The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1867-03-15

gap. next to the Alabama and Tennessee
Railroad, has been constructed and is IN
operation. whilst considerable amount of
tie grading including some of the heaviest
of the work, has been done The survey
and estimates for the gap, made by the most
competent engineers, show that an air line
road is easily obtained, at cost not ex-
ceeding the usual estimates for roads of the
same length. From Montevallo to Selma it
is contemplated, If an arrangement can be
made with the Alabama and Tennessee rail
road company, under the charter, to use
that portion of that road as a part Of the
Trunk road From Selma to Pollard, on
almost an air line to Pensacola, the only
remaining gap is to be filed up. This gap
is about one hundred miles IN length, with
about forty miles OF grsaing already com
Pleted from Selma. The ungraded lsorlien.
Of the route, for the greater part. is highly
favorable for easy completion, being through
a succession of valleys and plains, while
the most unlavOrabIe portions, embracing
only some ten or fifteen miles. present no
serious obstacles.
This last gap filed, the route is com
I plete blythe Alabama and Florida road,
from Pollard to Pensacola, which it is also
designed to be used as a part of the Trunk
Railroad.
1t is believed that satisfactory arrange
ments can be made with the Nashville and
Decatur, Alabama and Tennessee and Ala
bama and Florida roads to use them as por-
tions Of the Trunk Road, putting them in
complete repair, and making-byi filing up
the two gaps, from Decatur to Montevailo,
one hundred and twenty miles from Selma
to Pollard, one hundred mies-almost an
air line Of first class road, through the
centre Of Alabama, from North to South to
the Gulf
Thus, by filling up these two. gaps, of
two hundred and twenty miles, the great
cities of grain growing and stock raising
country of the Northwest. will be put in
/ communication with the Gulf, by the most
direct and shortest possible railway route,
leading to the only harbor for heavy
/ draught steamers on the Gulf
The Trunk Road being built;it is con
templated that the Alabama aud Tennessee
Railroad. which has the only gap, Of one
hundred miles from Blue Mountain to Dal-
ton, now under contract for eempletion.
aud which win be doae next year wii b,
used as one OF VBszs eta btanches Of ahe
Gulf Trunk Railroad; which giveztIc mo-!
direct and shortest possible railway route
from the great Atlantic cities.
Thus the Great West and East are
brought into communication through Ala
bama, with the best and only harbor for
heavy draught steamers on the Gulf, by
the shortest possible railway lines, by
which The distance from Portland to the
Gulf can be made, by easy travel, in three
days.
A glance at the map viii show the i'm
portance of these lines when the Tehuan-
tepec route is opened and Pensacola be-
comes the great coaling depot instead Of
Havana-as is confidently believed will be
the case-for steamers from the Allan
tic TO the Pacific shores.
These railroads will call forth hidden
sections of country. Their magnificent
water power, now running to waste, will
run thousands of cotton and wool spindles
Foundries, rolling mills coal. iron, copper
and lead mines marble and slate quarries
lumber mills, ship timber, and naval stores
all these will give profitable employment
and bring education, prosperity, and eleva
ton to thousands Of heretofore oppressed
poor meBwomeu and children. There re
gions will become the abode of capital aul
labor. Towns, villages, and cities, will
schools, churches, and all the incidents o
an advanced civilization will spring up
p Commerce and mechanism will receive
new impetus, and Alabama viii be doing
just what the Northern States are doing
developing herself into wealth, prosperity
and power.-Banner.
tT ,,-,-o --1-r Il L,t4l. n