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


her than Cincinnati, as from them also rail
roads diverge in almost countless numbers to
the Lakes and the Mississippi.
The Memphis and Charleston Rail Road
likewise, to be finished in eighteen months, and
already earning profitable freights on the COM
pleted portions, gives to the Blue Ridge Rail
Road a connexion with Memphis. These almost
countless Rail Roads,f extending over many
thousand miles, and few of them any existence
in 1886. They are now facts and Of numerous
come lions, penetrating vast and fertile regions,
are of any advantage 20 great trunk line run
ming TO the ocean. and to the point of termina-
tion; how vastly then are the reasons multiplied
in our day in favor of passage across the
mountains, rs compared with twenty years ago,
when scarcely any of them existed.
5. Some of the Rail Roads already compile
tee. and the completion of others now in pro-
gress,wil' not only arrest the increase ofomtrade,
but take from us portion of that we now have
unless prompt measures to prevent it. 1t is well
known that our trade suffers great Interruptions
and embarassments in passing through GeDr-
gia, now our only channel to the West; and was
it not that portion of the Georria line Of Rail
Road is identified with us in interest. (the con-
sequence of geographical position onlv,) still
greater obstacles would probably he thrown in
our way; if we should not be altogether exclu-
ded from participation in the convenience and
ha,.GtS ooor,;r, G,o, H.,
In the opposite direction, portion or our
trade, and from which we expect the largest in
crease is in still greater danger. 1t will he
seen by reference to the map. that a railroad is in
in rapid progress from Richmond. Petersburg
and Norfolk in the direction of Knoxville
The two former have insufficient depth of wa
ter to be rivals of Charleston at this time; but
the achievements of science are we'll known
The Clyde has been deepened from q to q
feet, permitting the largest vessels to reach
Glasgow; and Richmond aad Petersburg may
at some not very distant day campete success
fully for their share Of the trade of East Tens
nessee. But Norfolk, and Portsmouth oppc-
site are accessible to the largest vessels.
and have an open harhor at all seasons of the
year. Now, Richmond and Petersburg are IS
miles from Knoxville, and Norfolk about 525
miles. They stand about midway between
Charleston and New York, the great centre Of
American commerce and the depot for every
description Of domestic manufactures and for
-or= -".ot erIauusoc. rrUm UnarIeSron 10 nnoX-
Vile, through Georgia, our only present route is
5l9 miles. With 300 miles less of sea naviga
ton, therefore, and with rail road in direct
line with New York, only five or six miles long
er than our present channel of communication
with Knoxville, can any one doubt that Fast
Tennessee, and the entire country, of which
Knoxville is the centre, must and will draw
its supplies of merchandise. cnt'erv and goods
Of every kind, from New York through Norfolk;
and that supplies Of coffee, sugar, and other
productions of the West Indies an South
America, viii be drawn from Norfolk. also, to
great extent? And can we he blind to the
fact, that under the circumstances stated, so
far from the trade of Charleston increasing
from this section, it is far more likely to be di-
minished, and that she will lose the little that
she has, unless shorter route can he found?
Fortunately the Blue Ridge Rail Roal furnish
es that short route. By it, Charleston to Knox
vile will be 4O2 miles, possibly something un-
DER One hundred and twenty five miles less
of rail road transportation, which is the dear
est, is an ample offset to 800 miles Of sea nav-
CATION, which is the cheapest The remedy is.
therefore, within the power of the State; if she
viii bat stretch forth her arm to rescue her own
seaport from the danger that threatens her from
50 fatal a rivalry.
New York is too far removed from Charles
ton and from the great Western Cities to be
regarded as a rival. Her position must ever
give her an absorbing influence. and, as the
great centre of trade, she will always have the
lions share, even with the odds of distance
against her. Philadelphia stands somewhat in
the same position towards us, bGi less degree
Baltimore is nearer to us. and her distance from
Cincinnati, when the Marietta and NORTH Wes
tern Roads are completed, will be less than
from Charleston to Cincinnati about 80 miles
She is much more likely to be competitor
in supplying our own market with Western
productions: but the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
Road has l6 miles of grade, of l6 feet to the
mile, on either side of the mountain; while the
highest descending grade on the Blue Ridge
Rail Road viii be 45, and the highest ascending
60 feet. The difference in grades will more
than equivalent to the difference in length of
the two roafs so taking into view that Baltimore
is 200 miles from the ocean, Charleston, and
more especially the interior of the State. would
find it to their advantage to draw their supplies
direct across the mountains over their own road.
Looking therefore to all that has been stated:
LIST, The opinions of leading men for twenty
five years past as to the necessity for connex-
ion with the Great West; the population and
wealth of the country then, compared with
what it is now. and the springing up of new
towns, which did not exist then;
I'd, That the Blue Ridge Rail Road will con.
meet US with Alabama and Mississippi;
Sd, That it will make Charleston the nearest
seaport to the copper mines of East Tennessee,