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156 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

fantile weakness, and industries were developing and multi-

plying.

On the completion of the North Carolina Railroad, Colonel
Fisher and Mr. Ashe arranged for western products to come to
Wilmington through Goldsboro, and a line of steamers was put
on from Wilmington to New York, carrying North Carolina’s
products to the markets of the world from a North Carolina
port—the consummation of Mr. Ashe’s purpose when he drew
the charter of the North Carolina Railroad.

But passenger traffic was of equal importance to the road, and
Mr. Ashe sought to build up a great through passenger basiners
He sought to eliminate as far as practicable all breaks at termi-
nals, and to relieve travel of its inconvenience and tedium, and
in conjunction with Senator David L. Yulee, the president of
the Florida Railroad, he developed Florida travel until it

“siege large proportions and became a highly remunerative
usiness.

Recognized throughout the South as a dominant influence in
railroad matters and a most successful manager, in 1861, at the
request of President Davis, Mr. Ashe took supervision of all
Confederate transportation east of the Mississippi River, but he

still remained president of the Wilmington and Weldon Rail-
road until his death, in September, 1862.

THE COMMERCE OF WILMINGTON.

From the beginning among the merchants of Wilmington
were some men of enterprise, who owned their own ships, which
were engaged in trade with Great Britain as well as with our
Northern ports and the islands of the Caribbean Sea.

Forest products at first furnished a considerable part of the
exports, while the imports were such as a newly settled country

needed. But as the population of the interior thickened and
products became diversified, Wilmington became the center of
a varied and extensive commerce and its importance as a com-

mercial entrepot increased, while many of its merchants became
men of importance who deserved to rank as eminent in the world
of trade. The following quotations indicate the commercial im-
portance of Wilmington between 1830 and 1840,

The Boston Courier of July 23, 1830, says: “One hundred
and fifty-one more vessels have entered the port of Wilmington

Early Years 157

this year than last, including in the number 1 ship, 2 barks, 181
brigs, the rest (410) schooners. These tar-and-shingle skippers,
which carry large topsails, everywhere besprinkle our coast.
Now Wilmington is the grand railroad and steamboat thorough-
fare. She is taking the position that belongs to her and recall-
ing the proud days of her prosperity before the American Revo-
Jution.”

The Richmond Compiler says: “One hundred and fifty-one
more vessels have entered the port of Wilmington this year than
last. This shows great advance in trade. We have been sur-
prised to hear that the tonnage of Wilmington exceeds that of
Richmond, although the town has not one-fourth of our popula-
tion. It must be a place of great enterprise, if we judge from
what has been done within the last few years. We feel admira-

tion for such a people and take pleasure in expressing it.”
A memorial of the Internal Improvement Convention to the

General Assembly of North Carolina at the session of 1838,
embodying the following tables, shows what the foreign trade
was at that time:

“The tables annexed show the tonnage employed in the foreign
trade, entered and cleared at Wilmington from October, 1836,
to October, 1837; also the tonnage employed in the foreign
trade of the ports of Norfolk, Petersburg, and Richmond for
the same time, as taken from the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury.

‘From these tables it appears that in the year 1837 the ton-
nage entered and cleared in the foreign trade from Wilmington
exceeded that of Norfolk 6,384 tons, and exceeded both the ports
of Richmond and Petersburg together 17,694 tons. We are
informed on high authority that the coast trade of Wilmington
employs a greater tonnage than her foreign trade. We have not
the means of ascertaining its actual amount, as it is not reported.
If this be true, and we believe it to be so, not only on the high
authority from which we received it, but because we know the
maritime trade of North Carolina is principally a coasting-
trade, it would follow that the tonnage employed in the trade
of the port of Wilmington is greater than the three great ports
of Virginia—Norfolk, Richmond, and Petersburg.”

 

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