Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-18

E.sF TENNESSEE AND VIRGINIA RAILROAD. |
The completion Of this road, running from Bris-
tol on the Virginia line and at the western terminus
Of the virginia and Tennessee road, to Knoxville
tbs pasteru tersinus Of the East Tennessee end
Georgia road is the most important event which has
vet occurred il the history Of the railroad enter
prises Of the southwest; because, although the
work is Of less magnitude than several Others yet
the others we're incomplete without it. It lacks
now but the completion Of the road from Lynch
burg 70 Charlottesville, in Virginia, and that from
Chattanooga to Cleveland in this State beth in
ronid nrogress and with ample means to finish the
nearest practicable air line from Memphis and Nash
vile TO New York and even before those roads are
completed, the route through East Tennessee and
Virginia is much shOrther than any other.
The last rail vas laid On the East Tennessee and
Virginia road last Friday; and on that day cars
passed over the entire line, and thus the great work
Of uniting the tide-Waters of Virginia with the
Mississippi is completed This line Of railroad, as
is truly remarked by correspondent Of the Bristol
Nslgs, from the Chesapeake Bay to the mighty Mis-.
sissippi can be looked upon only as great work;
great in overcoming almost insurmountGbee engineer
ing difficulties great in its magnitude Of cost; but
greater still in its effects upon the social and
peouniary interests Of the country through which it
is made Passing for its entire length along or near
fertile valleys Of unsurpassed saubrity and fertl
~. and through q region Whish has been for sea-
son comparatively shut out from intercourse with
the modern moving world Of progress, its effect,
upon this whole region of country ca hardly oe
conceived by the most lively Imagination
Sixty years age, when the State Of Tennessee vas
being settled this route was the one by which most
Of the foreign goods used in the Sta'e were intro
duced as at that time the nearest cities where they
could be procured we're Baltimore and Alexandria;
/ and from those places, the "Kentucky wagons, "
with their teams of unparalleled strength, wendell
their way with slew but progress along almOst
the identical route now followed By the railroad;
snd not only all of the State Of Tennessee, but the
Northern part Of the States Of Alabama and Mis-
sissippi were supplied in this manner.
The Introduction of the use Of steam on the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers changed the course of trade
for the Western part Of Tennessee; but for long
time all East Tennessee depended upon this route
for supplies The building of railroads In South
Carolina and Georgia changed the course of the
merchandise for large region Of country hitherto
supplied by those famous wagons, and for some ten
years this route has been great thoroughfare for
travellers or merchandise. The finishing of this
railroad again restores this country the position
it occupied before steam was introduced on the
Western rivers; and now with steam against steam
the old order of things will be restored, and goods
for all of East Tennessee and the northern parts Of
the States on its Southern border will pass over this
route making the stock Ofthe different roads profit
able, and giving new life and increased prosperity
to the towns along the line
: Multitudes of travellers must necessarily be at
tracted to this route by its general coincidence viii
the greatest amount of travel one course, by tht
salubrity Of the climate by the many attractions o.
beautiful mountain scenery or health-restOriDl
springs; and TO this travel we look to show the full
value of q railroad in all its varied powers Of pTae
tica usefulness, the inviting prospect for almos
any kind of manufacturing which the numerous anC
excellent water-pOwers, and abundant supply o
many Of the most important articles of raw material
will induce capitalists and mechanical skill of every
class to locate ct the different towns along the line