Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-07-01

it SO far exceeded Gen. Haynes expectations
that he was overwhelmed with establishment
and despair. Twelve millions of dollars" he
was overheard to say Twelve millions of dol
larsl we shall never be able to raise it," After
restless night he was seized with fever OF
which he died, more generally lamented than
any man of his time
Soon after that memorable convention, char
tiers were obtained from all the States interes-
ted, but owing to the pecuniary troubles of the
next and the following years this great enter
prise was forgotten and died out. But look at
it now after the lapse of seventeen years. That
splendid scheme had its origen in the social
and commercial wants of the country, and in
the peculiarities of our position; and now we
see it silently and surely drawing towards its
completion. Oh! it was grand conception,
that thousand miles of continuous Railway from
Lake Erie and Cincinnati to Charleston
queen cities both,-uniting all the degrees of
latitude betweenin the strong bonds of commerce,
patriotism, and countryl Who could then or
now estimate properly the effect of such work
in developing the greatly diversified region ly-
ing between the Atlantic, the Ohio, and the
Lakes. More than half fully two thirds) of
that thousand mile-chain is completed and here
we are, dear readers, striving to straighten out
and weld the middle link. Here it is all hot
and glowing upon the anvil of public good, and
public opinion hammering away at it. We
strike while the iron is hot; we mean to get our
link straight and keep it so. Come then, good
friends, to the rescue: let our links no longer lie
about, severed, disjOinted, zig-zag and fragment
ing; but gather them up, weld them together,
and see what fraternal hands will keep them
bright forever.
said in my last that East Tennessee was
the only portion of the country that had such
prospect of steam carriage to the Atlantic, to
the Gulf and to the Western waters. In this
respect she will be peculiar. And this will ex-
plain why Loudon, the point or focus where
most of these outlets should meet will be so ia
vorable to every sort of manufacturing interest;
and for this reason, that she will have choice
of so many markets.
need not say a word about the agricultural
wealth of East Tennessee. She is everywhere
looked to as one of the granaries of the Union.
She is rich in the general productions of her
fields, but especially so in corn, wheat and oats.
Last year any quantity of wheat could be
bought for 80 cents per bushel; this year it will
doubtless range ten or fifteen cents higher
Now this same wheat, both last year and this,
would be worth dollar, and some times more,
in the markets of Alexandria, Baltimore and
Richmond. Suppose now we were able to turn
our wheat into flour at home. Suppose we had
large Touring mills on the bank of our riv-
err, with every convenience for getting wheat
from boats on the river, and Of returning it TO
them, or to the Road in the shape of -four
That -four can at once be sent to Charleston,
Augusta, Savannah, Montgomery and Nash
vile; and in a shors tisae could also be sent to
Pensacola, Mobile, New Orleans, Alexandria,
Norfolk, Richmond, Petersburg Louisville and
Cincinnati. No less than IA markets, to say
nothing of others that are farther away, and, to
reach which, might require water-earriage-
This will be true not only of -four, but every
thing in the line of farmers, millers, and manu-
facturers. There are twonaval Depots WITHIN which
we shall soon be connected by rail-Norfolk and
Pensacola. A large vessel or feet of vessels
is to be provisioned. How easy it will be to
send to either point, or to both, upon the shor-
etst notice, any quantity of stores of flour,
meal, bacon, pork, beef &c. And this accessi-
bility will be of the greatest advantage 10 all
parties; to the buyer as well as the seller; to
the consumer and to the producer; in time of
war and in times of peace. And remember
that these facilities for INSTRUMENTATION will
be constantly on the increase, as we'll as the
fruits of our orchards, fields, and herds. Re.
member, too, our position; on the borders, at
once, of the cotton and grass-growing regions;
surrounded on all sides by broad belt of noun.
tains which would be poor and barren were it
not that they are full of the richest mineral
t:easusc s-surely such an abundance and varie-
ty of Gods good gifts should inspire emotions
of wonder as we'll as sentiments of the pro-
foundest gratitude.
What is it that has made England the great
capitalist of the world? Two things chiefly,
iron and coal This is the source of her wealth
ard power. This has made her grand-work.
shop for Europe-nay, almost for the whole
world. Besides those two chief elements of
wealth she enjoys two others, abundance of
food and unrivaled facilities for the carrying
trade These four things, iron, coal, food, and
the carrying trade, have male her what she is.
These have fostered industry, promoted enter
prise, and brought in capital from the whole
world. Now who does not know that we pos
sess al those elements of wealth in richest and
largest abundance. Why we have credible in
formation that the very gap through which we
propose to carry our Kentucky road--Winters
Gap only twenty three miles from Loudon-has
seams of coal cropping out on either side, va
rying in thickness from to 20 feet Why sup
pose we have tunnel to make THROUGH the
mountains there, it will pay well to make it
through so rich vein of coal. These tunnels
are ordinarily very expensive affairs, but in our
case, through bed of coal from to 20 feet