Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-15

passing B3 DOr0et42ss O&feuasounQs NaroOhIss anu
other important towns The Canal du Centre COM
msnces at ChalOns, and proceeds to DgOin On the
Loire. The Rhone and Rhine Canal untes these
two rivers, ard with the Burgundy Canal proceed !
ing from the Saone, and one other, communicates
with the river Seine. These three great canals, it
viii be seen, unite the Rhone, Loire, Seine, and |
Rhine, and gives easy access from any one Of them
into the ether three.
France is divided into four great rail sections or
districts. and there is one company organized for
each section with capital sufficient to construct such
works as are designated by the acts of inc'rpora-
ton These lines are projected as to form per-
feet system, connecting every important town and !
district of country with Paris, as the great central
point, and from that city giving direct transit to
other portions of Europe. 0ae Of these sections
fronts towards England, includes what may be term
ed the Military Division of Franee-Brest and Cher
bourg are embraced il this section. One embraces
the eouatry bordering upon Belgium, another the
Eastern portion Of France, while the fourth, and
most important to u.s. embraces the central portions
of the Empire including the city of Paris.
There are Eve main trunk lines of railroad, with
double tracks las are the other roads of Franoe,)
running from the coast of the English Channel TO
Paris. viz: from Dunkrk, Calais, Boulogne,
Dieppe. and Ravre. trunk line extends from
! Paris 10 srasbourg ard from that point passes
south along the valley Of the Rhine, to Basel;
Their proceeds south to Orleans where it forks,
| branch going TO Yarermts, and the-Otber TO BOr-
/ dsaux. At Tours it communicates with the railway
| to ST. Nazaire, On the Loire. Another great trunk
line commences at Marseiles, and runs to AregnoD,
and from that point, extending nOrthWard, meets
the main trunk line from Paris to Lyons. The same
facilities from the coast of the English Channel to
Paris are also furnished from the Mediterranean and
Atlantic coasts. A line of railway also passes
along the coast of the Mediterranean and near the
boundary of Spain, for a considerable distance.
The great lines thus radiating in every direction
from Paris, as the common centre, are crossed and
interseoted by lateral lines either built in
Of constructions so that there is not an important
district of the Empire that is not reached by rail
road The canals and railroads of France, taken
together, make one Of the most complete and mag
nifcent systems of Internal Improvement ever de-
Sised or carried out in any other country. While
furnishing every facility for the development Of
French resources the system connects itself easily
with the net work systems of other countries, so
infinitely that with proper outlets it will Of neces
sity draw of large amount of foreign trade that
now passes through England. But this system Of
improvements looks to ocean outlets and ocean ia
oilities as essential to complete success. 1t is by
these adjunots that France can hope to become the
commercial rival of Great Britain.
The Loire river is the best navigable stream in
France. There is a barbor at the mouth of the
] c.
point for Nantes and other interior towns, aud the
eastern terminus of the proposed line Of ocean
steamers Not satisfied with the natural advantages
of this harbOr, the French government has lately
constructed a basin, a cost of four millions of
dollars having about 25 feet of wafer, and of suf
cient dimensions to contain one hundred and fifty
merchant vessels Of large size. Around these
improvements immense Notifications are also being
erected so as to give protection both from hostile
fleets and devastating storms No one, sir, can sur
vey the movements of the present French Ruler,
but will be satisfied that the continental plans Of
his great kinsmsn are being carried out; but they
have been stripped of their military sPpeDdages,
and that he has thrown around them the becoming
and more graceful drapery of peace.
St. Nazare is within twelve hours travel Of Paris
and within less than that time of the other impOr-
taut towns and cities Of France. The direct road
to Paris is up the valley of the Loire which is cons
sdsred the garden spot of France, and contains the
most refined and wealthy portion of the French
population. Il passes by Nantes, Tours, Orleans,
and other important commercial and manufacturing
cities This road is intersected by various lines
leading from different portions of the country, and
crosses many Of the principal canals with which
that country abounds The continental traveller is
taken Immediately on to Paris, and from that city can
End direct conveyance to almost any part Of Europe
II we are correct to the difference of time, pas
senger from Norfolk by the proposed line of steam
ers, can be placed in Paris nearly "a hours in ad
vance Of the passenger from New York TO Liverpool
Your Ezcellenoy will, know, appreciate the ad-
vantsges of this European terminus, ard will con-
oude, no doubt tina. an immense travel and trade
would concentrate at that point That lucrative
import and export trade would be carried on be-
tween the two countries is absolutely certain, and
just in prop Jrton lines are increased from
sournern ports, viii the prosperity Of the South be
increased. and the shaekles Of northern domination
begin to give way.
will state very briefly before concluding, that
the great Central Railroad section of France is IN
der the control of the Orleans company, which is
located at Paris. This section embraces the silk
raising and vine-groWing portions of France. 1t
includes population of about twelve millions Of
people, and that comprising the most intelligent, re-
fined, and wealthy portions of the empire The
Orleans company has capital of nearly nine hun
dred millions of francs being the weathiest corpo-
ration in the world. This company has also 1850
miles of Railroad now in operation, and yielding a
nett dividend of from 10 to y per cent, besides
large amounts being set apart to the contingent
fund. The Orleans company has lately entered into
an agreement with one of the most distinguished
and reliable men of the South, who sent to Eu-
rope as agent of the Bristol Railroad Convention,
by which it is proposed to unite in establishing the
line of steamers SO often spoken of in these letters
The terms offered by that company are exceedingly
fair and such as individuals and companies in the
South should at once accede to. But my letter is
already sufficiently extended, will reserve de-
tailed notice of this proposition for a subsequent
communication. Truly, yours,
Memphis, Oct 10, 1858. R. G. PAYNE.
An Extraordinary Proceeding.
Last week we mentioned the tacI that c. Powell &
Co., of this place. had by the defiant position aiken
B. the East Tennessee and vi ginia Railroad Com
pany, been def ated in attempts collect judgments
| against the company, TO the amount of ffteeI hun