Mr. White in our Legislature, we have got a character
for a Rail Road from this place to the South Carolina line. The object
now is to meet you at the half-way place; and we hope that the object
will be favorably considered by your people, and measures taken to
extend your road to the line as soon as possible. It is the wish of our
citizens here, that we consult with you, and others in your place
interested in the extension, and have the mater acted on as soon as we
can. |
| There will be no danger nor
much delay up here, about securing our charter. It is the understanding
with us that you already have a charter to extend your road to the line,
and if so, we would like to know the conditions of the charter, and what
the prospect will be for you to secure the charter and build the road to
the line. |
| If the road is ever built to
this place, I have no notion that this will be the terminus long; for it
will eventually go to Lincolnton, Newton, Taylorsville, Wilkesboro, and
on into Virginia, and may be one among the first class paying roads in
the Southern country. Stir up your people and get them in for it; and if
you act in your State, you need have no fears about us acting. This is a
road I have always wanted, and it will be to the interest of your road
and State to run it in this direction. |
| You will please write me soon
what we may expect from you Our Commissioners will meet you in
Convention at any time. Let us delay no time; but give something for the
people and engineers to do. Hoping to hear from you soon, |
| I am yours, &c." |
|