Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-26
TENNESSEE PACIFIC OR CENTRAL
RAILROAD.
The Road from Nashville to Knoxville
MR.. DEBow's LETTERs-No.K.

MR.. DEBow's LETTERs-No.N.
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 70 the
eventualities of a 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 70 KaorriUe
alone, as an Independent proposition, is one
prominently 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
pia 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
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 10 ourselves by effect
ing the connection with Knoxville. It 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 a 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. It 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 enter into active COMPETE
ton with any road which the enterprise of
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 BE direction of Knox
vile, as the recent action of her railroad
authorities show, which is in turn actively
impressed with the Importance of Cincin-
natl connection.
Fourth. Should 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 junction with this, some
where in the vicinity of Lebanon, and give
to it for an important part of the route the
advantages Of a grand trunk road, nth ternlini
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,
Lebanon and Nashville road tCould support IL
self as toeu as any Of the short roads Of tie ooun-
t1y and is as much required
Fifth. The road will develop virgin coun-
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 a 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.
Sepend. 1t will develop the boundless
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 Prof 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
sdssed 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 the above
propositions 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 |
faithful report and one in which the public |
may have entire confidence.
INTERESTING STATISTICS OE FOH.