Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-08-12
For the Fayetteville Observer.
Rock Spring Railroad.

the people, I hear much more about
the Railroad than read in your pa
per, Tam surprised and grieyed that
many Of those who would have the
least tax to pay, and who, | am GER
tain, would be the most benefited,
proportionably to their o utlay, are
loudest in their opposition to the
enterprise. Whether this is owing
wholly to their lack of information
upen the subject, or partly to other
inf ueuces, l stop not to consider; but
will, at once, proceed to mention some
-Ifcfs within the knowledge Of myself
and Of others of my age, which, ]
trust, will be interesting to all.
In the year 1919, salt sold at
Florence, Ala, first at six, and then
at FIVE dollars per bushel of fifty
pounds. And one man at least is
now living i'll Fayetteville who paid
twenty dollars in cash for one hun
dred pounds of salt.
Down to the year 1928, and per-
haps few years later, bar iron sold
here at 121 cents per ID. Many of
the older inhabitants have paid %
cents per ID. for sugar, and from 50
to Is cents per Id. for co ffee; and
corresponding prices for indigo, mad
der, pepper and spice.
Now, why is it that all these arti-
cles the most Of which, it Will be
conceded, are Of prime ne cessity-
can now be had, some for about one
third, and others for less than one
i. fourth of their former prices? Sim
ply because of the increased and in
creasing facilities afforded by the use
Of steam as a propelling power
Why, steam has brought down the
price of salt, in Fayetteville, from
ten dollars per bushel, or twenty
cents per lb, to fifty-fve cents per
busbel, or one cent and one mill per
lb.M And there can be no doubt
that its further use, by constructing
a railroad from this point to the Rock
Spring, will reduce materially the
present price of this and other heavy
articles of home consumption, and
enhance, too, the prices of all our
surplus grain, pork, poultry, &c. &c.
What man is there among US, who
would not promptly invest one dollar
in any proffered bargain, knowing
that be would thereby realize two?
| Not one. And yet there are many
among as who talk Of refusing to
tax themselves mere trifle to build
this road; when it is well known to
others that by constructing it-and
constructing it now-we shall realize
to ourselves, directly and indirectly,
not only two dollars for one thus ex-
pended, but five times that sum: and
will secure also a like advantage,
without any additional outlay, to our
children, and our chiidren's children
in all time to come.
t l have not yet had the pleasure Of
hearing either Of the gentlemen who
ARE advocating the cause of the road
before the people, nor have | heard
any report Of their arguments in its
behalf But am happy to say that
I have learned, Incidentally, that
their reasoning OH the subject has
converted many, who we're opposed
to the project, to voting friends Of it.
1t is well known, Messrs. Editors,
that some (-I hope their numbers
are few indeed-) Of the wealthier
planters are strongly opposed to-
building the road. One Of them, in
a conversation with me, opposed the |
scheme on the ground of its being
burdensOme, gen orally, and unequal
in its application. i know not that
this is the ground which other
rich planters take, but / suppose that
it is. If so, I have to remark that
quite a minority Of the wealthy citi-
zens of Lincoln have acquired the
bulk Of their possessions here, and
can well afford toassist their less for !,