Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-07-31
THE RAILROAD.

audience at the courthouse In tniS
place last Wednesday, on the subject
of the proposed Railroad. The speech
was plain, practical, common sense,
to the reason, and carrying
conviction Of the trEth Of the posi-
tons assumed. He showed by fair
and legitimate argument, which is sus-
tanned by the experience of other
counties, that if Lincoln county builds
the Road, the increase in the price Of
corn, wheat, and other products, for
one or two years after the Road is in
operation. will pay for the whole cost
of construction. So that the question
is resolved into one proposition:--
whether we will, continuing as we now
are, realize less for what we raise than
those counties Immediately around
US, which possess less rich soil, and
a people no more Industrious, than
our own, or by improving the present
opportunity, subscribe the stock ne.
cessary, and thus secure market that
will, by the enhanced price received
for what we have to sell, give US this
great improvement in one or two
years time, free Of cost.
But the advance in our productions
will not be the only advantage. Mon
ey will be more plentiful our salt,
sugar, and other household necessities,
will come cheaper, because it viii cost
less to transport them-labor will be
more in demand, and Of course com.
nland better prices. These are always
the effects of the building of Rail.
roads, and the consequent advance il
the value Of lands and that land does
increase in price, can be amply and
satisfactorily demonstrated: Georgis
lands, that we're in the market il
1916 at from ten to fifty cents pei
Iacre, commanded in 1049-when the
Chattanooga Railroad was in opera
tion-from ten to twenty dollars
The same Road, in its extension from
Chattanooga to Nashville, passes
Through the counties Of Franklin, Bed
ford, Rutherford and Dayidsonj an6
the Auditors books for those countie:
lshow an advance in the value of theil
property of two million five hundred
and ffty-four thousand six hundred
and thirty-nine dollars in one year
$50 of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
lands that had been in the marke
without purchaser for thirty years
have since the laying out OF tina
Road advanced to three, and in many
| instances as high as eight dollars pc
acre. In South Carolina, Col. Gads
: den, State Superintendent, affirm
that "the immense increased value i'm
, parted to lands is from 500 to 500t
per cent" In Massachusetts,, Rail
roads have more than doubled tn
value Of property, as exhibited il
! the Auditors reports, and have re
, duced the average rate of taxation
> more than one-half. The increase Q
. value is not confined to the immedi
ate vicinity Of the lines, though G
course greatest in those localities; i
proof of which we may cite the fac
! that in 1S49 the value of property i
those counties of Massachusett
through which no Railway passes eS
! hibited an increase, compared wit
the value in 1910, of $156,000,00C
! as the effect of the indirect power {
} such improvements. The same rul
would cause Road to Fayettevill
!, : to affect every acre of land in thi
county, however remote-and in al
increased ratio, because nearer to th
route.
j Build the Railroad from this plac
: to the Rock Spring, and the sam
} state of things will exist in Lincol
county-for like causes must an
will produce like results. Whateve
j is done must be done quickly. if tn
State bounty is taken into the calcu
. lation. In the opinion of experience