Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-30
Alabama Central Railroad.

We present below communication from
practical engineer, touching the above
road, and invite the attention of business
men and capitalists in Nashville to it. This
road is designed to run from Decatur
(Ala.) to the Tennessee and Alabama
State line, and to connect there with the
Tennessee and Alabama road, a portion of
which is now in use. 1t has heavy claims
upon Nashville, whose business will be
largely augmented by its construction. DIR.
JONATHAN MCDONALD, the President of the
road, is at present on visit to our city,
for the purpose Of forwarding the interests
of the road. We learn from him that a
subscription of $75, 900 stock is still neces-
sary before the road can be commenced.
Will not citizens of Nashville subscribe
this amount?
We shall have something to say in re-
gard to the merits of the road when we
have more room than we can spare to-day.
EDITOR OF THE nashville PATRIOT
DEAR SIR The interest you take in the subject
of Rail Road communication, and the intimate Rail
Road interests and business relations, that exist be
tween the city OF Nashville and the Tennessee val
" in Alabama. will be sufficient apology for adj
dressing you on the present occasion my object
being at the instance Of our Rail Road friends here
TO cIll the attention OF Capitalists in the city OF
Nashville to the subject of the Tennessee and Alas
DaH and ~
sons why they should aid 10 the construction OF
this Road, by subscription to its stock. Nashville
from her position and commercial importance, her
rail road facilities aud the enterprisng spirit and
energy Of her population must and will control the
mercantile trade OF this valley This once secured
her merchants very naturally will control the busi.
ness resulting from the exchange IN the agricultu.
raj production Of this district OF country, whether
il regards their consumption, or their tranship-
ment TO another market.-Being port of entry,
combined with her facilities of rail road trans porta,
lion, her merchants will find it to their interest," to
import directly all goods OF foreign manufacture, il
they do not now, and the country merchant will
soon find, he supply himself in Nashville upon
a favorable terms as he can 10 Boston, New York,
Charleston or New 0rleaul-lt therefore would
seem TO be the policy Of your merchants and citi
generally, TO encourage and invite the trade OF
this rich agricultural district of country by extend
q
those lines Of REORGANIZATION that Will ensble
citizens to enjoy the most direct and expedite
Gus transit between your city and the central pore
tion ofthe Tennessee valley.-ltis true, ueare now
in Rail Road connection with Nashville, but the
route is circuitous aud 10 fact nconvenient TO all
the counties in North Alabama, north OF the Sand
Mountain, except TO Jackson, compared with what
the facilities would be, If rail road were opened
directly from Nashville, through Columbia, Pulaski
and Athens to Decatur. The opening Of this road
woul st once secure the transportation OF merchan
disc, passengers and produce OF the whole OF this
valley, west Of Huntsville and Gunter's Landing
without transhipment and this consideration alone
would seem TO furnish Sufficient reason why Nash.
vile should step forward aud aid in opening this
communication. But there are other considerations
Of far more imposing weight The Central Rail
Road has an importance in iIs prospective charac-
ter, which places second in rank, 70 no road that
can be constructed on this continent lie terminus
on the South, will not be Decalur-ss when CON-
pleted and in operation to that point no eontingen
ey car arise to prevent its terminus from being 81
ed upon the Gulf Of Mexico. either at Pensacola or
Mobile. When completed 10 Decstar, by means Of
the Memphis and Charleston Rail Road, Nashville,
viii be in connection with Mobile. And by Means
Of branch road, running through the Counties OF
LAwreaee, Marion and Psyetie, 10 Colanbgs, Miss,
il win be finally exteoded 10 eounees With the No
bile and Ohio and also With the Sew Orleans, jack
500 and Nashville road, thus making the terminus
Of one Of is bifarcAtions At Ncw Orleans. ECr
gill Nashville be iEs northern terminus. lie dessi
ny Wal be to connect the Great Lakes wish the
Gulf Coast.
These sieus are no Wild, and enthusiastic visions
Of the Imagination. history Of the progress
OF Rail Roads OF The lact twenty year, justly the
prediction, the commercial interests Of the eosaus
demand its construction aud necessity wil force f
70 eompletOa. One consideration aloae. uill force
it throagh-aad tast i. the supply o. fuel 20 our
stesm marine employed IN the GelL Il h kBosu