Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-08-05
Shall we build Railroads
or Turnpikes I?

In ZIhlS age OF Improvement,
we are bound to Jump on the
car of progress" and 'go with the
tide" or else be left completely in
the shade, buried in our darkness
and inaccessibility. To think OF
Lincoln county being shut up any
longer from the world is simpl,
out Of the question. We must
and will have our outlets. What
kind of outlets shall we have noao,
not what we shall have in the tat-
tare shall it be by Railroads or
Turnpikes?
Let us consider the matter, tor
it is of exceeding Importance to
Lincoln county. A step in the
right direction may turn the tide
OF prosperity full upon US.
In calculating what we can do,
we should first ascertain our own
condition. 1t is only necessary to
mention the war and it's devasta-
tons, and our minds readily recur 10
our PROSTATE condition when peace
was proclaimed. In that condi-
ton, we were required to pay the
most burdensome taxes, and the
burden of taxation has been kept
up ever since. We have paid ev-
cry year since the war the burdens
of three or four years before the
war. Whether it was the iniqui-
tous administration of our govern
Imentby the Radicals that produced
the burden, it is not our purpose
now to inquire. 1t is sufficient
for US to know now that we have
been ground down with taxes. To
pay this heavy burden of tax, we
have not since the war raised one
CT those big crops of 1855 or 1862.
Our people have been successful
in farming, but there have been
several hard years since the war.
Our labor also cannot yet be calcu.
lated on with much certainty
Our colored freemen, alias negroes.
must learn that one of the privi'
leges of freedom, is the right &c
work and make cur own livings
Some are learning, probably most
: will learn after a few years.
Another Encouragement is in
the fact that many of our substan-
tial men that were, have become
bankrupts or failed in business
We have been in the habit of lean.
ing upon each other, and when
Mr.. A. goes down, he weakens Mr.
B. and drags Mr.. c. down with
: him. Too many of us have been
weakened by paper promises td
pay, which cannot now be re
deemed.
This is a brief survey of oul
condition, given not for the pur'
: pose of discouraging us, for we fee
: encouraged by the progress of our
people, but that, seeing where we
stand, we may put forth our ex.
ertions in the proper direction
We feel that our people deserve
great praise for the vast amount
of work that has been done since
the war. If traveller had passed
through this county in 1866, and
again in 1869, he would hardly
recognize it as the same. But We
have not yet attained to that de-
gree Of prosperity we enjoyed be.
fore the war.
! We have heard Of a number of
Railroad schemes being canvassed.
We believe a Railroad to every
point of the compass from Fayette.
vile, and from other points finds
some advocates. We are glad to
see any agitation in favor of pub.
lie improvements. These Rail
road lines, as a matter of course,
have their peculiar advantages,
which are strenuously urged be.
fore the people by their friends
Without saying anything for or a.
gainst any projected line of Rail.
road, we would call the attention
of our people to the fact that every
dollar subscribed to the Winches.