Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-17

Making the length of the Central Trunk line
from Pensacola or Mobile 10 Nashville. by way
of Mobile Selma doth lines being about the
same length, four hundred and sixty SIX mules,
and about near an 'hir line can be OBJ
tanned. 1t will not be amiSs to mention some
of the advantages arising 10 this line by means
of its connections aud crossings, rs well rs the
character of the country and productions through
which It passes.
From Nashville TO Decatur it traycrscs the rich
est portion of Middle Tennessee. At Decatur.
which is the centre of the Tennessee valley, 1t
crosses the Tennessee river, where II intersects
with the Memphis and Charleston railroad, a dis
lance of one hundred and eighty miles from
Memphis, Leaving Decatur, il reaches Monte
yallo, having passed through, centrally, the min
eral regions of Alabama, which, according 10 Pro-
ieSsor Tourney, state Geologrt abounds IN IRON
and coal and according TO which statement, the
road runs through ar area of about 5000 square
miles of coal which, having been tested, Is found
to bC well adapted 10 steam marine purposes.
At Elyton, thirty miles north of Muntevallo, II
crosses the Northwest and Southwest railroads
which, going southwest, extends into the state OF
Mississippi, and by the connection of this road as
near a route is offered from Nashville to New Or
leans as 10y that of any other route now projected
At Mouteyallo 1t intcrsccts with the Alabama
and Tennessee Rivers railroad. At this point two
liDrs are presented going Southto Mobile or Pen
sacula, the one by way Of MONTGOMERY and the
other at Selma. At Selma number of roads are
built and being built, extending into the very
heart of the cotton growing region oil Alabama
and Mississippi.
At this point and at Montgomery the Alabama
river affords a good navigation 10 Mobile Tor the
greater portion of the year. At Montgomery a
aumber of roads are being built leading IN every
direction from the city.
The most important one to them and to the
main line" aside from the main line 10 Pen
sacCla and MOBILIZE is the Montgomery and Euia-
Ia road, which. running m n sOuthcaStCly dlrcc-
ton, penctrates the richest and most extensive
cotton growing region of Alabama and Southwest
Georgia, and 1t IS designed by this road to reach
the Atlantic at Brunswick. At Pollard the two
main lines, viz: by the way of Montgomery and
Selma, come together, when they connect with
the roads leading directly 10 Mobile ana ZEN
SacOla.
when there will he Central Trunk railway extend
ing from the Gulf TO your city and beyond the
Lakes, which will traverse almost every degree Of
lautude-eycry character, and every variety OF
IL is a striking fact in the principle Of con
Wructing public thoroughiares, and especially Is
IL trIe when applied {" railways, that that ioca-
ton Is most remunerative as an Investment rs
well rs most beneficial, when constructed across
parallels Of latitude. The reason Is obvlous' the
productions Of ATTITUDES differ, and there must of
necessity be an interchange Of accommodates. How
then viii the construction OF tins central trunk
affect commerce.
In my Judgment, IL takes no prophetic eye to
discern the result. and II bchoOVcS the CONNER
cal men of your city, well N Of those cities ~
ing beyond you, To examine well into this matter.
and see the bearing the opening up of this great
thoroughiarc viii have upon your future com
mercc.
Two causes have operated very greatly TO the
detrimcnt OF the commerce of the ports upon the
South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. One Is the
y.sitatons during the summer months of that
dreadful scourgc of the South, yellow fever; the
Others is the opacity of their harborS 10 admit
any but the smaller class vessels.
Every one of them, without single exception,
having communication with the interior are mac
ccsshlc 60 the large class vessels and suffer more
OF less from the yellow fever; and without dwell
ling upon this point | repeat that these two
causes have done more 10 lnlurc and destroy thS
commercial interests of the South Atlantic and
Gulf ports than every other cause combined.
Remove these difficulties from Charleston and |
Nom tlrlpnng aud thu rnsulf their commerce
can he hardly computed. Pensacola Is, perhaps,
tho best, II not the only good harbor upon the |
Gulf. and is the best in the Southern states, eN-
ccpt Norfolk. IL viii admit vessels drawing twcn-
ty-two feet water. IL Is also remarkable for Its
hcalthiulncSS. Mobile under system ot dredg- |
ing, lately adopted, Is cndeaVurnE, and II Is con
hdeutly believed. will greatly improve her har- |
bor. When Pensacola and Mobile shall have com |
plctcd the various lines Of railway now projected
and under construction, extending in almost ey- |
cry direction into the interior especially the Cen
trail Trunk Railway, they will become easy of ac-
cess from all sections of the Union:
And, furthermore, with all the advantages ans /
inE Go them by these railroad connections: with |
their ucNhaustible supplies of ship timber; with
the immense coal fields of Alabama opened up to /
them with tho further fact that they in close
proximity 60 the Gulf Islands and of the Central /
and South American States. they could, by an IN
crease of shipping and establishing lines of steam
crs to run between these various points draw 90 /
them and control a very large proportion Of the 1
commerce Of the Calf.
trate 10 them and transport q large proportion Of
the immense travel which Is now for tue most 1
part, controlled by New \ erS and, instead Of the |
freight and travel. from the West and NOrthves- /
tern States going 20 the West Indies Central and /
South America and California. having 10 seek /
means Of transportation ut New York. rs Is now /
the case, this route being nearer. more direct. 4
safer and cheaper. would concentrate and control /
a large proportion Of 20.
Our trade with the Gulf Islands. Central and /
South America, is principally in provisions and /
a close observer Of the commercial world can not /
fail 20 have seen the rapid growth Of this trade,
and the public mind has not been uumludtal OF /
the fact that the shipping upon tAe Gulf has been,
and u now. wholly inadequate 60 meet the de- i
mand. To increase the shipping and 10 foster and /
build up this trade, nothing more Is required /
than n good safe harhor upon the Cult. made
ccssible 90 every portion Of the Union. With /
port Attending such advantages Il would IN a I
shor time become the Queen City Of the /
Gulf
The citizens Of Cincinnati have. I know, been
greatly exercised upon the subject o. the best
southern route Of railway. You can build in
whatever direction you pleasc-by way Of Knox
VILE or Chattanooga, but l say with confidence
resulting from knowledge and experience that
you are gs certain Of coming To Nashville ulti-
mately as that you exist; for the all-powerful
reason that the great wealth and productive ca
pacity Of the route 20 be traversed lies in the
Southwest Other roads. / admit. may be built
but a road South. directly through Nashville, is
Ms every days added experience viii demonstrate,
an absolute necessity 20 the prosperity and great
ness Of Cincinnati Loud Cheers