42 Document No. 20. [Session
proach to the tunnel, and allowing for such modifications of
the line as may be made on the final revision of the loca-tion,
and its cost may be set down in round numbers, at
$2,310,000. The one-third of this sum, $770,000, is the
sum required as a subscription on the part of individuals
according to the terms of the charter.
It may be needless to offer arguments in regard to the
sufficiency of this sum to complete the section, but facts are
stubborn things, and as we have already shown you, that the
first division of the second section will be completed for its
estimated cost as well as the second division, is it not fair to
infer that the estimate for the second section will be amply
sufficient for its completion.
Books of subscription are now open, and I feel assured that
the people of Western North-Carolina will not let this oppor-tunity
pass without availing themselves of the privilege thus
afforded them of securing to themselves this great public
highway. Secure the second section, and the extension of the
Road to the Tennessee line, so as to connect with Western
Roads, is beyond the contingency of a doubt. For, in view
of this, the Legislature at its last session provided for such
surveys as would determine the practicability of one or more
lines, thus giving evidence of a determination to push this
great State improvement through to completion.
It is known that a practicable and comparatively cheap line
may be built from Asheville, down the French Broad river,
to some point on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, which
will be about 84 miles long. But another survey from Ashe-ville,
145 miles, in the direction of Chattanooga, may deve-lope
a line that will compete successfully for the Southern
and South-western travel. For a mere inspection of any rail-road
map^ upon which the lines are laid down, will show at
a glance, that it will be almost an air line from Memphis via
Chattanooga, Asheville, Salisbury and Weldon to Norfolk,
Va., and if built, will open up one of the most direct and at-tractive
routes for the travelling public between the North
and the South.