Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-07
RAILROADS..

RAILhOAUc. -
The completion of Stanton's Chatta
nooga and New Orleans road, penetrat
ing the coal. and iron fields Of Alabama,
defines a new era in the commercial and
industrial history Of that fortunate State,
Alabama has been peculiarly fortunate.
They who have built railways in Ala
bama have used honestly the share Of
public wealth placed at their disposal.
OF course, partisans found it proper to
raise a hue and cry against railroad
builders. Elections were pending, and
the populace are ever ready to believe,
when taxes are odious, that all men are
knayes who are personally profited or
interested in their expenditure. Moth
ing tangible or significant Of improper
practices was proren when these qnes-
tons were investigated, and If Alabama
has been robbed, it has been Of credit
rather than cash by that abused parti-
sanship which, refusing to pay interest
coupons in January, has injured the
credit not only Of Alabama, but
of each Southern State. The evil is
only temporary. When Stanton's and
Forests roads meet, within the next
few months, the shortest line of traffic
and travel between New York and New
Orleans viii pass diagonally across the
whole extent of Alabama. Towns, cities,
manufactures, pretty cottages, smiling
farms and dense populations viii spring
into existence everywhere, and Alabama
becomes the first and richest of Southern
States. The most populous and pro-
ductive districts Of this magnificent State
are penetrated by Forests Selma road
1t makes its way along the southern
boundary of coal fields, having within
themselves forces that build, enrich and
aggrandize cities and civilize nRlettered
populations. Forrest, who owes little to
books. asserts that he is the most beneh-
cent pedagogue that ever instilled wis
dom into the human mind. His life is
a lesson which mankind will study
with rapt wonder through countless
coming years, and whatever the splen-
dor of his startling achievements in
war, they who read the marvellous
story of his life will admire most his
deeds when told that the very imperson-
alton Of terrible destructiyeness became
the genius of civilization and progress
in peace. A man Of Massachusetts and
one Of Tennessee effect revolution in
the moral, intellectual and physical for
tunes of Alabama, Mississippi and Ten
nessee more bene6cent in results than
all that were ever accomplished by
Moltkes and Napoieons. The Missis-
sippi is practically diverted from its
channel, and the wealth it brings down
from the North is borne by these rail-
way builders to every palace and howell
between Memphis and Selma and the
sea. Treasures of coal and iron, here
tofore hedged in by impossible barriers,
and untold agricultural wealth which
the eager hand Of commerce has failed
TO reach, are developed, made accessi-
BILE and utilized by these railway build
ers. Their fame rests upon a basis
more enduring than that Of politicians
and statesmen. 1t may be unrecorded
in books, but the musical utterances
and glowing periods Of orators are
borne away by the winds and forgotten,
while posterity will never be obliyious Of
those whose names are carved in the ever
lasting hills, and whose deeds are written
in letters of iron. Our gratitude and
admiration will grow with successive
years, ever heightened by the reflection
that, despite all opposition, tasks Of
benefcence were prosecuted with an
ardor and earnestness thatnever tagged,
defiant Of all obstacles interposed by
ignorance and eupidity Whether OPP
posed by those deeming themselves rich
enough and therefore hostile to the ad-
vancement of the masses, or by those
whose narrow intelligence cannot CON-
prehend the magnitude Of advantages to
be derived from the Selma road, the
triumph of right is assured; and this city
will not be false to itself and its magni6
cent future by denying the concession
asked by those who would become tbs
chiefest benefactors Of the South.