Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-16
THE TENNESSEE AND PACIFIC
RAILROAD.
Highly Interesting Letter From Gen
eral Malone.


Highly Interesting Letter From GEN
eraI Malone.
PETERSBURG, Va, May z, IS67.-Jno.
P. Campbell, Esq, Agent Tennessee and
Pacific Railroad Company, Nashville,
Tenn.-Dear Sir am in receipt of your
interesting communication of the 9th ult..
and hasten briefly to submit my views in
reply. 81
That the parallel go 30 designates the
line upon which nature would seem to
have contemplated the establishment Of a
great highway between the Atlaniic and
Pacific oceans, az with a view 10 the &C.
commodation Of the trade and travel OF
nations, there is every significance in the
extraordinary attractiveness of the topo-
graphical features of the country over
which it passes. +
The oceans approach each other under
more favorable circumstances upon this
than upon any other parallel, and at either
terminus there is to be found harbor
more eligible and eapacious than which
none superior are to be found on the coast
of either, while in peeuliarities of surface
and Of climate there are more advantages
combined for the construction and working
of railway than are to be fonnd in any
other line which the country presents; and
along the whole route the material resources
of wealth are no less fertile than abur dant,
for any measure OF greatness which me as
plratiOns of man could desire
The road you represent, / regard as an
essential and as an inevitable link in this
yet incomplete national thOrough-fare, and
on that account, but perhaps with a view
to the more immediate interest which We
have in its construction, look forward to
the early contamination of your enterprise
with earnest regard and solicitude. We
are to-day, in Virginia, more hopeful o.
the future, than even the brightest periods
of the past have ever foreshadowed. Until
now our State has, in fact, had no policy
in respect to the development of the re,
sources and advantages with which she
has by the God of nature been so richly
endowed.
The management of her public works
has been heretofore circumscribed by The
views of the immediate localities within
which they we're located, forgetful of the
greatinterests which they were designed IL
prosper and enlarge. We have now, how
ever, set out upon a new field of operations
whose confines take in every interest of the
public veal, subject to their influence.
Our General Assembly with extraordi
nary accord, sustained by an earnest ant
growing desire on the part of the grea
masses of our people, have lately deter
mined upon a return to the great idea o
our Washington, and to assert that line Of
policy in the direction of her public works
which under the inspiration of consultation
and mutual confidence, and Of reciprocal
obligation as between her proper authori
ties and those of her enterprising neigh.
Dor, the State of Tennessee, gave ex,
istence to the great line of continu,
Gus railway of the same guage which
now connects the Mississippi and the
Atlantic-at Memphis the great focus
of trade for the Mississippi valley on the
one hand, and at Norfolk, the haven Of
our American coast, on the other--in this
that they have resolved by every manner Of
effort, withinthe range of honorable means
to inaugurate the we'll established expert.
ence of this and Of other countries as 10 the
policy Of railway management in respect tc
the government of the several roads com.
posing the Virginia section of this origin
ally intended line of unbroken communi
cation with the great West.
The history of railway operations a
everywhere experienced, has conclusiyely
demonstrated the incapacity of a segregated
system for the accomplishments of great re
results-no matter however long orvaluablt
the trade of any line, whose management
is subject to several authorities, ever
when interests are common, failure has beer
the result, and consolidation the means o
restoration; wherever it has superseded
and it is now the accepted policy of ever
cOuntry-better returns to the share holder
enlarged facilities and cheaper rates to trad
and travel followed. Our scheme embraces
by the formation of new company, undeI
the title of the Atlantic, Mississippi anC
Ohio Railroad Company, a combination o
fusion of the four several corporations com
posing the line from Norfolk to Bristol AM
Cumberland Gap, and we should be glad Il
have the cooperation Of your company il
an extension of this theory and plan 0
operations We are confident of success
and hopeful of an early completion of you
road to Cumberland Gap.
Respectfully,
WIN. MALONE, President