Tri-weekly union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-186?, 1866-10-27
TENNESSEE PACIFIC or CENTRAL
RAILROAD.
The Road from Nashville 10 Knoxville.
MR.. DEBow's LETTERs-NO. TX.


The Road from Nashville to Knoxville.
MR.. DEBow's LETrERs-NO. Tx.
1t was said in my last that the merits of
the Central road of Tennessee, and its claims
for consideration and favor, are not depend
ent upon, or in in any degree related to the
eventualities of southern route to the Pa
cifc, probable and important as these even
Qualities are, and the further position is
now taken, that without reference to the
Memphis extension, The road 10 KaOrrilie
alone as an Independent proposition, is one
pre-eminently entitled to the attention of
capitalists, and to the attention Of all who
are interested in the progress and prosperity
of Nashville and of the State at large.
A direct road from Nashville to Memphis
is, of course, great desideratum, and it is
in part already accomplished by the inter-
section of our Northwestern with the Mem
phis and Louisville road, thus shortening
the distance very materially, over the route
Uia Decatur and the Memphis and Charles
ton road. 1t is probable that the shrewd,
enterprising and wealthy men Of Memphis
will soon see the necessity Of striking for a
shorter route, which is provided for under
our charter, and it may safely be left to their
enterprise, and that of the Western portion
of the State to move in proper time to Sc
cure it if we do justice to ourselves by effect
ing the connection with Knoxville. 1t will
be time enough to appeal to that portion of
the State when we have shown our faith by
our works in this.
As an Independent proposition then, road
from Nashville to Knoxville rests upon the
following among other considerations
First. 1t intersects and binds together the
great sections of the State, hitherto to some
extent at enmity, and now that the relations
of slavery have ceased, and the main cause
of separation is removed, it guarantees iden-
tity of interests, and will engender COM
mon State pride and affinity between the re-
hottest points. Without such connection the
interests and relations of the mountaineers
are as much, if not more, with other States
than their own, and thus the value of State
nationality is lost.
Second. 1t shortens more than one-third
the distance between the two points, shortens
very greatly our connections with Richmond
and the North by the East Tennessee and
Virginia Improvements, and with Charleston
by the Blue Ridge road, which we shall see
hereafter is almost certain TO be completed.
Third 1t will entef alto active COMPETE
Cincinnati and Louisville may direct upon
the eastern portion of the State, and inter-
sect such roads as strike through our central
division for the trade of Chattanooga and
Northern Georgia and Alabama. This is an
evident proposition, as may be seen by the
map. Already Cincinnati is surveying the
route to Chattanooga. Louisville is moving
quietly but surely in the direction of Knox
Ia, fha Of Of bors
authorities show, which is in turn actively
impressed with the importance of Cincin-
natl connection.
Fourth. Should a direct road be deter
mined upon between Nashville and Cincin-
natl, such as was advocated recently by
committee of our citizens who visited the
great emporium of the West that road must
inevitably form a junction with this, some
where in the vicinity Of Lebanon, and give
to it for an important part of the route the
advantages Of grand trunk road, nth teTHiHi
IN the mountains of Tennessee and upon the
central Ohio. Thus, if we did nothing more
than construct the road to Lebanon, it would
be an important and paying enterprise, and
even without the Cincinnati connection, a
Lebanon and Nashville road loOuId support It,
self as iceH as a5 Of the short roads Of the coll-
try and is as much required.
Fifth. The road will develop virgin conn
try of great capabilities, which is now shut
off from market but which is susceptible of
the largest increasein population and wealth.
Sirth. 1t will open country for new set
Element and for immigration, where cheap |
lands can be had, which are otherwise diff !
cult of attainment in the State, and upon the |
only condition, on which it can be opened, |
to wit, by the opening of new markets.
SeUenth 1t will develop the bOundless i
mineral resources of what has been called |
the Switzerland of America. These re- !
sources have been briefly referred to in |
another paper, and will be still further dis.
cussed hereafter. They have been explained |
and pointed out by Prot. TROosT, in a series
of able essays; have been remarked upon |
by all able Biologists, and shown upon a
chart of the State now before me, prepared |
several years ago by Prof Stafford, the
State Geologist. He locates the coal mea-
sures in Fentress, White, Van Buren,, Bled-
soc, Scott etc, and the iron in Claiborne,
Campbell, Anderson, Roane, Rhea, etc.
Eighth. 1t traverses a country, which, even
in its present condition, presents no greater
physical obstacles than, and is pos
sessed of resources and wealth quite equal to
those of many of the roads that have been
constructed in the last few years, and which
are now successful and prosperous.
The statistics which support tie above
when any are needed, will be
presented at another time.
1t is sufficient to say here that a surveying
party will shortly enter the field, instructed
to make full examination of the route, and
that it will then be practicable to speak
more specifically of its manifold merits.
The character of the engineers will insure a
faithful report and one in which the public
may have entire confidence.