Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-23
vote. on the way.

W 2 0AOPPV0 AAOLA OeslA0On W 41uulluk-
don by dusk, where we supped sumptuously
and waited for the downward bouad train
to pass us, in which Maj. Lands came, and
joining our crowd, everything went along
merrily, till we reached Mckenzie, where
two Of us left the balance for the night,
while we ran on to Dresden, arriving at 8
A. NJ, and were soon ensconced 10 Shaver's
Hotel, where all our wants were amply
provided for by that excellent host D. L.
Shaver, to whom we return many thanks
for courtesies now and heretofore. We
were gratiied to meet many friends in
Dresden, and among that number our
friend and fellow citizen C. NJ. Ewing,
Esq, who is doing fine business at the
bar there and we shall continue to rejoice
at his success, as one of the young lawyers
of steady habits, untiring energy and ster-
ling traits, which will make him useful
and eminent in his profession. Oar agent
there gives us good cheer for the future Of
the UNION AND AMERICAN. We next
struck at Gardner, where we found stir
ring business going on for so small
a place; and still on we went to Union
City, which shows energy and business
enough for double its population. Here we
met Debow & Rutland, formerly of the
"sewanee" in this city, proprietors of the
Southern Hotel, where they are glad to
greet all their old friends and the travelling
public generally, prepared TO give them
the best the country affords. They know
full well how to keep hotel. and we wish
them ample success. We found many
other Middle Tennessee friends there, to
whom we return sincere thanks for kindly
encouragement. We ran down TO Hick-
man, KY, at the rate of thirty miles an
hour, and found quite stir in business.
To our agent, ]. Fl. Davis, we are specially
indebted for conrtesies extended. We met
our old friends. George and Ed. Warren,
who are running the Courier, and we
hope they make il pay. We fear the town
under the hill will ali wash away, from the
inroads made on it by the river. We
shipped back to Union City at 6 P. M,
where we spent the night. We omit TO
mention a hundred and one incidents
worthy Of note, for lack of time and space.
What was known as "The CamePs Back
just this side of Hickman, heretofore al
most impossible, is now in 6rst-rate plight
for safe, fast running. The officers in
charge are giving every foot of the road
their special personal attention, aud we
may well say they are the right men in the
right place. To any one who saw this road
at the close of the war, it now presents
most decidedly improved appearance.
Hastily constructed to meet a present and
pressing demand of the army, its construc-
ton west of Kingston Springs did not look
to future use or durability; the timbers
were not uniform nor of the best quality,
while the cuts through the banks and hills
were not made wide enough to prevent the
bitches on each side of the track from fill
ing up with the natural slidiags from the
banks, so as, in many places, to cover up
the track, causing the crossties TO churn at
each end. The crossties were of unequal
lengths, making it very difficult to clean
out and keep the bitches open. Many Of
them have prematurely rotted for the lack
of proper drainage of the road bed while
in other places the road bed, in fills, has
washed away till it has become too mar
row, leaving the ends of the ties unsup.
ported. Many of the ties churR where the
rail joints occur, making very uneven,
rocking road; and these things were all
becoming worse by use and abuse, till the
road is being now thoroughly oVerhsuled
and all these defects remedied, by the
present able and efficient management,
making it erelong a number one line.
II will be observed that after leaving
the Tennessee river bottom, the soil, made
up of sand, gravel and loan, is naturally
fitted 10 make the best road-bed in all
the country. The filling of this between
the ties is equal, if not superior, to any
ballastiDg we have ever seen. The ties are
now being laid of large uniform timbers,
making a frst-class road out of one re.
garded as almost useless.
The sections near White Bluff and be-
yond, and one or two other places, not now
in trim, will be rapidly repaired, till the
whole line from Nashville to Hickman
will be put in fine running order; and then
it can be kept in good condition 100 per
cent. cheaper than the N. &. c. road, as it
runs through a country naturally far
better suited for superior road-bed.
There seems to be the best of feeling be- |
tween the laborers and the managers, who |
are vigilant and untiring in their duties,
carrying out the aim of the Board to make |
his one of the best roads in the State.
We had the pleasure of meeting and
with Hon. L. s. Trimble, NJ.
:. Fl ON the LIST district Of KY, who is en-
cute for Washington. He is conservative
md hopeful, looking to the time when
eason and good feeling shall reign. He
g thoughtful, oulspoken, and firm in his
of duty, mapping ont the future
# our country in bold coloring5. He also
,nows how to eat 4 dinner in camp.
June Murfree, dropped near Hollow
Rock Thursday night, was brought in on
Saturday morning.
Quite a good joke occurred on our friend
\. +. II. at Huntington, which he will
lot soon forget Friday eve We aupped at
Ohnsonville, and then ran into the city
efore sleeping time closed, We return
ur sincere acknowledgements to the crew
or courtesies and thus close our trip.
NIAToR.
A Testimonial.