Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-12
For the Nashville Patriot.
Memphis and Charleston Railroad.


HUNTSVILLE, Ala, April 9, 1856.
MEssRs EDIroRs:-The completion of the Mem.
phis and Charleston Railroad from Tuscumbia TO
Stevenson, ria Huntsville, distance of l26 miles,
celebrated on the 9TH inst, by Free Barbecue.
I never before saw such large crowd in Hunts
VILE Thousands present from all parts OF North
Alabama-Georgia and Tennessee had very intel
ligent delegations. The day beautiful, and the
ladies' were out in strong array, in the pride OF
beauty and loneliness. Everything at the festival
scene passed off pleasantly
But it was the business, not the holiday parade
sat down to write you about At the Stockholders
meeting, Br. Samuel Tate, the active, energetic
and able business President of the Road, read his
annual report From it gather few facts connec-
ted with the road, which may interest your readers
/ This Road extends from Stevenson, in Jackson,
Ia ria Huntsville Decatur, Tuscumbia Lagrange,
Tenn, to Memphis. From Stevenson to Tuscum
bia il is flushed passenger aud freight trains runA
ming daily. From Memphis TO Pocshontas, with
/ branch of l3 miles TO Moscow the road is also
finished IS miles-giVing PIC miles Of road in sue.
cessful operation-Iesving gap of II miles be-
portion is all under contract; large number Of
hands are at work upon it. Track laying will COM
mence at both ends in May, the iron, cross ties,
&c, having all been provided. 1t is confidently
believed that the gap will be completed by or du-
ring next January-so that then, the cars will ira
verse the whole road-2S7 miles-giving West
Tennessee, North Mississippi, and North Alabama,
uninterrupted railroad connection with the whole
system of railroads in the United States-making
the railroad distance from Memphis to Nashville $50
miles, and the time about SO hours.
To complete this road the company require about
$275,0OO in addition to present means. This il is
proposed to raise by the sale Of its own bonds It
has been, thus far, most judiciously and success
fully managed. Its liabilities have all been promptly
met, and its credit maintained. 1t is homemade
road, built by individual subscriptions, with the aid
that your noble State has afforded. 1t is Southern
road binding the most remote parts together, uniS
ting the mighty Mississippi with the South Atlantic
seacoasts-connectng too through East Tennessee
and Southwest Virginia, with the great Eastern
Cities the most direct, best, and quickest route.
1t is bound to be both large passenger and freight
road a. its location is admirable, its not to be
surpassed and its grade low, exceeding Sc feet
to the mile, and its curves slight. 1t has been COM
structed in the most substantial manner; its bridges
across the Tennessee River and smaller streams
models of strength it masonry work has been of
the best its cross ties large and heavy; its iron
rail (the kind) is 90 lbs to the yard and the
size used on the whole road turnouts snd all.
The cost Of the whole road is put down at $5,-
2l5, 962; the expenditures have been So, 664-
leaving the balance required to finish the road and
equip it, $l,4I5,277 It's other liabilities amount
to 1854 49, and its available assets 81 69S $685.
showing that 1878, 727 of means have yet to be
provided to finish the road This will, no doubt, be
raised along the line, among the stockholders and
others interested in its completion by the sale of its
first mortgage per cent. bonds, at such rates as
the Directors may elect to take. They are the best
investment in the country.
The business of the disconnected Eastern divi-
sion of the road for the past year. has been $54 79i
an increase of $l4 OS9 the year previous. It's
business this year. from increased distance and new
connections, cannot fail of showing a heavy in.
The track is in good order, and the trains
are run with and regularity. On the Western
memphis DIVISION the receipts for the past year
have been $3.50 against $3.50 ,s22 tie year pre-
vious-au increase OF SIG Ol4-exhbiting a most
encouraging prospect in the future. The net earn
ngs were $l4O S63-the expenses of operating
both divisions were only 45 per cent On the West.
ern division the net earnings equal to 1874 per
cent on its cost from local business alone The net
earnings on the whole road, when it is completed,
are estimated by the President to be equal to from
10 to l23 per cent on its cost after paying all ex>
penscs!
This road opens up a bright future for Huntsville
and all North Alabama. It's beneficial effects are
already developing themselves, and the commence
uert hes ust been seen.