The Charlotte Journal

Communications,

Rail Road Communication.

Sparta, York Dist., May 31st.
To the Editor of the Charlotte Journal
Mr. Editor: The report of the Columbia Committee and its several communications, signed Locomotive and The Western, all speak of the rich districts of Fairfield, Chester and York, with their population of 58,000, through which the Columbia Rail Road would pass, compared with the same amount 11,000 one. small of Arkansas and Lancaster, through which the Camden Road would go, and seem entirely to overlook the fact, that the old North State, runs down along side of Lancaster, and within about 40 miles of Camden, and which I would remind them they may find out before the contest is over.

The calculations of both Locomotive and Western are written for the meridian of Fairfield and Columbia, they wont answer for this latitude. I only regret that they will not be more generally read and seen here. To most intelligent men that is all that would be necessary to detect their visionary fallacy and gross misrepresentations, calculated to deceive only the ignorant and uninformed.

Locomotive says the Columbia Road might cost $200,000, Western $100,000 I will only state, without farther comment, leaving others to draw their own conclusions. that the President of the South Carolina Rail Road Company in his late annual report set down the cost of the Columbia Branch road 68 miles at $2,863,654 49. The distance of the Columbia Road making some allowance for meandering may be safely put down at from 110 to 120 miles and over worse ground, and the River to cross. These writers and myself disagree about the number of bridges and culverts. I have before stated and named 8 creeks and 2 branches on the Camden Road, and I can sit here and count on the Road now travelled between Charlotte and Chester 8 creeks and 15 branches-between York and the former, 5 creeks and 11 branches. I leave them to make out the balance to Columbia at their leisure. Western says he was informed a bridge builder offered to construct one, and warrant it 10 years across the Catawba for $2,000: there must be a mistake between him and the Printer-he cant surely mean what he says. Western says he dont understand what Mr. Springs means by the expression, "running diagonally across the country." I beg leave for his especial benefit to offer a suitable, no doubt it will be more expressive to his perceptions and say, passing slantingdicularly. and by the time him and his associates construct a Rail Road to Columbia, he will have learned the meaning of the word. He asks, if Camden possesses commercial advantages why it is she has never attained to any thing more than a thriving country village? I would answer, she has not been dandled and nursed by the State. she has no artificial resources, But wait till pay gets her Branch Road in full operation, then she will then divide the business with her rival, she will then have a large trade from North Carolina. and this is nothing more than from her location she is entitled to. Columbia is now making a desperate struggle to draw it back, but she cant do it. Commerce will take its natural course as soon as water finds its level. He says again, he dont see what advantages the Camden Route can have unless pine knots, tar and turpentine become its main articles of transportation." That shows his Ignorance of the Country. The Road would pass through the Indian Land, Waxhaw, Hanging Rock, Flat Rock, Brown and Rudgely's Creek settlements, somewhat famous for fertility. But I would ask him what sort of a Country is to be seen between Aiken and Charleston,or between Orangeburg and the same place? He does not see much there but pine knots. Yes, he may see long trains of Rail Road Cars passing richly freighted with the products of the Country. I have been led to believe the great desideratum of a Rail Road was to penetrate a remote fertile section. that was lacking in facilities for transportation, Be patient sir, till you see our Road (which we intend to make and that speedily finished,and we will show you a greater amount and variety of products whizzing along through the pine knots than has yet been collected on any 76 miles of Rail Road constructed in the State. South Carolina he says "has a deep interest in the Western Route-she has known the Eastern, "it would be like the Irishman's scald Pig. it would not be worth raising." North Carolina this is a poor compliment, for the Eastern Road is a project of your own, originated in old Mecklenburg, rehearsed in Revolutionary History,designed to take all your valuable products and throw them in the lap of South Carolina. and you never dreamed of any other route till very recently. Locomotive says, " N.Carolina stands the impartial umpire to decide and give support to the successful competitor."
Does he suppose they will give up their own original purpose Does he think they will stand by and see this little band of 14,000, struggling again st the array of 35,000 rich competitors Nous verrons, (as old Thomas Ritchie would say) We shall see.

I will ask leave to give Mr. Locomotive and Western some information about North Carolina. which I think they lack. I will begin with Mecklenburg. Union, Stanly, Cabarrus, Rowan, Davie, Davidson, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, Ashe, Caldwell, Burke, McDowell, Rutherford, Cleveland, Catawba, Lincoln and Gaston, of North Carolina, Patrick and Henry of Virginia, those two with Rockingham,North Carolina,now wagon an immense amount of manufactured tobacco through Charlotte. Now the whole of those Counties more or less would patronise either Road, with a few exceptions.I will designate Rutherford. might and would not go to theCamden Road,the whole of the others would go to Charlotte or to some point between that and Land's Ford, the whole of York except a small part of-the District that beat on Broad River,the largest east half of Chester, and the whole of those Counties would like wise go to the Columbia Road,except the lower part of Mecklenburg. (where there are some of as rich land as Santee River itself.) three fourths or I mean the whole of Lancaster. and if a Road was made by a straight line from Columbia, it would pass about Long Town, and strike the river about Lands Ford, the Road could cross the river near that and take the ridge designed for the Camden Road, the distance would not exceed 100 miles, and there is no point on the two Roads so important as that for a depot, York nor Chester would not compare with it. Why Chester is within 15 miles of a navigable river. As a Stockholder with a view to profit that would be my Route. Now these may be pronounced wild, vague opinions : and I ask no one to be influenced by them any further than they are sustained by facts but of I request all acquainted with the Country to examine into the statement, those who are not to trace them on the map. I challenge the closest scrutiny. This again it brings me to my original position, that a.Camden is in fact the only practical route, a, can be built for less than half the money and that speedily, and will do an equal if not a greater amount of business, unless the Columbia Road was brought by Land's Ford. To construct the Columbia Road, will be a Herculean task,an unprofitable business, a kind of Don Quixotte exertion compared with the other. On the Camden route we are united, have not heard the first dissenting voice as to location. in the other they are distracted and split by conflicting interests. I believe the Camden Road judiciously made will be the best stock in the State, and all I desire is the people should have light. Truth is mighty and will prevail.

I would say to the noble little band of 14,000 on the East be not discouraged. look up the Catawba to the very Mountains, look behind you to the East and North Carolina, there is a force organizing, that will come up behind you as a reinforcement, that will enable you to maintain your ground and stand firm against this force of 55,000 rich opponents on the West, and they may make a Road they choose and when they please, but say distinctly, we are going to make one to Land's Ford and Charlotte.

In closing, I assure the public, I have no earthly motive, (I am not connected by blood or interest with one place more than the other) save the palpable manifestations and convictions to my mind of the advantages in favor of Camden. My state pride might have induced me to help build up the Capital, but on the other hand could take no pleasure in sacrificing Camden and rendering measurably valueless her Branch Road that she struggled so hard to make almost unaided by others, and self interest is perhaps stronger than patriotism or sympathy. And I say at the risk of the charge of illiberality to the East be on your guard, dont suffer yourselves to be deluded by plausible tales and fanciful representations, for I again say you might help to bring the Road to Chester or even York, and though commenced in good faith, they may run short of funds, they may lag, their patriotism as well as money might run out, and say to the East, the Road is here, if you want it come and take it, our strength is exhausted. We have defeated Camden and we are content. The Columbia Committee throw out a tub to arouse the whale by proposing or resolving, that they may commence work ing at Charlotte, the same time they commence at Columbia. People of the East and North Carolina are too credulous enough to be amused in that way. That might turn out to be like the man with a good plantation who commences to build a fine house before he procures the means. when finally, it has to be sold with the land to pay for a house half finished. My views and opinions together, with those of Locomotive and The Western are before the public. let them go for what they are worth. I have no earthly ambition to gratify, no partialities to cherish, nor prejudices to indulge.

JOHN SPRINGS