Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-13
oCrOnER u, Isss.
TENNESSEE PACIFIC OR CENTRAL.
RAILROAD.


rendered by complimentary vote ID,
Presidency Of the Great Central Railroad Of
Tennessee, chartered BY a recent act OF In,
Legislature, ! did not feel at liberty to de
cline, Notwithstanding the difficulties Of IN,
position, and the ceaseless energies which
will be necessary, il this important enter
prise is 10 be carried through. Having e.
tablished myself il the State and located nv
pecnniary and other interests here, I have 4
direct and tangible interest in all that make.
for her prosperity and especially the pros
perity Of her wealthy and beautiful Capital
A citizen Of the South, identified with It's
fortunes for veal or for voc; devoted 10 it,
welfare and interest, / have applied myself
from early life to the development of our
enterprise and wealth, and have lived long
enough 10 witness the most gratifying results
and the abundant success Of hundreds Of
undertakings, regarded in their ineipiency
TO be impracticable. In the twenty years
which include my connection with these
movements, may be condensed the whole
history nearly Of our internal improvement
system system which dement's and binds
together our States; which has built up our
cities and developed our interior; added in
definitely 10 the value Of our lands and to
our physical, moral and other comforts The
most OF these roads have, in addition, paid
handsome dividends 20 their proprietors
and stockholders, and all will undOubt-
edly do 30 when our affairs again become
settled.
Notwithstanding what has been effected
an inspection Of the map, and a cOnsidera-
ton Of the character OF the country demon
strate that we are Bat IN the middle and mol
at the end Of our Ldb0rs. Vast and important
connections are yet 10 be made great sec
tons are to be opened wealth now ihacces-
sible is 20 be brought forth, the mountains,
the sea shore and the rivers are to be brought
nearer and nearer to each other. Another
twenty years Of construction will not do
more than bring US TO the stand point which
the Northern States have reached to-day in
their railroad results, and yet these States
still press on. Sir MORTON Pro, the emf
nent English railroad protector, stated in
his recent visit TO this country, that "it was
impossible to drop a railroad anywhere in
American that would not pay"
Il is gratifying 10 know that the people Of
the South are awake upon the subject Of their
material interests, and that they are reyiving
and pressing with spirit and energy all
the great railroad enterprises or conceptions
which were interrupted BY the war. and that
they have risen from the ashes Of their mis-
fortunes with renewed spirit and energies,
and with the vast improvement which the
conflict engendered.
When our political affairs are settled, and
that cannot be long delayed with people so
eminently practical as the American, and
when all interests so loudly call for IT, the
South will enter upon a career Of prosperity
which nothing in the past has equalled.
Her vast resources will invite capital and
labor from all the world and will compen-
safe many fold for what has been lost Man
uiactures will spring up everywhere, our
abundant minerals viii be worked, our
towns and villages and cities will exhibit
life and activity. We need not apprehend
any pause in the advance Of such people.
In 1916 / visited for the first time the
great West as delegate to the Convention
at Memphis, where nearly all Of the South
ern and Western States were represented,
and well remember the enthusiasm which
was began TO be engendered in behalf Of in
ternal improvements, and the plaudits which
rang through the hall when Mr.. CALHOUN,
the President, declared that in regard to all
the railroad schemes in contemplation, he
Soutlcra soaboard wih he Mississippi Valley
rs he most important. 1t threw open mark
cts for Western produce at all times and all
seasons. The Mississippi might be blocka-
ded and the produce Of the valley would not
be left 10 perish. In less than tUenb years,
said he, the West piH be engaged an delibera-
fi0ns 10 crtend is connection S0ih he Pacific as
Il is nor pith tLc Aflgntic, and he connection
ieiH be as intimate Biih the one as Nth the
other"
In a series Of brief papers, Of which this
is the first, delayed until the disappearance
Of the epidemic from among us, propose
10 discuss, land trust that
You will give me your careful attention, and
that the newspapers Of the State will repub-
lish the series, the whole subject Of our
railroad system; what effect the railroads
exercise upon town and country; how Nash
Vile stands in relation to them, and what !
will be IFS future; what is the duty Of our |
holders and capitalists; what are
The proposed advantages Of the Central or
Pacific Railroads.&c. country which il will /
traverse, the practicability Of the route, its /
sost and mode Of raising il, and will the en-
erprise prove remunerative?
When the series Is completed, / shall en-
leayor to meet the people Of the country 10
,e traversed by the road, but bespeak in adj
rance the cooperation of its active and |
eading citizens upon whom the success Of |
he enterprise must in great part depend.
Your obedient servant
j. ID. B. DEBow,