The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-09-06
THE RIVER AND THE ROAD.


y friends Of the river and the railroad. 1t
I irne that with the prescn, business and &C
iual productions of East Tennessee rs III
lands are now cultivated, one channel {
communication would be amply sufficient I
answer all our purposes. Indeed, either tn
one or the other sing,y, under existing cir
cumsiances, could do all the business re
Qnlred, and perhaps then have time to sparo
Dat IT should be borne in mind. that one q
the prime objects of oil! internal improve
menls, is 10 elicit the resources of the coun
try, TO excite the energies Of the commun
", and 10 offer such Inducements for trade
that the entire business is changed, increas
ed, and made to prosper in every respect
Now it is n fact well known. that every
mile penetrated by railroad through q
country hitherto without commercial taciIi.
tics, invariably increases the business. the
productions Of the soil, aud the energies OF
the people from one hundred, to a thousand
fold. No matter how sterile tho land, or
ineliicen, the Iabors Of the people may be-;
TO matter how dull und gloomy may he the
prospect for CONNIE real Advancement, aud
the accumulation Of riches.--for these Things
necessarily disappear before the influence
of railroads and steamboats,. The land is
enriched and properly cultivated, the ioTm'
ers labor induslriousy. properly, and to
purpose, and the produce of their farms,
accessible TO the markets of the world, pro.
ducIng commerce and lncrea sing business in
all its varieties, naturally induces ali in.
crease Of labor, aud influx Of active and la
borious capital, and wealth necessarily fol.
lows in the train. Such has ever been the
result, and such will continue to be the re.
suit. ssachusetts, New York, Pennsyl.
vanla and Georgia, have all arrived at their
present high state OF prosperity, and power,
from the operations Of their great schemes
of Internal Improvements. Originally, their
condition. was no better than that Of Ensl
and barren 50 |, and the others with their
inexhaustible natural resources, only re.
CURED, commercial facilities. to advance
them 10 commercIal prosperity. In the in.
fancy o! the improvements in each Of these
States. the prospects were as gloomy as
they ore here-the same obstacles, the same |
sectional jeaouscs and rlvalries, and pri
vate aud personal interests aud prejud!ces
had TO be met ard overcome. individuals
we're found there, us here, to interpose oil
sorts Of objections to the success Of every
simply because tia. enterprise
night interfere with some favorle scheme
rf their own. But the tue ffiends Q. ne
public good, steadily persevercd IN their la
oors, and all OF every interest and every
section have been more prOtited and have
-eaped m1re advantages. and become more
wealthy, by the adoption and success of all
he schemes. So it will be in East ien.
lessce. Western N. York was once situated
imilarly to this region. and now great
anal and railroad running side by side ure
indifferent to answer the purposes of the
eople. The lime will come and it is 10;
or distant when the Tennessee river and
Cast Tennessee and Georgia Railroad will
curcely be sufficient fer the business Of the
ounrry, and East Tennessee will occupy
he same position relatively to Charleston
nd Savannah that the region around Bufia-
. does tc the metropolis of the Empire
State. The resources TIRE here, and all they
cquire at our hands is Development. Then
Why should there be any conflict Of feeling
nd opinion between the river unl the rnaC!
should they not rather work together, lend
re- all their energies for tn. promotion OF
lie public veal! The friends Of the Ran!
oad should rejoice at the successful navi.
"a ION Of The Tennessee river, whilst the
rIenG. vf the litter should throw no obs!a.
lie, either directly or Inti'cclly, IN tie way
If lie immediate completion Of the former.
Either, Of course, Gun succeed without he
other, but the history Of internal improve
n.n,s, every where, clearly demonstrates,
.o the prosperity ind advancement Of the
u U.e country, and "iU place each other
upon permanent and ImmovabIe basis
It 4. = narrow. minded policy. and indeed Ia