The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-03-13
A Enndred years Aeo-

single white man in Ohio, Kentucky, In
diana, or Illinois territories. Then, what
is now the most furnishing part of Ameri-
ca. was as little known as the mountains of
the moon. Il was not until 1869 that the
hunter of Kentucky, the gallant and adven
furious Boone, left North Carolina to be-
come the first settler of Kentucky. The
first pioneer Of Ohio did rot settle until
twenty years afterward.
A hundred years ago Canada belonged
to France, and the whole population of the
United States did not exceed million and
a half
a hundred years ago the great Friedrich
Of Prussia was performing those exploits
which have made him immortal in militia
ry annals, and with his little monarchy
was sustaining single handed contest
with Russia, Austria and France. the three
great powers of Europe combined.
A hundred years ago the United States
were the most loyal people of the British
Empire, and on the political horizon no
speck indicated tie struggle which, within
a score of years thereafter. established the
great republic of the world.
A hundred years ego there were but
four newspapers in America, with com
bned circulation not exceeding two thous-
and. Steam engines and cylinder presses
had not been imagined. and railroads and
telegraphs had not entered. the remofest
conception of man.
When we come TO look back at it through
the vista of history we find that the centu-
ry which has passed has been allotted to
more important events in their bearing up
on the happiness of the world than almost
any other event that has happened since
the creation.
A hundred years hence, who can fore
tell our developments and national great
ness.
It was an enterprise of somewhat extern
sive character, when a few men conceived
the idea of connecting the great oceans by
a great railway, which, so far as time was
concerned, would bring them nearer to-
gether All the majority of Eastern Amer
lea knew that there was an immense unem-
ployed space in the far West, and those
upon the Pacific shore knew about as much.
There was an interminable range of noun
tains, a great back bone of the continent,
and then that waste again. To travel from
the East, and leaving Omaha, was to float
out into great lake of sand with its mil
lions Of acres untrodden by human foot !;
to come from the West. leaving the noun
tain base, and there were the barrens again.
How much they are wonder in their
sameness, mile after mile, treeless and
bushless and stoneless, no pen can ever
with sufficient force BRING it home to the
minds Of those who have only dwelt in re-
gions where hills aud valleys and plains
give interest and variety to the scene. The
interminably level space must be looked
upon and travelled over, day after day, the
great O'Fallon Cliffs in the far distance to
be just visible, but in the course of travel
never reached. Over these great barrens
then, it was determined that the iron rail
should like a wire spin out it's heightened
course, and the iron horse, with his ac-
companying trail, should scream to the dis
may of that portion of the animal creation
who therein make their homes. 1t was a
giant undertaking. but men of mind con-
ceived it, men of wealth were at their side,
and men of.energY and skill began the
work.
First fifty miles, then fifty more. day by
day, week by week, Grand Isle, North
Platte, Columbus City and Julesburg are
attained, and railway stations and traders
shops grow by the road where only sleepy
lazy wagon trains were ever known before.
Then far away, at the mountains base, a
new town springs into life, and the rumb-
ling cars declare that civilization has made
another advance, and the great wilds will
no longer be the unknown region, the sub
ject of speculation, wonder and conjecture.
With this great enterprise there travels
hand in hand the march of Intellectual i'm
provement and the desire Of the denizens
of the vast barrens to keep pace with the
further Eastern world. Malls become reg
ular, and the weekly journals is to be found
even in the rude home Of the early settler.
The desire for reliable information grows
) with the opportunity to procure it, and pa
irons are found for news papers where
they were strangers before.
1t is always narrow view Of CONNER
eial as well as moral policy, to seek to
profit ourselves by beggariDg others
Nothing is gained by overtaxing or over
reaching others. On the contrary, the
wealth Of all nations is promoted bv the