Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-20
TENNESSEE CENTRAL nA1LROAD.
Nashville aud What OF its Future.
mr.. DEBOw's LErrERs-No. VI


attention Of its enterprIsing citizens as evil
dence of one or two things, either that the
trade Of the city is at a stand still or decline,
or that its proprietors are more than usually
rapacious, which ought not TO be supposed
In either case the fact affords ground for Sc
rious meditation.
! Certainly, there is no mora inviting spot
on the continent than the region of which
the Capital of Tennessee is the heart and
centre. A writer, several years ago, but ex-
presses the opinion of every stranger when
he said
There is not, perhaps in the West, more
interesting view than that commanded from
the summit of the Capitol Hill, in the city
of Nashville. Covering the base of the hill,
and crowding to the EXTREMIST margin of the
business laden Cumberland, is the city ITSELF
its streets alive with the hustle Of an active
commerce, and its suburbs literally growing
under the eye of the spectator. Surround
ing the city with a clustre Of beautiful culti-
walton, lie extensive and valuable farms in
| tersected by the numerous turnpikes, which,
centering in the city, radiate to opposite
neighborhoods; and girdling in all with
quiet security, rises a range Of low and plea
SAINT hills covered with picturesque woods
and graceful dwellings. The traveller knows
that he stands in the midst of untold album
dance; mineral hforcing itself through
the soil, and that soil ready to yield any adj
vance they may make upon it."
The centre Of State possessed of such
vast and varied resources as Tennessee, and
with such a region tributary to her, not only
in that State, but in Northern Georgia, Ala
bama, Mississippi, a part of Kentucky; Of
growing opulence, and with capacity to
become the distributor ofthe great products
of the West to the seaboard at Charleston,
Savannah, and even Baltimore and Rich
mond, it may well be marvelled at that the
traders of Nashville are required to practice
q stricter economy.
No doubt the beautiful, and fertile, and
healthy country around US will continue TO
attract population from distance and the
excellent society and admirable educational
facilitiesofthe city will have their influences,
but these, it will be found, alone, are not
sufficient to make great city. The avenues
Of COMMERCE, as has been limited before, by
a liberal enterprise, must be opened, and all
appliances of MANUFACTURES must be
brought into play.
And what field for manufactures have
we here; yet, where are they? Develop your
GDdig anu Jul lAOAi, ttuA EACCb 1OuI COlbUn
and wooden, your tobacco, your nail, your
boot and shoe factories, wherever you please,
and with the cheapness of living and the
labor which can easily be controlled, and
where will capital pay more handsome re-
suits than here? Can the annual revenues of
the citizens be more productivity employed,
and yet who in Nashville seems to be ready
for the new era which the condition of the
country has opened Each thousand dollars
invested in a factory, will introduce and
perhaps support several families, who
will buy your provisions, and rent your ten
ements. We have even failed, though an
attempt was made to do it, to provid enc
chanical power to be leased out to opera
tives, and yet capitalistso of Nashville express
surprise that business rents are at decline.
Even while write the magnificent enter
prise of Memphis is striking in every quar-
ter for new trade, and prosperity, and is con-
tributing with liberal hand to every feasible
scheme her grand river front is extending,
and swarms with commerce whole blocks
and streets of imposing warehouses and
dwellings are going up, and population is
foc1ing in from every quarter. Grant that
she has natural advantages; but what have
these done for her in comparison with intel
ligent active and ceaseless enterprise?
Ind shall ige IN Nashville sit dolgn and lgeep
0Uer oar losses, and see our population and
I0ealh depart or like men resOtittely seize upon
the means githiR our reach, and wia supremacy,
because lue hare deserved tt d? There is no royal
road 10 Wedlh IN these iron days; IL comes from
hard bLOlCs and ceaseleSs struggled
With Memphis, st. Louis, and Cincinnati
straining every nerve in competitor for the
trade which should belong to Nashville, and
reducing her to the condition almost Of a be-
sieged city, it will be vain to call upon
HERCULES for help, whilst our own broad
shoulders are in repose.
Trade, as L have said before, seeks points
easiest Of egress and entrance, where capital
and competitor exist, and, may add, has no
partialities of kindred or patriotism. II
seeks ecer TO sell the dearest and buy the cheapest.
There is much to be done by Nashville,
as we shall see hereafter, to increase her
population, trade and opuIence; butt might
be as well noted here, that her Board of
Trade should begin the work, by publishing
an annual statement, in pamphlet form, as is
done in almost every large city, and circulate
itbroadcast In thisreport not only the actual
commerce and manufactures of the city
may bestated, butthecapacity of each branch
Of trade for extension, the openings for ev-
cry kind of enterprise which exist, theman-
ufacturing facilities afforded, the means and
cost of living, the wages and demand for
labor and in fact all such information as
would attract population or traffic. These
are the advertisements which other cities
send forth and which reap their fruits in
continually increasing prosperity. The creed
which they practice should be ours: