| From the Wilmington Journal |
| |
| November 28, 1861 |
| |
| Danville Connection
{Piedmont RR} |
| Messrs. Editors, |
| I see you take no notice of
the revival of the old "Danville Connection" controversy by the
President in his late message. This is a most unfortunate
recommendation at this time and by this officer. It shows a strong
Richmond influence, taking advantage of the apparent necessities
of the country to gain and retain a portion of the trade of North
Carolina. It is to cut in two the great system of North Carolina
Internal Improvements to benefit Virginia; for there is no merit in
this as a military road at this time, until other roads are
built. The President misunderstands the facts -- he gains no
additional through line. All the business has to be done on one
line from Augusta to Kingsville now, and it will be so then.
The transportation could all be done by the short, level & straight Sea
Board route, if the Cape Fear River was bridged, as it may be in two
months if set about in earnest. But it may be said that the enemy
may take possession of this line at some point. There is very little
danger of that, and if he did there is the same line the President
speaks of open from Weldon, via Raleigh, "Greensboro' " and
Charlotte. |
| But is there not more danger
of this common line being broken by the enemy between Branchville and
Augusta? I do not think there is much danger of either; but if the
Government really wants to facilitate the transportation of troops and
supplies, let it advance to the Rail Road Companies here on the Sea
Board $100,000 to be paid back in transportation, and they can Bridge
the Cape Fear and be able with additional Rolling Stock, now
accumulating, to carry 5000 troops a day with their baggage and all
other freights that may offer. |
| By this line there would be
but one change of cars from Montgomery, &c., or Nashville to Richmond --
that change is at Wilmington, where the guage changes. |
| By the "Danville route" there
would be a change of cars at Charlotte, and again at Danville from
necessity, as the guage of the South Carolina and other roads South
is five feet -- the Danville road the same; whereas the North Carolina
guage is, by law, four feet eight and a half inches. |
| The recommendation of the
President should have extended to bridging the Cape Fear, in conjunction
with the "Danville Connection," or else it should not have been made. |
| It (the "Danville Connection")
will benefit Richmond and its Danville road, and will also
benefit the Charlotte & South Carolina R. Road; while it will
materially injure the great North Carolina Central road, the
Wilmington & Weldon and Wilmington & Manchester Rail Roads, and the
Raleigh & Gaston Rail Road. While it does this it gives us no new
military line. It would shorten one a little, but have we
more material (Rails especially) than is now wanted to maintain
the present lines? Can we judiciously use any iron for new
roads at this time? |
| I say again, it will benefit
Richmond at the expense of Wilmington. Has Wilmington done anything
to deserve this at the hands of the President of the |
| Nov. 25
Confederate States? |
| |
| {This is a perfect
example of being more concerned with local financial matters that the
success of the nation in attaining independence. The author has no
understanding of the need for a second line of supply from the South
into Richmond. I wonder what his opinion of the Danville Connection was
in the summer of 1864 -- with the Piedmont RR in operation and the
Petersburg RR broken to Weldon for the rest of the war.} |