B36, P 12-4-61

B36, P 12/4/1861

Richmond 4 Dec. 1861

[Thomas Ruffin]

Your Esteemed favor was duly recd -- and I should be willing to lend my aid to make the connection between the N. C. and Danville Roads but I do not think my presence at Raleigh would lend any aid to effect the object. My efforts to effect that object has been so often thwarted by the influence of the Eastern Roads and the N. C. Road itself, that my presence would arouse the old hostility notwithstanding the pressing urgency of the measure; which I think is greatly increased by reading the message of Lincoln -- recommending a Military Road for Kentucky through Cumberland Gap. He evidently has his eye on Western N. C. But to the Connection -- whatever might have been the opposition of the other roads where there was through travel that they might loose by this connection -- I think they have nothing to fear now -- the through [travel] between the North and South is at an end now and perhaps forever -- at least to much extent. Then where should the connection be made. I have never had but one opinion where it ought to be made and that is to run as directly from Greensboro to Danville, as practicable, keeping in view all the time all our vast coalfields, the development of which is as much a military necessity as the road itself -- for around here they find great difficulty to keep a supply of coal to smelt iron -- the bituminous coal not answering the purpose without coking -- and then not very good -- the dry coal of Dan River being the very kind needed. Pig iron is greatly needed -- the Dan River coalfields abound in iron. Rockingham has any quantity of iron in various places -- the Road ought to run within a mile of the ore bed of the old Iron works -- we have in Reedy fork vast quantities of the richest ores -- and the people of Lincoln, who have nearly abandoned the making iron for failure of charcoal are looking to the opening these mines -- to work their mines.

Then let the Road run from Greensboro, crossing Troublesome above the iron works and crossing the Road leading from Wentworth to High Point about 3 miles east of Wentworth and strike the Perkins ferry Road about where the Road forks, to go to Leaksville, which is about 4 miles below Wentworth and about 6 miles from Leaksville -- then pursue the Perkings ferry Road to a mile below fultons old place -- then down the ridge by Frank Wether's, called Mars old Road -- and on by Wakefield (Hands old field in yr. day) then down the Ridge to the Big Gates -- Browns plantation and cross half Island exactly at its mouth, where Nature has already made a crossing place, except building the Bridge and thence to Danville -- this route will be about 45 to 47 miles, will have no bridges except a girder bridge, of some 40 feet long, which costs but little more than a common county Bridge -- and may be run from Troublesome to half Island some 30 miles -- without crossing a branch but to save distance I would cross one if not two, which is easily done -- no other rout for facility of Construction is to compare to it -- and we rail the Danville Road on the South Side.

This Road can be quickly built -- and if it is desirable to reach the coalfields an arm six miles long with a Bridge across Dan River can be built at leisure.

This Arm should or may be made a part of the Road which is chartered to run to the Va. and Tennessee Road -- chartered by Va. Leaksville is the terminus of a Ridge running between Smiths and Mayo Rivers -- up to the Blue Ridge -- and all their survey, for that Road takes this Ridge after crossing Smiths River about Morgans ford -- some six miles above Leaksville.

Here there is an arm to connect with on the right Ridge and on the right side of the River -- if that Road shall ever be built -- and that opens up to us the salt plaster and Lime of the valley of Va.

Of course the route heretofore surveyed through my premises suits me best, but I do not think it as good a rout as the other.

Every effort is being made to defeat this connection -- plats are being exhibited of various routes -- one from Keysville to Clarksville and thence to Ridgeway -- how ridiculous as a military Road -- another from the shops -- or to avoid building a bridge across Haw River, from Trollingers to Danville or Rocksdale near Milton, -- another from Greensboro by way of Wentworth, cross at Lylesfield and so around the coalfields and through Henry county to Danville makes it some 62 miles long. All such things are put afloat to deceive those who know no better. Compare the routs.

From Greensboro to Danville will not vary one mile from 47 -- by the rout I propose for by actual measurement in the late survey made, it is 24 miles from Leaksville to Danville, and by taking the Perkins ferry Road it will be greatly shortened.

From Greensboro to Shops	23
From Shops to Rocksdales -- by those who try to shorten the distance is	42
Distance	65
And a bridge to build from Greensboro to Shops	23
From Shops to Danville	40
	63
Greensboro to Danville -- 47 and to Rocksdale 12 =	59
" via Shops to "	65
" via " to Danville 63 + 12 to Rocksdale	75

Now observe while the upper route is the nearest, runs in six miles of the Coalfields -- and much nearer to all the Piedmont region for trade -- neither of the other routs approaches these regions -- Greensboro being the nearest point to the coal and traffic. I wish the country a safe decision.

[John M. Morehead]

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