The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1849-10-12

extension of this route West, would com
plete the chain from one end oil the Stale Ia
The other, And besides the commercial adj
vantages 10 flow from il, 1t would
bring into constant and close commu-
nication, the people Of all portions of
the State; result greatly 10 be fcsr-
ed, in every view OF our social and
domestic well-being. trust you may
concur with me in the importance and
practicabiIitv of the route from Nash
vale to Memphis, and grant charter
with such pledges of aid from the
State as you may deem safe. do
not doubt but the greater portion OF
the stock, at least, would be taken, as
the line would pass through many
counties of great wealth and resour-
ces, and deeply interested by their 10,
caIity in the attainment Of such road.
! need not employ arguments or facts
to enforce the incaIculabIe benefits OF
such a line OF railroad to the people
Of Tennessee. Remote from the ocean
and lakes, and limited, and, 10 great
extent. excluded from water commu.
nication, this State, with all its vast
resources, has been kept in the rear
of improvements which now mark
the age. Our growth ia numbers and
wealth, though considerable. has been
slow, compared TO our capabilities
This is a question which addresses
the interest OF every farmer and me-
chanc in the land, more especially,
they being producers, and directly
concerned in the enjoyment OF spec.
dy and certain market. The interest
of all others compared to theirs is but
secondary But there is another in
ducement, which appeals alike to all.
The construction of such road
Throughout, the length of the State,
would conduco to the growth Of man
ufuctures in all their variety. Besides
its influence in entcing the capital of
our own people into that department
of industry, ii would not fail to bring
into our midst the capital and onter-
prise Of other States. Our natural
resources, agricultural, mineral and
manufacturing, are well known and
appreciated. Development ought TO
be the order of the day, at least in the
politics of Tennessee. The property.
holder and the property. holder
are equally interested; the former in
the increased value of what he has,
and the latter in the acquisition Of
means for the attainment of property.
And if we need the stimulus Of ex~
ample upon this subject, we have il in
the policy Of our sister State Of Geor-
ga. That State has the honor Of
being foremost, among all the South.
crn States, in this grea, branch Of en-.
terprise. Though bounded on her
Southern limits by the Atlantic shore,
and enjoying many navigable rivers,
yet, not content with these natural
advantages, far superior TO ours, her
public undertakings for railroads al =
ready amount to about six millions,
while private enterprise has incurred
an equal sum, on the same account
The results so far, have been propi-
tiouS, and promise. the certainty OF n
new era IN the wealth and commerce
of tina: State.
One difficulty, always encountered
10 any specific work of this kind. is
the opposition of those sections not
directly addressed by it. This ought
not TO be. All portions cannot at once
be supplied with these facilities. 1t
must be done in detail, and with a
steady and cautious calculation OF the
public and general. as well as local
advantages TO arise.
But there is still another reason
that ought of itself to enforce the ex-
tension Of this railroad to some point
on the Mississippi river-and that is
the probable construction Of a route
TO the PacItic-to be built by the Gen.
eraI Government out of the public
lands. This latter enterprise, if car.
ried on, may connect itself with some
point ON our Western border-if so,
it would form but the continuation of
the line above recommended. And
why may we lot expect the route
from Tennessee to be selected tits
recommended by the very enterprises
| have been urging - now in progress
and in contemplation and the char.
actcr and resources of the countries
through which they will pass--form.
ing altogether an inducement niavor
of this point. And from every obser.
walton that has been made it will be
shorter, cheaper in its construction
than any other yet indicated, and will
not encounter the impossible SHOWS,
that are to be found, at least in winter,
on the other routes. This great ma.
tional project, so important to the ma.
ton at large, and especially to the
Mississippi valley, will, doubtless, re-
ceive your earnest counlenance and
favor, as it is now receiving much at
tention and regard by the people Of
the Southern and Western States
To have the Atlantic and Pacific con-