The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-08-29

OF the ore school system.
Henderson and Nashville and Edgefeld and Ken
lucky Railroad Commercial Advantages-Coal-
Prof saiford's Report.
In our last article, we spoke of the numer-
Gus connections of this road. The influence
of these connections upon the commercial in
terests of Nashville must be important. The
road viii unite the grain growing States of
the North with the planting States of the
South. These two regions lie in different lat
itudes, each furnishing entirely different pro-
auctions, and each needing what the other
produces The Interchange of these produc-
tions has heretofore taken place either at New
Orleans or at the cities of the North. Why
should not this interchange take place at Nash
vile upon the completion of the roadf The
products of the tropics and the planting States
can be concentrated at Nashville as cheaply as
at any other point, and cheaper than in the
Northern States and if we viii add to them,
manufactured products of our own, in conpeti-
ton with the North, which can be done when we
Lave the advantages of this road, she will of
fer superior inducements for this interchange.
Certainly sll the products Of the Northwest,
intended for the interior Of the planting States,
must come to Nashville for distribution. This
road presents the cheapest and shortest route
of communication, and may we not expect that
a large share of the products of that great sec.
ton of the Union, Intended for foreign exports,
will pass over it to the cities of the Southern
Atlantic2 These cities should be important
points for the shipment of Western produce
TO the West India Islands, and South America,
as well as to Europe, and if they will avail
themselves of their advantages, and become re-
liable markets for the purchase and shipment
of Western produce, a large amount will be
drawn over this road for distribution by our
merchants, thereby adding largely to their
commercial interests and success.
But the local advantages of this road are of
still greater and more immediate importance.
After leaving the valley of Cumberland river,
it passes for several miles through country
Astounding in fine timber. This will supply to
your growing city, a very important want 1t
then crosses the waters of Red river, a tribu-
tary of the Cumberland, and enters one OF
the richest agricultural regions of the West,
through the heart of which it passes for 49
miles. The value and variety of its products
may be seen from the fact that it raises annu-
ally upwards of 1000 hhds Of tobacco, up
wards of 100000 bushels Of wheat, q very
large surplus of pork, bacon, cattle, horses and
mules. aud manufactures nearly 100000 bar
rels of -four. Almost every hogshead of this to-
becco, very nearly all its surplus Of pork aud
bacon, and a large proportion Of its -four and
wheat, find their way, in consequence of the
cost of transportation, to markets on the
Cumberland river, below Nashville. This road,
bringing this region within two or three hours
of Nashville, and greatly cheapening transport
tation, must draw a very large share of its sur
plus products TO this market. For furnishing
to this region its supplies, Nashville will pos
sess superior advantages. AS cheap market
for the purchaser, it will have no rival upon the
entire line, and consequently must secure to
itself large share Of the trade of the country
tributary 20 the road.
After passing through this rich agricultural
region, the road strikes the coal beds of Ken
lucky, through which it runs for distance of
l6 miles, and which extend through several
counties of that State. These beds were ex-
amined, two or three years ago, by Professor
J. NJ. Stafford, the present Geologist of Ten
nessee, aud we suhjoin much the larger portion
of his report TO the Mayor and Aldermen of
Nashville, requesting our readers to give it
their earnest attention, as it is upon q sub
iect Of great interest to large majority of
them. Prof Stafford says:
1t affords pleasure TO state in the outset, that
have been very successful in finding an abundance
Of coal of good quality, and SO situated as 10 be
very accessible The beds, or strata, in which, by
the way, many "banksn have already been opened
contained in low ridges and hills right along the
line of the contemplated Railroad, being in many
places but a few yards from it, In the Southern
part Of Hopkins county, there are three of these
strata, all Of which valuable, and one of unu.
sual thickness. The facilities of mining are such,
and the strata themselves 80 heavy, that there can
be no doubt but that with a railroad, such as can
be built from MadsonviIle TO Nashville, to transport
IT, any amount Of coal can be furnished to the city
at from S 10 10 cents bushel
Starting from Hopknssille, and going North along
the line Of the proposed road, pass for about
miles, over the sloping edges Of heavy strata Of
limestone, slate, and sandstone, ali dipping North
ward, and spreading out into broad leaves 20 the
East and West Al this point Il miles from the
latter place, and about 30 from Nashville, We meet
with the first Strai,a, Of eoaL Tits is the lowest OF
che three geOlogioalY, aud the least important Il
is nevertheless, valuable bed, and we're il not 80
near richer ones, would be far more This is the
bed which, for the most part supplies HOpkinsyille
with coal aud even furnishes the blacksmiths ol
Clarksvie, some Of il being carried In wagons
nearly or quite itriy miles. Spreading cut into q
broad leaf as il does, and running through aide
extent Of country, it is capable Of yielding an in
mense amount OF fuel AT the different points
visited it crops oas near the bases Of the los ha.
and ridges its position being very good for mining
Al several Of the banks the coal is dug By sinking
ia the head Of branch, or Ia some low plac1 heai
H. pit eight or ten feet square, through few feel
OF earth and shale. This exposes the surface Of Ia,
coal. which il then easily obtained Al wood
ridges Bank" one Of the most important, the Goa