Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-21
lroaches its completion.

interested, that sit was a sacred duty on their
part to interpose in their own sovereign eapac-
ity to prevent TIE failure of the great work,
and further, "that reasonable assurance that
the road ,coald IN no ereHt be suffered to fail,
but that the States would be prepared to make
up any deficiency in the subscriptions of indi
viduals, aconld hare the efsct Of gicing public
the ,eork, and secure the support
Of iadiciIaals and e9rporattoRs." A resolu>
ton embodying these views, and calling on The
States for liberal appropriations to the work,
which from its national character, great cost
and magnitude, it could hardly be expected
would be carried through by private enterprise
alone, was unanimously adopted Such . The
character and position Of the Blue Ridge Rail
Road at this time. lis magnitude and cost are
beyond the means of individual enterprise a.
lone, and It is q work in which the whole State
has deep interest Commercially some por-
tions may be more benefited than others, but
politically an socially all have and equal in
terest 1t needs the aid of the State to the ex~
tent asked, and the consequent incidental as
surance of its completion, which such aid is
calculated to impart.
There are row 325 individual subscribers;
bat they are each for a few shares only. Eli
cient aid from the State would induce them to
enlarge their subscriptions. and render it less
difficult to procure other subscribers. Besides,
the contractors receive stock to the extent of
25 per cent in payment for work, and the sub
contractors in like manner receive stock from
them, so that stockholders are created as the
work progresses, and thus when the road is fin
ished, individuals viii hold near $2,oO0,000 of
Stock And thus the objection: That all pnb-
lie works by the State or by Corporations, (such
as City, fail in consequence of misnanage-
ment, and that subscriptions by individuals are
essential to secure that constant supervision
which is prompted be self interest," is wholly
removed. If the road was located in character.
the State might properly claim that individuals
along its route should furnish proof in advance
oftheir interest and confidence in it, by liberal
subs, riptions among themselves, before asking
Legislative assistance; and security in the form
of a mortgage, or frst,lien, might be required
with equal propriety when the benefit to be de
rived is sectional But the Blue Ridge Rail
Road is of different charater. 1t opens
passage through the mountain, by which alone
the great Western States can he united vii h
our own, and charters have been granted to no
ether companies by which such union can be
effected.
Col. BLAXDlyG said in 1886, speaking of the
Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail
Road: "The Mississippi already opens chan
mel of mutual exchanges between the Northwest
and the South. which has done much to bind
the two people together, and render more Sc.
cure our peculiar Institutions But to make
assurances doubly sure, our road is wanted
Make it, and you have taken further bond
from fate. You have bound the Northwest
more strongly to you, and you may rest assured
that your institutions are secure, your property
safe, and your repose will not be disturbed =
And he asks, Chow then ought such an under
taking to be supported? The benefit to the
State is general; the Investment is invited not
as the means Of securing large dividends, but
as the premium paid for repose, for our sense (
of security, and for the perpetuaton of our in
they live on the line Of the road, or whether, at
the mostdistant point from it; ALL he says,
should contribute in proportion to their prop
ertv, that it should not be left to generosity or
patriotism, for these act differently on different |
men, or throw the burden often where it is /
least able to be borne. The general good
should," he says, "be supported by the general
treasure Of tie State" He urges that the /
State should subscribe largely to the capital Of
the road; so much he adds, as will insure its .
millions if necessary. Forcible .
and unanswerahle as these arguments were
hen, they are much more 50 now. And ifit is
true, that independently Of the great CONNER
rial advantages which will accrue to her citi-
zens, the State has a deep social and political
interest in this work; that a subscription by her
% the extent and in the form asked, is necessa-
V 10 prevent failure. and to inspire that conf.
lence. which will induce individual support; if
lnder circumstances less imperative. the State
81 OOO. 900 to the Louisville, Cincin-
lati and Charleston Rail Road ard gave her
for $2,OOO,OOO more; shall not the
Blue Ridge Rail Road. rather than that so inn
,ortant a work should fail. form an exception
othe general rule, proposed by some? 1t
lone is provided with the necessary charters,
" which the State can secure herself an inde-
endent highway to the West; it enjoys advan- /
ages beyond all others in the length and heighth
f its grades, its probable cost, the extent OF
ountry it will command, and the more diversi-
ed produc tons it will transport to us. More
yer, it is IL road actually in course of construc-
on: and. Charleston having already subscrib>
d towards 81, l,O5G,OOO, the aid asked of the i
tate is all that is required to place its compile
on beyond the limits of doub. and uncertainty.
Comparative Table Of Distances.
FROM CINCINNATI. Miles,
o Me,c York-By Buffalo .............. 9I7
BY Erie Rail Road ad........................ S53
BY Erie Canal. .................... 956 C
b PFdadelphia.-By Pittsburg, (present