FARMERS' REGISTER 



243 



KOTES OF A STEAM JOURKEV. 



By the Editor. 



Wilmington and its Raihoay, 



At 1 o'clock, A. M. April 14th, I led Peters- 

 burg, Va., in the soulhern steam carriage, and at 

 7 P. M. reached Wilmington, N. C, which was 

 hiter than usual, owing to several causes of delay. 

 Distance, 181 miles. 



The newly finislied Wilmington railway (of 

 163 miles) is the most level and straight route, ol 

 any of considerable length, in the world ; and be- 

 ing well planned and constructed, as well as on 

 6o remarkable and admirable a location, it neces- 

 earily is an excellent road. It seems also to be 

 well managed — a matter which is as important to 

 success as all the other requisites put together. 



The construction of a railway of such great 

 length is a rare instance of bold enterprise on the 

 part of a community so small, and necessarily so 

 deficient in wealth, as the people of the little town 

 of Wilmington ; for to them is entirely due the 

 credit of the enterprisf, and principally the suc- 

 cesslul consummation of the work. This road 

 makes, together with the Raleigh and Gaston, 

 and parts of the Petersburg and Roanoke, Ports- 

 mouth and Roanoke, and Greensville and Ro- 

 anoke rail-roads, more than 300 miles of railway, 

 finished and in regular use, within the state ol 

 North Carolina. Making every allowance lor the 

 aid of investments made by tlte citizens of Vir- 

 ginia in these great works, the results, brought 

 about too in the last few years, speak loudly in 

 favor of the enterprise of the " old north state," 

 which has been jeered as being the Rip Van 

 Winkle of the American conlederacy, or as 

 asleep in regard to public improvements. Perhaps 

 Kip was aroused from his long sleep rather too 

 early, alter all. At any rate, it would have been 

 far better for his immediate neighbors, both north 

 and south, if they had remained asleep fully as 

 long. 



There being not sufficient accommodation at the 

 public houses for the entertainment of so many 

 visiters, we were met, upon our arrival at the de- 

 pot, and divided among the principal inhabitants, 

 hke so many captives, except for the intention 

 not being hostile, but hospitable, and entertained 

 in the kindest manner during our stay. 



The next day was the festival, to celebrate the 

 recent completion ofihe rail-road, to attend which, 

 as an invited g'jest, 1 had so far diverged from the 

 point to which my previous engagements called 

 me. An enormous length of tables was filled by 

 upwards of 600 guests, and the dinner passed in 

 the usual manner of all such entertainments. 



Of Wilmington it may be said, almost literally, 

 that it stands on a mere sand bank. This I had 

 heard before of its site, but did not realize the 

 truth of the description. The ground is not level, 

 as I had supposed li-om the very level surface of 

 tlie country in general. On the contrary it is 

 quite hilly. The elevations are hills of almost 

 pure sand ; and having very much the appearance 

 ol their having been formed by the wind on the 

 ancienv shore of the ocean. Judging from the ab- 

 ee*'.ce of all vegetation in the open parts of the 

 "iown, I at first thought that I had, for the first 



time, seen land either too poor or too sandy to pro- 

 duce (naturally) a blade of grass. Such, howe- 

 ver, was not exactly the state ol" the case, as I 

 found afterwards by walking out ia the adjacent 

 country. 



The enterprise of Wilmington is conspicuoua 

 in other things besides its great rail-road. The 

 thickest settled and business part of the town waa 

 all burnt but a few months ago; but there are al- 

 ready indications that the ruins will soon be re- 

 placed by new and good buildings, A new church, 

 of the Gothic order of architecture, is, to my eye, 

 the most beautiliil structure, and ihe most appro- 

 priate in design to its purpose, of any modern 

 building known. 



Steam 31 ills of Wilmington. 



There are five steam saw-mills in operation in 

 Wilmington, which together saw 100,000 feet of 

 plank a day; and another nearly reconstructed, 

 which had been destroyed by the late fire. There 

 is also a steam mill for hulling rice, and one for 

 planing, and tonguing and grooving flooring plank. 

 This last operation is as wonderful, to one who 

 sees it for the first time, as inexplicable belbre see- 

 ing it, on hearing it described. The planks are 

 first cut to even widlh by a circular saw, which 

 passes through with great rapidity. The plank ist 

 then passed through the machine for the main 

 operation ; and in a few moments it comes out 

 finished. The plank passes at a regulated course 

 through two rollers. The planing is efiecied by 

 four cutting edges, which turn around an axle, and 

 which cut like broad adzes, but wiih an inclined 

 edge and stroke. These whirl around with eucti 

 rapidity as to appear to the eye a solid iron cylin- 

 der, and to leave the spectator doubtful as to how 

 the planing is done. On each side are other cir- 

 cular cutters, striking horizontally, at the same 

 time, and with cutting edges differently shaped, 

 so that one cuts out the groove, in one edge o( the 

 plank, while the other, working oppceite, cuts so 

 as to leave the tongue which is to fit into the 

 groove of another plank. This mill, as well as 

 one of the saw mills, we understood to be the pro- 

 perty of Mr. Lazarus, our hospitable host. 



JRice fields and their culture. 



The tide of the Cape Fear river, at Wilmington, 

 rises about four feet perpendicular. The opposite 

 shore (in Brunswick county) was an extensive 

 marsh or tide swamp, which has been ditched, and 

 is cultivated every year in rice. This is indeed 

 the principal culture in this part of the country, for 

 market, as not enough corn is made for the con- 

 sumption of the inhabitants, and very little other 

 grain raised. The ditches and banks and flood- 

 gates are so arranged that the tide-water can be 

 brought over the ground, or let off and shut out, 

 at discretion. This command of fresh water ia 

 essential to productive culture. The rice is plant- 

 ed in narrow drills. The water is then let on, by 

 some planters, and by others it is kept off until 

 after the plants have come up, and have been 

 once weeded. In the other case, the shallow wa- 

 ter is drawn ofT for the weeding. In both cases, 

 the water is then thrown on again; and while its 

 cover helps the af]uatic plant, rice, it effectually 

 keeps down all the weeds that would olherwiee in- 



