| From the Charleston Courier |
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| February 6, 1863 |
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| The Mayor submitted to Council the
following letters, which were also referred to the Committee on Rail
Roads: |
| Charleston, January 16th, 1863 |
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| To Hon. Charles Macbeth, Mayor of Charleston |
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| Dear Sir, |
| I enclose you a copy of a communication
lately received by me relative to constructing a rail road from Florence
in South Carolina, to Fayetteville, in North Carolina, connecting at
Fayetteville with the Western Rail Road to Coal Fields. The distance,
from Florence to Fayetteville being about sixty five miles, passing
through some of the finest and most productive lands in both South and
North Carolina. The route being through a very level country, is
admirably adapted to the construction of a railroad. |
| The construction of this road I regard of
vital importance to the commercial prosperity of both our City and
State; and beg that you will bring the matter to the attention of the
City Council, for such action as its importance requires. I also send
you a map, upon which I have sketched the various rail road routes. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| James Browne |
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| Fayetteville, North Carolina, January 5, 1863 |
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| James Browne, Esq. |
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| Dear Sir, |
| We are informed that you are interested in
the Coal Fields on Deep River in North Carolina. As you are well
acquainted with the merchants and leading men of Charleston, we desire
to call your attention to a plan we have very much at heart for the
development of the mineral interest of North Carolina and its connection
by rail road with the city of Charleston. At the recent Convention of
the people of North Carolina, the undersigned were appointed
Commissioners to open books of subscription to the capital stock of
"Fayetteville & Florence Rail Road Company." A glance at the map will
show at once that this it the route from Charleston to the Coal
Fields; and from a thorough knowledge of the country, we assure you that
it is the best and cheapest line for the construction of a railroad.
After crossing Rockfish Creek, about eight miles South of Fayetteville,
it is almost a perfect level the entire distance to Florence-- it is at
leave five, if not ten miles nearer to the Coal Fields
than any other route that has been proposed; the country is well
timbered and the best farming section of the States; the line passes the
upper end of Robertson and the lower end of Richmond Counties, striking
the South Carolina line about the lines of Marion and Marlboro'
Districts. The quantity of Cotton raised is very large -- the country is
healthy; the land productive, and generally wel cultivated; with the
exception of Big Pee Dee, the streams are small and easily crossed.
Connecting as this line will with the road already built from
Fayetteville to the Coal Fields and the road now being built from the
Coal Fields to Raleigh, it will complete the great line of road from
Savannah and Charleston to Fayetteville, Raleigh and Petersburg to
Richmond, and will not only be the great thoroughfare for freight, but
also for travel, because it will be by far the shortest between those
extreme points. The city of Charleston can make no connection so well
calculated to promote her commercial interest -- it will not only secure
her connection with the Coal Fields, but at the same time with the town
of Fayetteville -- a town whose manufacturing interests, having eight or
ten cotton factories with sufficient water power for nearly as many more
in her immediate vicinity, and commercial importance make her second to
no other town in the State, and at the same time connect Charleston with
the Confederate States Arsenal at Fayetteville, the military importance
of which must be apparent to every one. In addition to the present local
advantages of a connection with Fayetteville, the future or prospective
advantages are equal if not greater. The Legislature of North Carolina
has already appropriated ten thousand dollars a mile to extend the Coal
Fields Road to the North Carolina Road, connecting Fayetteville with the
rich valley of Yadkin. We do not know yet at what point our road will
connect with the North Carolina Road, but it will be about High Point or
Thomasville, with a view of extending it up the rich and fertile valley
of the Yadkin, in the direction of Ashe and Watauga Counties, a country
teeming with all the luxuries as well as the necessities of life. It
will draw to it the abundant crops of fine tobacco from the rich valley
of the Dan River; it will pass through the inexhaustible lime rocks and
plaster beds of the Yadkin -- extending at some day to the Salt Springs
of Virginia. |
| The Coal Field Road from Fayetteville is
now under contract, and being built beyond Deep River, and will soon be
completed to "Ore Hill," the richest and most extensive iron mines on
the American continent or in the world, not buried hundreds of feet
under ground, but outcropping and inexhaustible for ages to come, worth
more than all the gold in California. One Foundry or more by Messrs.
Washington & Murdock, is now in successful operation, while others are
being built. It is in contemplation as you well knew from the resolution
passed at a Convention of Rail Road Presidents, held in Columbia, to
build a large Foundry on Deep River, for the construction of Rail Road
Engines, Locomotives and Cars, and for making Rail Road Iron, to supply
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and East Florida. How
can these things be transported to Charleston unless this connection is
made? The coal on Deep River is inexhaustible. The quantity of iron of
every kind that will be made on Deep River, must find an outlet.
Charleston is the point from which South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and
Eastern Alabama must, or should be, supplied. How can that be done
unless this connection is made? The large trade with Fayetteville, the
manufactured gods and cotton yarn from her factories, the large amount
of Government supplies for the Arsenal, the quantity of coal required
for her own consumption, besides the amount that might be supplied to
Atlantic steamers when the blockade is broken down, the immense value of
the iron trade, will make Charleston to the Southern Confederacy what,
far more, than Philadelphia was to the old United States. Our object in
addressing you this letter, is to bring this matter prominently before
the people of Charleston, and see what can be done. It is important to
us; it is important to Charleston. Will the people of Charleston, aided
by the Legislature, or otherwise, subscribe to this important work, five
hundred thousand dollars, if we will secure the balance that may be
necessary to complete the road? We think, from assurances already given
to us, that we can raise the balance and complete the road in a short
time. It will soon pay them back in commercial importance for all the
money they could invest in it. |
| You will please bring the subject to their
attention at your earliest convenience; and let us hear from you. With
great respect, |
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W. M. L. McKay |
Commissioners |
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D. A. Ray |
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A. A. McKethan |
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Aug. W. Steele |
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Jno. M. Rose |
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