Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-12
CENTREVILE.
Duck River valley and Marrow
Gauge Railroad Meeting and Bar
becue.

| To the Editors Of the Union and American:
CENTREvIJLE, July 10, 1S7l.-On Sat
urdsy morning, July S, it was terribly
warm, and during the day the sun wa:
excessively hot; yet, feeling the suffoca-
ton and knowing that old Sol would be
very demOrstratlve throughout the whole
day, the people came in from every d.
rectiou, all in good humor, and showing
q determined interest in their welfare in
the building of the railroad through their
counties. By seven O'Clock, numbers
were in the public squsre at Centreviile;
at eight O'clock these and crowds
of others were gathered in the
grove on the peninsula between
Duck river and the lagoon. When nine
O'Clock arrived, this extended and beau
tiful shade was almost entirely filed with
sturdy farmers, their wives and daughters,
young men and their swcethearts, chill
dren of all sizes and ages, and negro far
mers and families, until the whole place
was alive with this gesticulsting. laughing,
talking and otherwise animated mass Of
people. The counties of Maury, Perry,
Hickman and Humphreys were fully rep
resented. All of the citizens of Hickman
seemed to have been there. Her beauty
and chivalry adorned and equipped, CON
tested many a smile and glance, that when
the day was done, there was no change
either in the attack or repulse, save only
to be deeper wounded and surer smitteni
Factl From Humphreys, Perry and Maui
~ were solid reprt sentative men,
leading the van of many advocates
of this much needed railroad. Those
from Maury pledged themselves to do for
their county al that was in their power.
Those from Humphreys, Perry and Hickp
| man made the same promises, and the
manner in which these commissioners
from these four counties worked, ard the
earnestness with which they talked to the
people, fully proved them to be men of
| integrity and very DESTROYS of the new
railroad. The commissioners from
Maury were James Andrews, r. q. Cor
don, ]. s. Williams, J. II. Thomas and
NJ. L. Stockard; those from Humphreys
were Hon. Dorsey 3. Thomas, Col. Z.
F. FalcOnet, A. A. Wilson, Col. J. g.
O'Niel, and L. S. Goodrich, ESQ those
from Hickman we're w. 3. Russell,
James s. Rodgers, w. c. Jones, o. A.
Nixon, Esq. and VIM. Walker; and those
from Perry were Z. d. Sheppard, Josish
Wilbur, G. 3. Dodson, p. II. Sheffield
and James L. Sloan.
At 10 O'Clock the meeting was opened
by the Introduction by the chairman,
Hon. d. B. Thomas, of Gen. w. G.
Wbitthorne, who addressed the assembled
crowd of eager people for one hour in
language showing considerable knowledge
of railroad matters, and exhibiting a fund
of information upon the benefits OF rails
roads in general, quoting statistics and
palpsble facts, and dwelling particularly
upon the good results to be realized from
the building of road from Columbia,
Msury county, to the Tennessee river az
JohDsonville or some point on the Nash
vile and Northwestern Railroad, running
through the counties Of MsuTy, Hickman
and Humphreys, and in having a branch
through a portion of Perry county. He
stated that Col. E. F. FalcOnet, engineer,
had calculated the cost of building the
Tosd, the length of seventy. five miles
through these counties, al s., 600 per
mile and sn additional s., goo per ME
to equip the same. He compared
this cost to the expense of building other
roads, and proved it to be about one-haIf
the cost of any road in the State of Ten
nessee.
Hon. Dorsey B. Thomas took the stand
at the conclusion of Gen. WhilthOrne,s
speech, and spoke for one hour upon the
e 20 h. sLr
building of this very important road.
He rehesrsed the value of the minerals
in the large hills all along the line of this
road, and showed how it would benefit
the farmer by opening an easy way to
market for his grain and produce; that
the road would pass conveniently near
the homes of all those along the line,
and those living remotely from the mar
kets now, would find easily accessible
points within their own counties for the
sale of their products, instead of being
compelled to haul over hills and rough
roads their heavy burdens; that the Duck
River Valley and Narrow Guage Rail
road would develop the vast wealth
now hidden in the hills of each
of these counties that there
are large quantities of iron ore Of as fine
a quality as found anywhere in the
United States, and if this road WAS built
there would be rolling mills ard furnaces
all over the territory, affOTding sale for
twice the amount of produce now raised,
for the sustenanCe of labor a. the mines
and furnaces; and that it would build up
the counties and make them wealthy and
of much importance. lie exhorted the
people TO open their ears and learn the
truth from those who have had expert
ence, and who know how and what to
do in such cases.
When Mr.. Thomas had concluded, o.
A. Nixon, Esq, of Centreville, addressed
the crowd in telling argument in favor
Of the road, and Of the good it would do
to each and every man, whsher he was
married CT single, or whether he
lived Immediately slong the line
with the track at his very door, or
If his home was remote from it.
He said that all would be benefited;
that both the black and white wOIld re.
ceiye profit from the building Of tbs
railroad. He gave the distance Of tie
road from lis starting point 10 its ending,
its course through the valley, the kind OF
land it would run through, including the
farming portion and the mineral land,
and Of the distractions lying in the wsy
which would have to be removed. The
road would have to cross Duck river
twice, and that there was not one deep
deep cut 70 De made in its whole length
lie told the people that now was the time
for them 10 wake up and to work for
their interests.
The people felt the remarks of all the
speakers end they responded IN the Tigh'
spirit. Many subscribed for stock, and
at the close of the day the sums taken
amounted to 1925, 900 or $50, 900, Wills
there were many lanes down without
amounts annexed.
At l o'clock the tables were announced
as ready for the hungry poop e-with the
reservation of the lower table for the "a
dies, and the upper one for the gentle
men. Then there was scramble, and
the way roasted pork and mutton disap
peared was q pleasing sight to the friends
of the proposed road. The people ear
their fill, then fell IN line OF about so OF
40 deep and marched TO one Of the cool
est and most remarkable springs IN this
section, 10 slske their thirst, and 10 gel