Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-04-29
OUR RAuRoADs

ThebuildingO of thsNashviIea nd Chattanooga Rail-
road has increased the business and trade of Nash
vile greatly beyond the anteipatiOns Of the most san
guine friends Of that arduOus and magnificent an
terprise. To say that every department Of trade
has been quadrupled, would we believe be rather
under than above the mark. From an inOOnsidera-
bic retail market off during the greater portion
Of the year from all communication with the great
markets Of the North as well as the South, Nash
vile has grown to be the great wholesale center OF
supply to rich agricultural region which relies al
most entirely upon the products Of Tennessee indus
try to feed and oothe the hands that cultivate their
cotton and rice fields And although other interests
have net kept pace with the growth Of the grocery
and produce trade yet impetus has been given to
them such as in the previous history Of the city is
nowhere recorded. This gratifying state of things
is owing almost solely to the Nashville and Chatta-
nooga road. And we believe that any man, with the
facts before him, would unhesitatingly say that
Nashville would still be largely the gamer by the
road if the whole or double the amount Of stock
subscribed to this road, were sunk entirely result
Of which however, there is no present probability.
The question very naturally arises then, if the
pletion of road has done SO much for US, would
it not be to our interest pecuniarily to extend all
the aid in our power to other roads of acknowledged
Importance to the trade and business of our city
Most undoubtedly, we say. Now we do not wish to
be understood as advocating the subscription by the
city towards these objects, for generally and upon
principle, we opposed to the system of railroad
subscriptions by counties and corporations. But it
clearly the duty and the interest of cap
.,1=-
ton of these great works all the eOuntenance and
aid-msterial aid-in their power. We know that
many Of them have already generously extended
helping hand to these great public enterprises Yet
others have done little or nothing in their behalf
A united and hearty effort the part Of those in
teresed in these lines Of road earnestly, seconded
as they doubt will be by the counties along the
different routes, would result in their speedy COM
pletion. Some we know, hold back and say the
roads Dil be built, and shall derive the benefit of
them much as those who own the stock That is
very true, allowing always that there are not too
many such men as youin the community. Butts this
geAerOus-is it just to tax your neighbOr with the
enhancement of your property, while you are willing
to contribute nothing to that object? But we have
hope of reaching the pockets Of such individuals
by appeals to their generosity, nor indeed was it
for any such purpose that proposed to write this
article.
We set cut with the design of inviting the Httsn-
ton Of our citizens generally, and wholesale dry
goods merchants especially, to the Importance Of
tive roads in particular, now under construction.
We Gllude to the Nashville and Northwestern and
the Central Southern. These roads, bringing the
rich valley the Tennessee river, for five hundred
miles, in direct and speedy connection with Nash
vile, are destined to effect complete revolution in
the wholesale dry goods trade of the city. They
viii build up and make Nashville in this respect what
they have made Louisville. For the great prepon-
dsrance of this over other branches of trade, the
last named city is, in great degree, indebted to the
market furnished by the Tennessee Valley. Upon
the completion Of these roads, this trade will inevi
tably be transferred to Nashville The keen sight
ed Louisville jObber already fOresses this result and
We should not be surprised long to witness the
removal Of some of them to this city. Let them
come-we shall have ample room and verge enough
for all Nor will the increase be confined to the dry
goods trade, but a corresponding stimulus will be
impaired to every department of business.
The Central Southern Road passes for its entire
lIOn ODluulDl6 10 D6CdluI . leILl46
and wealthy country, and has already secured means
ample for its construction. It's completion to the
Tennessee line, if not to Decatur, early in the year
1859, may be counted = certainty. The direc
tory the stockholders, and the people enthusi-
astic for its speedy construction, and it will be push
ed through without delay.
We heartily wish that We could speak with the
same confidence of the early completion of the Nash
vile and Northwestern That the road will be built
the bare fact that Col STEvBNsoN has undertaken it.
is ample guaranty. With him there is no such word
as fail. But there are circumstances surrounding
it, which render it a task of ordinary magnitude
and one that will tax the eIertions Of its friends to
their utmost to push it forwsr to early compile
ton The end of the route next Nashville, lying in
poor and thinly populated country, the road mast
depend in great degree upon funds raised st the
termin for its construction to the Tennessee river
| We therefore appeal to citizens in body and
especially to those directly interested to step for
ward and again signalize their public spirit and lib
crafty, by extending generous, helping hand to
this, as we regard it, the most important Of all our
| railroad enterprises.