prior to the Civil War The Carolinas were among the early states
to try and launch railroads. North Carolina especially needed
such transportation. But political differences between Eastern
and Western portions of the state, as well as between Whig and
Democratic political parties, inhibited implementation. In 1827,
President Joseph Caldwell of the State College (now UNC) wrote
and published newspaper articles promoting railroads over canals
and turnpikes (plank roads). At this stage in business
development, individuals wanting to set up corporations had to
win legislative approval for their company. While the state
legislature would authorize the creation of many railroads, most
would never raise the capital or ever begin operations. There
were two experimental railroads with cars drawn by horses. The
first railroad company to operate in North Carolina was the
Petersburg (Va.) Railroad, which by 1833 had completed its line,
which included nine miles of North Carolina track near Halifax.
By December 1837, the